Kallichoron Art Boutique Hotel

Boosting Sustainable Tourism Through Certification

EUROPEAN GOOD PRACTICE COLLECTION 2021

NOMINATION FORM

Please send until 6^th August 2021 to (herbert.hamele@ecotrans.de / cc diego.nunez@ecotrans.de)

NOMINATING CERTIFICATE

Green Key Greece

Contact Person:

NOMINATED BUSINESS

 Kallichoron Art Boutique Hotel

Internet contact

 www.kallichoron.gr

Size of business (if known)

Micro (<10 employees)

Category

Serviced accommodation

Country

Greece

Destination, with related protected area(s)

Name of the destination: Astypalea Island, Dodecanese, Greece

Name of protected area(s): Special Protection Areas (SPA) by Natura 2000

Major cultural heritage site(s): Venetian Castle of Astypalea

Contact Person at the nominated business

PIC: Carolina Alkalai, Sustainability Officer

Email: c.alkalai@kallichoron.gr

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS

according to following SDGs on Tourism4SDGs.org:

Please indicate very briefly their exemplary or innovative actions and measurable achievements (including quantified results if known)

SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production

The tourism sector needs to adopt sustainable consumption and production (SCP) modes, accelerating the shift towards sustainability. Tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for tourism including for energy, water, waste, biodiversity and job creation will result in enhanced economic, social and environmental outcomes.

Exemplary or innovative actions: Kallichoron’s personalized, award-winning breakfast service known as “Grandma’s Breakfast” that is based on each guest alimentary needs as a means to promote sustainable consumption, to reduce unnecessary food waste and energy consumption by replacing meat products with vegan options. In addition, Kallichoron has designed an internal procedure for redirecting all food waste from breakfast for animal consumption in an attempt to promote circular economy and pave the way for a cleaner island.

Measurable achievements:

·        The sole Green Key eco-labelled hotel on Astypalea Island since 2015

·        Bike Friendly Hotel since 2018, offering e-bike hire

·        Energy metering and reduction practices

·        Solar energy for water heating

·        Room energy management system with magnetic key-cards for the automatic interruption of room power and air-conditioning control system

·        Energy efficient lighting and appliances

SDG 13 - Climate Action

Tourism contributes to and is affected by climate change. Tourism stakeholders should play a leading role in the global response to climate change. By reducing its carbon footprint, in the transport and accommodation sector, tourism can benefit from low carbon growth and help tackle one of the most pressing challenges of our time.

Exemplary or innovative actions: Kallichoron Carbon Footprint Calculator (CFC) in cooperation with Wayaj Sustainable Travel.

Measurable achievements: Sustainability is one of our core values at Kallichoron Art Boutique Hotel, and we try to honor our commitment to operate in such matter by allowing our guests this choice against climate change. Travelers can choose to skip daily housekeeping, or linen change, as well as calculate and offset their journey’s carbon impact, taking part in protecting our planet.

SDG 14 – Life below Water

Coastal and maritime tourism rely on healthy marine ecosystems. Tourism development must be a part of Integrated Coastal Zone Management in order to help conserve and preserve fragile marine ecosystems and serve as a vehicle to promote a blue economy, contributing to the sustainable use of marine resources.

Exemplary or innovative actions: Kallichoron Green Option - Sustainable practices reduce water consumption, reuse water as possible, use natural sources of water, and treat wastewater.

Measurable achievements:

·        Towel/linen reuse with Kallichoron Green Option reward program

·        Water reduction plan with the use of water efficient professional appliances

·        Computerized garden irrigation system

·        Water efficient sinks, showers, and toilets

·        Dual flush toilet cisterns

·        Sewage and wastewater treatment

·        Reverse osmosis water cleaning system in the kitchen

SDG 15 – Life on Land

Rich biodiversity and natural heritage are often the main reasons why tourists visit a destination. Tourism can play a major role if sustainably managed in fragile zones, not only in conserving and preserving biodiversity, but also in generating revenue as an alternative livelihood to local communities.

Exemplary or innovative actions: Sustainable practices drive tourism to areas that support the local community, including its people, culture and environment.

Measurable achievements:

Sustainable practices provide proper waste disposal for all material types and encourage disposal options that divert waste from landfills and incinerators.

·        Employing staff from the local community

·        Locals participation to Management

·        Promoting local produce in our hotel’s culinary offerings and shop

·        Supporting local producers and farmers with constant increase of the quantities of local goods purchased from the local market

·        Supporting local community projects through Kallichoron’s CSR program “Kallichoron Room2Give”

·        Ensuring diversity and inclusion of all staff, providing equal opportunities and training 

SDG 8 - Decent work and Economic Growth

Tourism, as services trade, is one of the top four export earners globally, currently providing one in ten jobs worldwide. Decent work opportunities in tourism, particularly for youth and women, and policies that favour better diversification through tourism value chains can enhance tourism positive socio-economic impacts.

Exemplary or innovative actions: At Kallichoron we believe that our people is our number-one asset. A culture that empowers everyone to ensure a consistent experience and a first-class stay for every guest. Our diversity and inclusion policy aims to embrace and create an inclusive environment for our staff, guests, owners and suppliers. Workplace diversity can only be meaningful if everyone feels empowered to do their best work.

Measurable achievements: We have offered a full 4-year scholarship for studies on Tourism Management to a young student from Astypalea through our CSR program “Kallichoron Room2Give”.

SDG 17 - Partnership for the Goals

Due to its cross-sectoral nature, tourism has the ability to strengthen private/public partnerships and engage multiple stakeholders – international, national, regional and local – to work together to achieve the SDGs and other common goals. Public policy and innovative financing are at the core for achieving the 2030 Agenda.

Exemplary or innovative actions: Collaboration is key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. By sharing information, resources, activities, and capabilities we can achieve things together that we could never achieve alone. partnerships can unleash innovative ways of working, mobilizing expertise and hard to reach resources, and create shared accountability in an increasingly complex world.

Measurable achievements: We have established cooperation with a number of organizations in an effort to enhance our sustainable practices and at the same time to encourage and promote sustainable practices (EcoSuites, Bike-Friendly Hotels, Green Key, Clean Hands, ChariStay, Wayaj, Refill Greece, StoPotiriMou, Afis, Hikers’ Friendly, Waterbags etc.)

Link to further information about the nominated business (if available):

At Kallichoron Art Boutique Hotel sustainability is in our DNA. With the use of smart incentives and concrete actions, we aim to encourage sustainable behaviour in order to protect our planet in the age of climate change and environmental degradation.

We place our guests and their needs at the heart of our offering and treat every guest as more than just a date on the calendar. We are committed to deliver unique and personalized ways to create memorable moments that matter to our guests. And as such, it is our priority to act responsibly in everything we do by promoting eco-awareness and minimizing any adverse environmental impact from our operations. Our operational model and our focus on innovative actions reflects our commitment to run sustainably and offer high quality services to our guests.

Notably, Kallichoron received in 2021 the Gold Award in the Category of Green Accommodation Service and the Platinum Award in the Services Pillar in Green Awards 2020 for its overall sustainability strategy and more specifically, its detailed program "Kallichoron Goes Green", aiming to reduce carbon footprint and encourage travelers to embrace sustainable practices during their holidays.