Looking back at the year 2020
B2C-Newsletter | Even though this year has restricted us in traveling and other habits, it has had positive impacts on the flora and fauna. Our hoteliers around the world have told us about their positive observations.
In Thailand, for example, the sea has recovered from its visitors, rare and otherwise shy birds have shown up again in daylight, more wildlife has been spotted and on Koh Samui, sea turtles have been laying their eggs on the beach for the first time in years. Also, our partner Inkaterra in Peru could notice a relief of nature. Different animal species, such as small rodents, squirrels, sloths, and many bird species have returned to Peru and discovered new places. And a young seal, which according to the German Oceanographic Museum in Stralsund undertook its first big excursion, was spotted at the fishing port on the Bodden coast very close to the Bio- and Family Hotel Gut Nisdorf.
These changes should influence our thinking about traveling and have a conscious and lasting effect on our planning. A 2019 Statista study shows that 57 percent of tourists from German-speaking countries plan their vacations in a socially responsible, resource-efficient, and environmentally friendly way. For 23 percent of those interviewed, sustainability was already an important aspect when planning their vacation trips in 2018.
The positive trend towards sustainable tourism is already a highlight for us anyway. So we are looking optimistically into the coming year and hope that even more people will become aware of their responsibility and consider travel to be ecological and sustainable.
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a healthy year 2021!
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Biohotel Sturm: certification „Bayern blüht - Naturgarten“
There is also good news from the Biohotel Sturm: the hotel's garden was officially awarded as a nature garden at the end of October. With its garden concept, the Biohotel Sturm makes an active contribution to the protection and preservation of bees and other endangered animal and plant species.
The Bavarian State Institute for Viticulture and Horticulture (Bayerische Landesanstalt für Weinbau und Gartenbau) awards the certification "Bavaria blooms - natural garden" („Bayern blüht – Naturgarten“) to promote a sustainable and ecological design of gardens. In order to receive the certification, several criteria have to be fulfilled. For example, chemical fertilizers and pesticides as well as substrates containing peat for soil improvement must be avoided. In addition, a high level of biodiversity, i.e. a large ecological diversity, must be demonstrated. More details on the criteria and the awarding procedure can be found here.
The garden in the Biohotel Sturm is maintained by landscape gardener Barbara Horsch and the bio farmer Rudi Ledermann.
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CHRISTMAS RECIPE FROM ECO PARK HOTEL AZALEA
The Eco Park Hotel Azalea reveals a vegan Christmas recipe. Have fun cooking it and enjoy your meal!
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WELLNESS DAY: PAMPER YOURSELF AT HOME
How about spending a spa day at home during the Corona pandemic? Our Green Pearls® partners have the right tips for a time-out at home.
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SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVES TO THE MINIBAR
For a long time, the minibar was a standard feature of every hotel room. But this expensive luxury is environmentally harmful and also unnecessary. Learn more about sustainable alternatives to the minibar in this blog post.
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ART IN HOTELS
Art and hotel form an exciting combination and offer an ideal platform for art and artists. Whether as decoration, support of local artists, or expression of the hotel owners' interests. Read more about art in Green Pearls® hotels.
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Lonely Planet has awarded the "Best in Travel 2021". This year, the award was given to places and people who are committed to society, diversity and sustainability.
What was your most memorable train ride? The Guardians' readers tell you theirs in this article.
The #oekoropa Award of the Goethe-Institut was awarded to ten teams of students from Romania, Great Britain, Greece, Denmark and Germany. The institute had called upon the young people in early 2020 to develop sustainable concepts for travel in Europe.