Green Pearls® hoteliers are also facing a new challenge. The rooms should be warm and in the spa area guests should be able to forget their own worries for a moment. At the same time, in the face of the climate crisis and rising energy costs, rethinking and action are urgently needed.

Sustainable energy concepts and creative solutions

The hotel sector contributes about 4% to the current consumption of energy resources. Savings are an inevitable step here as well. For our Green Pearls® partners, sustainable business in harmony with nature is in their DNA. In view of the current situation, they are implementing more sustainable energy concepts and creative solutions as a matter of course.

Even though the hotel sector represents only a small share of energy resources consumption compared to the manufacturing industry, it has a high potential for savings, especially in the spa area. Here, saunas, swimming pools and steam baths are constantly heated. The room temperature is higher and the lights burn longer than in the rooms. The Green Pearls® partners are aware of the high energy consumption, so they have emphasised energy-efficient concepts within their sustainability strategies from the very beginning. For the coming winter, almost all of them are planning to further adapt to the gas shortage and the current situation.

Book Spa areas exclusively and save energy

Under the motto "Weihrerhof goes green", a sauna at the Hotel Weihrerhof on the Ritten already remained unused during the summer. The Pichler family had decided to do this due to the high summer temperatures. And in winter the sauna times are shortened and they only run when they are actually being used.

The Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt has taken a similar approach. In summer, it opened the spa area only on request, thus reducing electricity consumption. For the upcoming winter, they are planning to reduce the spa hours or to start up only one of the two saunas. With a wealth of experience in the short-term, flexible implementation of new measures from the Corona crisis, the Bella Vista is optimistic about the upcoming winter season.

The Shepherd's Cart sauna at Hotel Okelmann's in Warpe, Lower Saxony, is also only heated when guests book it in advance. This efficiently conserves resources. The hotel's hot tub must also be booked individually in advance. Only then is it heated. Not with gas, however, but with dead wood from the hotel's own forest area.

Instead of a shepherd's cart, guests at the lifestyle hotel SAND on the Baltic Sea coast can expect a rooftop sauna with a view over the surrounding countryside. This sauna is only heated by prior arrangement and can then be used exclusively, and not only since the impending energy crisis. In addition to the exclusive operation of the sauna, the SAND also ensured optimal insulation during the construction of the building in 2017 by installing Cero sliding doors, among other things. There are also plans to heat and cool the Sunny Side building with geothermal energy and to build a photovoltaic system.

Customised Building Technology

At Hotel Das Rübezahl in Bavaria, nothing stands in the way of hotel operations, even in the event of a gas shortage. The pool and outdoor pool are already heated exclusively with waste heat from the hotel's own cold storage facilities. The regulation of the sauna, among other things, is adjusted manually by timers. In the future, an automatic system will adjust such energy-intensive facilities to the individual outdoor temperature and usage at specific times.

One such automatic system is Spa Control, which has been in use at Gut Nisdorf for several years. With the help of motion detectors, Spa Control only switches on the lights and sauna when someone is in the corresponding area. It was important to the team of the estate that the guests can use the wellness area in the afternoon without restrictions and without prior appointment. Nevertheless, energy should not be consumed unnecessarily.

Innovative and sustainable concepts

With modern and energy-saving technology, the Rehlegg also sets an example in the field of energy efficiency. The outdoor pool receives its heat via a solar thermal system, and already 50% of the electricity demand can be covered from the hotel's own production. In order to be prepared for the future, the Rehlegg is planning a photovoltaic system.

Electricity from the hotel's own solar system, two of its own combined heat and power plants for energy and heat - at the HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio, the energy concept is designed for sustainability from front to back. Of course, this also includes the newly built Mountain Spring Spa.

Underneath the plunge pool in the sauna area and the natural bathing lake runs a collector field with cooling liquid. The coolness recovered there makes it possible to lower the floors of the saunas from up to 60 °C to comfortable temperatures. In winter, this system ensures that the plunge pool does not have to be heated up separately and does not freeze over.

Thanks to the modern shading system in the HUBERTUS, blinds darken the hotel rooms and the spa area under certain conditions. In summer, this means that the spa needs to be cooled almost 30 % less.
 

Water from sustainable sources

The view of the HUBERTUS is characterised by the water that surrounds it in the form of an infinity pool, the diving pool and the natural bathing lake. The water used for this comes from the hotel's own mountain spring. This is also where the hotel gets the water for the gardens and the toilets in the spa area. The waste water is transferred via the regional sewage treatment plant in the valley to relieve the Balderschwang spring.

The Green Pearls® partners are looking ahead to winter with creative and innovative ideas. Guests can rest assured that everything is being done to reduce energy consumption and, at the same time, provide them with a relaxing stay. More information about the hotels, their sustainability concepts and initiatives can be found at www.greenpearls.com and on the hotels' websites.

• HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio
• ADLER Lodge RITTEN
• Gut Nisdorf
• Berghotel Rehlegg
• Biohotel Grafenast
• SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA
• Schlosshotel Blankenburg

Click here for the online edition of the Gourmet Journal (german only)
 

But not all holiday homes and apartments are created equal. While one accommodation may feature a secluded location and complete self-sufficiency, another offers the additional amenities of an attached hotel complex or shared services for several accommodation units. Wellness facilities will also differ. In today's newsletter, we present which concepts our Green Pearls® partners pursue and what sets them apart from the rest.

Individual and Private: The Classic Holiday Home Vacation

A completely self-contained property, built according to environmentally friendly principles, economical in consumption, high-quality furnishings - and all to yourself? The POU DE GLAÇ in northern Spain makes this possible. If you are looking for a peaceful and natural environment, this is the place for you.

The historic collection of buildings has been lovingly renovated in a resource-efficient way and now offers three eco-friendly holiday accommodations for two to six people. A room for events is also available. A special highlight is the historic ice fountain that gives the Refugio its name. In a space where ice could once be stored until June, today is a space for everything from exhibitions to dinners to yoga retreats. The new saltwater pool with a view of the Pyrenees rounds off the green holiday experience.

A magnificent view of the mountains is also available at the Summit Lodges Pfunds in Tyrol. The Spiss family has built two log cabins according to the traditional Canadian natural log construction method. The orientation has been optimised to minimise wear and tear from the weather, while maximising the amount of natural light that enters the building. The green holiday homes have two separate bedrooms, two bathrooms, a cosy living area with an open fireplace and a fully equipped kitchen. A special highlight is the private sauna. Two friendly families or a group can book both lodges together and can enjoy an extra portion of privacy.

Enjoying freshly baked bread on your own terrace in the morning and take in the view over Sölden - no problem at The Peak! Several apartments and two chalets give guests plenty of privacy and space. All accommodations are equipped with a kitchen, and dogs are also welcome in some. During construction, the focus was on the reuse of old wood and local materials. Thanks to the photovoltaic system, the two chalets are completely self-sufficient and hiking trails and ski slopes start right on the doorstep. If guests ever want to enjoy slightly more distant routes, this is also possible in a sustainable way and without a car. In summer and winter, a ticket for public transport is included in the price.

Luxury and absolute privacy are offered by the LENI MOUNTAIN Chalet. This stylish and comfortably furnished holiday home with its own natural bathing pond and wellness area is located in the middle of the Ötztal Alps just outside Sölden. But it's not just the exposed location that makes it a special hideaway. The whole concept is based on sustainability, and the chalet is completely self-sufficient. The interior is made exclusively of natural materials and, in addition to breakfast and beverage service, a private concierge ensures that the sustainable holiday experience is just perfect.

Self-Catering or Hotel service? Both are also Possible!

Enjoy the advantages of your own holiday home or apartment and make use of hotel services such as restaurants, wellness or advisory services as required: This is what hotels that have their own holiday homes or apartments offer. They enable guests to organise their stay to suit their individual needs while at the same time enjoying the amenities of the hotel infrastructure.

The climate-neutral Biohotel Sturm relies on such a concept. The hotel's former kitchen house, which has been converted into a comfortable holiday home, offers space for up to six people and has its own kitchen and private terrace with garden area. This is located directly next to the snack garden and the natural swimming pond, which the guests of the holiday home can also use. Not in the mood for a hiking tour through the Rhön or a home-cooked meal? Relaxing hours in the Rhön spa or a gourmet dinner in the organic restaurant Otto's are just a few steps away. The use of the spa area is free of charge for holiday home guests, breakfast, dinner or wellness treatments can be booked in addition.

Like the Biohotel Sturm, the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA in Bad Herrenalb offers a climate-neutral vacation in its holiday apartments. Guests can organise their day according to their personal preferences in the 2- to 3-room flats and explore the Black Forest, while the amenities of the hotel are available right next door. The breakfast buffet and use of the spa area with swimming pool and saunas are included in the price. If desired, there is even a cooking and spice package for the stay, the results of which can then be enjoyed on the private balcony.

Hotel comfort and holiday home feeling in mini format is offered by the Biohotel Grafenast in the Tiny House or "high-end caravan" with organic toilet and wood cooker. On only a few square metres, two people will find everything their heart desires. They are completely independent or can use the infrastructure of the hotel next door. The choice is entirely up to you.

Private, Green Accommodation with Shared Facilities

Another opportunity to enjoy an independent and sustainable holiday are aparthotels such as the eco aparthotel The Dreamers Club. Guests stay in their own flats and share the large garden with plenty of options for rest and relaxation. The interiors made of natural materials, the colourful design of the accommodation units and the spacious outdoor areas of the holiday flats in Croatia create a Mediterranean feel-good atmosphere and make you forget about the world outside. Guests of The Dreamers Club can also enjoy the optional services of the resort, such as the breakfast buffet, tapas or cocktails - served either in the garden lounge, on their own terrace, or in their flat.

At the LENI MOUNTAIN appartements in Sölden, the culinary meeting point is the LENI MOUNTAIN Café and Bar. Coffee, cakes, drinks and Tyrolean specialities offer a great change to the food prepared in the large flats themselves. The new wellness area, a bread roll service, and a laundry service also make these vacations a time for indulgence.

Gut Nisdorf on the Baltic Sea coast also offers spacious holiday apartments. Families in particular will get their money's worth in the flats with their own kitchenette. But couples will also feel at home on the farm grounds near the Bodden with their own small beach, natural pond and sauna area. The common meeting place for Gut Nisdorf holidaymakers is the hotel restaurant with terrace, where you can enjoy the breakfast buffet included in the price for all guests or the evening menu that is part of the half board. All meals are prepared with certified organic products.

A new addition to Green Pearls® is the A' Cràpa Mangia in the middle of the Italian Cilento National Park. The A' Cràpa Mangia estate faces the sea and is situated on a hill from where you can look out over the entire bay of Santa Maria di Castellabate and the Gulf of Salerno.

During the renovation of the former estate and its stables, special emphasis was placed on the preservation of the old structures and the use of sustainable and traditional building materials. Nine of the eleven accommodation units have a fully equipped kitchen where hobby cooks can really let off steam. Ingredients from the immediate surroundings, such as their own olive oil, are available in the courtyard bar, as are the pre-ordered bread rolls. The best place to enjoy your meal is on your own terrace with a view of the sea. La Dolce Vita, but sustainable!

Sustainable holiday homes are an alternative for all those who value independence and flexibility on vacation. But even those who don't want to completely forego the comfort of a hotel will find what they are looking for with the Green Pearls® partners. More information about these eco-friendly accommodations can be found at www.greenpearls.com. 

In addition, you are travelling in an environmentally friendly way. So, it's no surprise that many of our Green Pearls® partners are experts when it comes to planning cycling tours in their area. Bikes can often be rented directly at the hotel or nearby. In addition to normal bikes, there are also more and more e-bikes on offer. Just the thing for those who want to try it out on holiday. How about an extended tour through northern Italy? Or a racy downhill ride on a mountain bike?

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From the and Chalet Directly onto the Cycle Path

The Austrian town of Sölden is a true biker's paradise. There are no less than 43 routes on offer that will inspire both beginners and ambitious mountain bikers. The tracks, routes, and tours with different levels of difficulty are all part of the Bike Republic Sölden, a bike project founded in 2015, which in addition to the ecologically constructed trails also cares for a lively biker culture in the Ötztal.

From the Leni Mountain Apartments & Chalet you can directly access the trail network. Gentle trails, rapid descents, and challenging climbs ensure that a biking holiday is never boring. A highlight is the ascent to the Rettenbachferner. 2800 metres high, the mountain is the highest paved destination in the world.

Starting this summer, a beginner's and practice line begins at the front doors of the Leni Mountain Apartments and the popular Leiterberg Trail passes right by the chalet. By the way, Leni Mountain is well prepared for bikers of all kinds. As a certified bike accommodation, it offers lockable storage facilities, a washing area, tools, repair kit and everything else your heart desires.

On the Trail of the Romans in South Tyrol

The Adige cycle path follows the course of the river all the way to Verona and also passes the Hotel La Vimea in Naturno. But you don't have to cycle the entire trail, the section to Merano is only a few kilometres long, so the tour is also worthwhile for cyclists who are simply looking for a relaxed lap.

The route follows the Via Claudia Augusta, the old Roman connecting road between north and south. Emperor Claudius extended it from the routes laid out by Emperor Augustus in 15 BC. Today it is being rediscovered as a cultural axis that can be explored on a cycle tour along the sights and orchards. The Via Claudia Augusta is also popular as a long-distance hiking trail from the Danube to the Pos plain.

The holistic vegan Hotel La Vimea can serve either as a starting point or as a place to relax after crossing the Alps. Yoga, wellness and creative vegan cuisine provide well-deserved relaxation after the bike tour.

Go with the Flow Along the Weser Cycle Route

In Lower Saxony, you can also cycle alongside a river. The Weser Cycle Route is the most popular long-distance cycle route in Germany (ADFC Cycle Tour Analysis 2022) and invites you to summer cycling tours on both sides of the Weser for almost 520 kilometres. If you don't want to cycle the entire route from Hann, Münden to Cuxhaven, will also be reward you with great river views, idyllic floodplain landscapes and historical sights.

Okelmann's in Warpe is only a few kilometres from the Weser Cycle Path and therefore a wonderful retreat for a few days' break. In the midst of the fields, you can relax your tired limbs in the shepherd's cart sauna or the wooden whirlpool. Yoga classes provide a welcome balance to cycling.

Always a bit of Baltic Sea

Another long-distance cycle route that literally passes by the front door of a Green Pearls® partner is the Baltic Sea Cycle Route, which stretches from Denmark to Poland and beyond. Starting from Timmendorfer Strand, you can explore the surrounding Baltic coast along this route. It follows along the steep coast, windbreaks and coastal forests characterise the landscape and the salty air reminds you that the Baltic Sea is always only a short distance away.

In addition to the route along the coast, there are also cycling tours inland, for example with the Priwall ferry across to Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, to Eutin Castle or along the Trave to the Hanseatic city of Lübeck. The Lifestylehotel SAND is an ideal starting point for this. Firstly, the wellness offer is just perfect after the tour through the amazingly hilly landscape. And secondly, the hotel cooperates with the bicycle manufacturer myBoo. Guests of the SAND can rent bamboo bikes on site and explore the area in style and in an eco-friendly way. In addition, the purchase of each bicycle directly finances a school in Ghana. Sustainability across all levels!

Some distance east, around 18 kilometers away from the Hanseatic city of Stralsund, lies Gut Nisdorf, yet another green pearl on the Baltic Sea Cycle Route. Guests of the sustainable manor located directly at the Bodden coast can take a ride on the tour section from Fishland-Darß-Zingst to Stralsund and Rügen and actively explore the richly varied coastal region.

Pure Nature in the Spreewald Biosphere Reserve

When people talk about the Spreewald, they often think first and foremost of canoeing, paddle boats and boat trips. But the region can be explored just as well from another perspective: from the saddle of a bicycle.

Directly opposite the Strandhaus Boutique Resort & Spa Spreewald, you can rent bicycles or e-bikes and get going. From Lübben, you can join the well-developed network of cycle paths. One of the best-known routes is the Gurkenradweg (Cucumber Cycle Path), which is identified by a cycling cucumber on the signs! Low gradients, well maintained cycle paths, and only a few sections on busy roads make the path ideal for families and cyclists looking for a relaxed tour. In total, the Gurkenradweg winds its way through the biosphere reserve for about 260 kilometres. However, it can also be wonderfully explored on the sections around Lübben. There are always shortcuts or detours that lead back to the hotel.

There you will be greeted by lovingly tended gardens, a panorama sauna and authentic Spreewald cuisine.

By Bike through the Black Forest

The SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA has been awarded the Bett+Bike label by the ADFC and has proven to be an ideal base for cyclists to explore the Black Forest on two or three wheels. Guests can park their bikes at night in lockable shelters, there are repair kits or, if necessary, information on where to find the nearest bike repair shop. And drying facilities are available for wet clothes or equipment.

After a hearty breakfast with regional and seasonal products, you can now even rent e-bikes directly at the hotel. Our Green Pearls® tour tip: the loop through the Albtal nature reserve, through the Holzbach valley and the Maisenbach valley. Along the three valleys and streams you can explore the landscape and nature of the northern Black Forest. You should plan for just under half a day, after all it's all about being on the move slowly, enjoying and relaxing. After a leisurely lunch, you can either add a second tour or return to the hotel and spend the rest of the day in the spa area with its large sun terrace, reenergising with a yoga session, or enjoying a massage.

Explore the Rhön with a tour guide 

Those who don't like to explore the unknown trails on their own and would rather take a hike with a professional guide can join Daniel Albrecht on a tour from the Biohotel Sturm in the Rhön Mountains. He knows all the trails in the region inside out and leads his guests on tours through the varied landscapes of the Rhön region that suit their level of difficulty. Guided MTB Tours are available as single tours as well as in a group. 

The newly constructed Garden Rooms of Biohotel Sturm, with views into the greenery and direct access to the natural swimming pond, extends the experience of nature to the next morning.

Cycling tours can be undertaken from many of our Green Pearls® partners. Whether in the mountains, by the sea or along the river, whether by mountain bike, touring bike or e-bike: the surroundings are best explored on two (or three) wheels. Slowly, mindfully and in harmony with nature.

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ALLERGY-FRIENDLY VACATION WITH GREEN PEARLS® PARTNERS

Unfortunately, the peak season for allergy sufferers begins when the sun shines longer, flowers bloom and everything turns green. More than 60 million people in Europe are affected by allergies. Find out, where you can have a relaxed holiday despite the allergies. 

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TIPS FOR A SUSTAINABLE HONEYMOON

Consciousness for a sustainable lifestyle is increasing all the time. And that also has an impact on weddings and honeymoons. We have collected some tips and accomodations, how and where you can spend your honeymoon as sustainable as possible.

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BRING THAILAND INTO YOUR HOME? VERY EASY WITH THE RECIPE FOR A CHAO NA BOWL

Thai food is colourful. From many influences, the Thais create delicious dishes with local ingredients. You want to try this too? Then this recipe from Keemala is perfect for getting started with Thai cuisine.

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FRILL-FREE NATURAL COSMETICS IN HOTELS  

One of the easiest ways to make your life more sustainable often starts in the bathroom. There are now so many great alternatives for shampoo, shower gel, make-up and the like that you’ll hardly notice the change! Our Green Pearls® partners are showing the way. 

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The packaging of Sea Me GmbH  products such as soaps and lotions can be returned, cleaned and refilled. To this end, the company launched zerooo: Packaging (mainly glass bottles) can be submitted at more than 900 shops in Germany and Austria.  

Read More 

Heidelberg wants to become Germany's first circular city through an urban mining project. The project was presented at the Greentech Festival in Berlin over the weekend.

Article

Podcast recommendation: In their new podcast, Louisa Dellert and Markus Ehrlich investigate true crimes against the environment, people and animals. Worthwhile for all fans of true crime and climate podcasts. Unfortunately, it is only available in German. 

Start Listening

Experience Italy by train. For this you can choose from numerous, beautiful routes with partly historic trains, which invite you to slow down and enjoy the view.

Article

• HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio
• ADLER Lodge RITTEN
• Gut Nisdorf
• Berghotel Rehlegg
• Biohotel Grafenast
• SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA
• Schlosshotel Blankenburg

You can find the article here. 

HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio - Mindful Feasting in Allgäu

At the HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu, no wishes are left unfulfilled. The room rate includes the complete feel-good culinary experience: in the morning and at lunchtime, a rich buffet and in the afternoon, home-baked cake. In the evening, guests of the HUBERTUS enjoy a multi-course menu, at the end of which a selection of cheese from the region is traditionally served. The only thing that is added is the cost of the drinks. However, this does not include coffee, which is served free of charge until the afternoon. A balanced diet is part of an all-round carefree holiday at the HUBERTUS. 

That is why there is always a hot dish at the breakfast buffet, such as porridge and fresh waffles, salty or sweet. The lunch buffet includes light cuisine with an Ayurvedic touch. The kitchen team uses only spelt flour for the cakes and strudels. In addition, there is always a gluten-free and vegan alternative. Guests who also attach great importance to conscious and healthy nutrition on holiday can choose the "mindfulness path". Their menu then contains particularly compatible foods and no heavy and greasy dishes.

ADLER Lodge RITTEN - With Full Service 

The ADLER Lodge RITTEN offers a classic all-inclusive arrangement. It includes a rich breakfast buffet, lunch on the sun terrace with light dishes and the evening à la carte gourmet delights in the Panorama Restaurant along with all soft drinks and a large selection of South Tyrolean wines and spirits. All products that are served as part of the all-inclusive offer come mainly directly from local farmers or are homemade in the ADLER kitchen under head chef Hannes Pignater. But it is not only in culinary terms that guests at the ADLER Lodge can look forward to all-round service. The daily outdoor programme and access to the wellness area are also included in the price.

Gut Nisdorf - Organic Delights from the Gutshof Kitchen

Guests at Gut Nisdorf on the Baltic Sea can go straight to the swimming pond to relax after breakfast, plan a walk along the Bodden coast or take the day to discover the beauty of the region, because they no longer have to worry about their meals. They simply help themselves to their heart's content at the breakfast buffet and pack enough provisions for the day. With such a large selection of bread, rolls, sweet pastries and fruit, this is easy. And if you feel hungry in between, you can take something from the fruit bowl throughout the day. 

Homemade cake is served with a cup of tea or a cappuccino on the terrace or by the fireplace, depending on the weather in the far north of Germany. For dinner, you can choose from a variety of meat dishes or vegetarian and vegan options from the organic buffet. 100% of the produce used at Gut Nisdorf is certified organic.

Berghotel Rehlegg - Impressive Selection of Regional and International Specialities

Coffee from the Bavarian roastery Dinzler, bread from the village baker with homemade jam, mountain farm cheese, bacon from their own smokehouse, sweet pastries and much more. The day at the Berghotel Rehlegg starts with a varied and rich breakfast buffet. Egg dishes can be ordered at the table according to your own taste. As the guests of the Berghotel Rehlegg return from their hikes in the Berchtesgadener Land, excursions in the wider surroundings or from enjoying a wellness treatment, the hotel offers a daily buffet from midday to the afternoon, which has something for every taste and is available over a longer period of time with light soups, a snack, salads and cakes. For dinner, two different options invite you to feast: in the "Lichtmanneggers" there is a daily changing "Rehlegger Genussbuffet" and in the à la carte "Almstüberl" the Rehlegger specialities are served as a menu.

Grafenast - All-Round Service Close at Hand

At the Biohotel Grafenast, the whole family can relax and leave the meal planning entirely to the hotel team. The organic catering includes a varied breakfast buffet, a take-away snack, a light meal at lunchtime and in the evening a 4 to 5-course menu or experience dinner. Various types of tea and water are available throughout the day in the herbal room and on the spa floor. Drinks for lunch and dinner are not included in the package. The motto "From the garden to the plate" is very important to the Grafenast team. This is reflected in the composition of the menus from regional products as well as in the choice of drinks, which also come from local suppliers. At the "Best of Bio" tastings, guests can get to know the suppliers personally or have the craft explained to them during a farm visit. For more than a quarter of a century, the Biohotel Grafenast has been awarded the "Grüne Haube".

SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA - Full Board as Desired

Not everyone needs or wants a full board throughout the day. Sometimes guests want to take lunch only as needed. Those are in good hands at the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA in Bad Herrenalb. The half board includes the delicious and sustainable breakfast buffet and the 3-course gourmet dinner in the evening. Attention is paid not only to regionality, seasonality and organic quality. Zero waste practices are also implemented as far as possible. This means, for example, that there is no waste at all at breakfast.

With half board, guests pay extra for lunch, small snacks in the Blue Salon, and drinks at dinner, so they can flexibly adjust their catering to the day of their vacation. Everything can simply be booked to the room and paid for on the day of departure. By the way, the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA is a certified Bioland hotel.  

Schlosshotel Blankenburg - Hiking Pleasures with Full Board

Most guests of the Schlosshotel Blankenburg also take advantage of the half-board offered with a breakfast buffet and a daily changing evening menu. As with the other Green Pearls® partners, the Blankenburg kitchen team also focuses on regional produce: the fresh fruit and vegetables come from the Staszat market gardens in Blankenburg and the organic cheese specialities from Harzer Höhenvieh and Westerhäuser Käsehof. The pork is supplied by the butcher Halberstädter Landwurst and the game meat from the Harz forests by the hunting community Wienrode. 

Only recently, the Schlosshotel restaurant was awarded the Greentable "Sustainable Gastronomy" certification for the first time. The certificate is awarded to businesses in the hospitality industry that act with above-average ecological and social responsibility. In addition to the classic half-board, there is also the option of booking the "Wanderfreuden" package. The catering package then includes a picnic rucksack filled with a packed lunch and a bottle of wine, so you don't have to worry about the next meal during the hike or cycle tour through the beautiful Harz Mountains. 

All-inclusive with drinks, indulgent board with coffee, tea and water, half board with a picnic basket or lunch on demand - the right all-round carefree package can be found for every need at one of the Green Pearls® partners. Further information on the featured hotels and other partners can be found at www.greenpearls.com.

The article is only available in German.

The article is only available in German. 

The number of people around the world choosing a vegan diet is steadily increasing. There is also a growing awareness of a plant-based diet among those who do not completely abstain from animal products, and many hotels around the world have responded to this development.

The following examples showcase how it is possible to combine diverse and delicious vegan cuisine at the highest level with a thoroughly sustainable hotel concept.

Vegan in South Tyrol

Respect for nature and people, mindfulness and health is the guiding principle of Eco Park Hotel Azalea. The cuisine of the family-run organic hotel in the old town of Cavalese is plant-based and organic for ethical reasons. Inspired by nature, such as the clear, pure waters of the Val di Fiemme and alpine wild herbs, along with the culinary traditions of the Dolomites, Azalea follows a fully sustainable approach in its restaurant, which includes a wide range of raw food and vegan dishes. The hotel works predominantly with local suppliers, such as a small flour mill that uses stone mills to grind ancient Italian grains into fresh, high-quality flour. Guests will find a wide variety of vegetables and fruits on Eco Park Hotel Azalea's daily menu, creatively prepared and delightfully combined with whole grains, legumes, local herbs and spices, and a dash of internationality. Colourful, beneficial and delicious.

Vegan on Phuket

Thai cuisine is aromatic and varied. With lots of vegetables, fresh herbs and spices: "a feast for the senses". This is also the culinary motto of the Keemala Resort on the Thai island of Phuket. At the heart of the colourful, fresh cuisine of the eco-luxury resort are the resort's own gardens, where much of the food the kitchen requires grows. In addition to herbs, fruits and vegetables, Keemala grows its own mushrooms and experiments with alternative cultivation methods, such as hydroponics. Both restaurants of the sustainable resort offer a variety of vegan dishes. In addition, guests at Keemala can opt for the "Healthy Living Cuisine", which includes raw, macrobiotic and gently cooked dishes.

Vegan on Koh Samui

At The Tongsai Bay on Koh Samui, the resort's own vegetable, fruit and herb garden is also the main source of their vegan cuisine. Jackfruit grows here and is becoming increasingly popular as a meat-like product. The flesh of the plant is used in Tongsai Bay in the legendary 'Jack Fruit Burger', which is served in Poh-lad Beach Bistro. Whether it's a traditional Thai dish at Chef Chom's Thai Restaurant, Asian tapas at The Butlers or a private candlelit dinner on the beach, vegan dishes are always on offer at The Tongsai Bay.

Vegan in the Black Forest

The Hotel SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA selects its ingredients according to the strict Bioland guidelines, Germany's leading organic farming association. The suppliers farm in a life cycle-friendly manner and without synthetic fertilisers. Following the principle of a "planetary health diet", the hotel focuses on creative vegan dishes and recipes. You can get inspired and try them out yourself, both at the buffet and as a selection of dishes in the à la carte restaurant. Options such as the vegan avocado and tomato tartare with sweet and sour carrot, sesame oil and crispy parsley or the butternut squash steak with rosemary ginger chutney, caramelised apple slices and beetroot risotto are just some of the dishes on offer.

Vegan on the Baltic Sea

Gut Nisdorf Estate sits just 250 m from the shoreline on the German coast of the Baltic Sea. As a natural part of healthy and enjoyable organic cuisine, vegan options are always included at Gut Nisdorf. Furthermore, 100% of the ingredients are certified organic. The day begins at Gut Nisdorf with a hearty, delicious breakfast, and a fruit basket is always available in the dining room. In the afternoon, depending on the weather, homemade cake is served on the terrace in the sunshine or by the fireplace in the Nordic stormy autumn or winter. In the evening, guests choose from meat and vegetarian / vegan dishes from the organic buffet. Salads and vegan desserts are always included. Gut Nisdorf has the organic claim not only for food, but for all areas of the hotel, such as building materials, furniture and bed linens. The business produces less than 8 kg CO² per guest and day. That is five times less than the average hotel in Germany.

Vegan in Croatia

Guests of the Aparthotel The Dreamers' Club on the island of Korçula can choose whether they want to cater completely for themselves in their studios or make use of the hotel's services. Breakfast, served in the garden lounge or in the flat, is vegan on request. This also applies to the tapas prepared according to local recipes. All ingredients are mainly sourced from local, organic and sustainable producers and the herbs used come from the hotel's own garden. From these, the hotel team also creates healing teas and its own herbal lotion that brings relief to guests who spent a little too much time in the sun.

Vegan in the Maldives

Vegan menus in a class of their own are also available at the luxury eco-resort Gili Lankanfushi, in the Maldives. Whether breakfast, lunch or dinner, the menu has a special focus on plant-based products. Fruit and vegetables are grown in one of the largest fruit and vegetable gardens in the Maldives and the chef offers cooking experiences directly in the garden. Vegan scallops are prepared here according to their recipe. The crowning highlight for all fans of plant-based cuisine are the vegan multi-course menus. The Gili kitchen team composes up to 10 purely plant-based courses into a 'Gili Vegan Experience'. So that guests know exactly where the ingredients come from, the menu starts with a visit to the organic garden, accompanied by the chef himself. The range of raw food, vegan and vegetarian dishes on offer is set to be expanded even further.

Vegan on Phi Phi Island

Celebrity chef Satya Beeknoo from Zeavola is an excellent example of how hotels with a sustainable focus integrate vegan cuisine as an important pillar in culinary diversity. Beeknoo, who enjoys taking the time to cook something special for his guests, follows a completely sustainable approach. Fish and vegetables mainly come from regional suppliers, farmers and fishermen. In the kitchen, processes are constantly being optimised, and the kitchen team has already reduced the monthly consumption of cooking oil by more than half. Through ideas such as the reusable transport boxes or a composting machine to reduce organic waste, Beeknoo has created sustainable standards in the multi-award-winning eco-resort in Thailand.

The awareness of eco-friendly, seasonal and regional food as well as environmentally conscious business practices are all part of the DNA of the sustainable Green Pearls® Hotels. This is especially important for travellers who seek vegan options. 

Be sure to check out our Veganuary newsletter where we introduced even more hotels with vegan offers.

While many tourism businesses continue to operate as they have in the past and struggle to make significant changes to their offerings, there are an increasing number of hoteliers who are already operating in a sustainable and climate-neutral way. Read on to learn more about the ways Green Pearls® partners have found to offset their emissions and where guests have opportunities to compensate their own CO₂ footprint.

The many possibilities for CO₂ compensation

If desired, guests can ensure their time spent at the Schwarzwald Panorama is completely climate-neutral. The CO₂ emissions during their stay are reported and offset by contributing to recognised climate protection projects. For this, the hotel works with Climate Partner. The projects supported include a mountain forest project for biodiversity on the Schauinsland near Freiburg, a forest conservation project on Papua New Guinea and support for environmentally friendly production processes in a Colombian brickworks. On its own initiative, the hotel is also doing everything it can to greatly reduce its own CO₂ emissions. To this end, the company's total environmental impact, including annual CO₂ emissions, is recorded and analyzed, and residual emissions that cannot be avoided are offset in cooperation with Climate Partner.

Strengthen guest engagement through transparency and incentives

CERVO Mountain Resort Zermatt cooperates with myClimate for CO2 compensation. The carbon dioxide emissions generated by the production of its own beer and meat dishes in the restaurants are offset, and guests can also make their stay CO₂-neutral via myClimate. For only CHF 3 per night, guests can offset the CO₂ emissions of their stay and support the hotel's sustainability initiatives. As an added incentive, CERVO then doubles each offset franc. With part of the total, the hotel supports a myClimate foundation carbon offset project in Brazil. The remaining amount is invested in sustainability measures on site or in operational sustainability such as the conversion to renewable energies or the sustainable planting of the outdoor area.

Become a climate hero at the click of a mouse

The Schlosshotel Blankenburg also likes to encourage its guests to make their contribution to sustainable travel. With its certification partner GreenSign and the organisation Klimapatenschaft, the hotel has selected two climate protection projects through which guests can compensate for their stay. Alternatively, they can also get involved by donating a tree or adopting a bee. Simply online, and all at the click of a mouse. As proof of their climate-neutral hotel stay, guests receive a personal certificate - the Klimaheld Certificate.

Support projects in the region

On its path to carbon neutrality, Kasbah du Toubkal in Morocco's Atlas Mountains is cooperating with the High Altas Foundation (HAF). The organization helps people in rural communities plant trees such as walnut, olive, and fig trees which also provide economic benefits. HAF operates 11 fruit nurseries in Morocco with nine tree species and plants 1.3 million seeds annually. This also includes plantings in the Azzaden Valley, where Kasbah's trekking lodge is located. "We can't personally offset the carbon footprint of a flight full of vacationers, but we can do our best to link a guest's stay to that offset and physically show how that relates to supporting the economic activities of the entire region," says Mike Mc Hugo, Co-Founder and Manager Kasbah du Toubkal.

Longstanding commitment to sustainable development projects

Back in 2019, the Biohotel Sturm was awarded as a climate-neutral hotel. It is one of the first in the hotel industry to voluntarily compensate its emissions according to the Kyoto Protocol and since 2019 has offered climate-neutral stays at all of its accommodations and guesthouses at no extra charge. In addition to a steady reduction in CO2 emissions generated, the hotel offsets all remaining emissions through compensation projects in Uruguay and Rwanda. The projects supported are VCS Forest Uruguay, which now operates eucalyptus plantations on former pasture land. Along with the GS Cooking Stove Project in Rwanda, which issues cooking stoves to the rural population in particular so that they no longer have to cook inefficiently with wood or charcoal. This reduces the annual rate of deforestation in the areas and promotes health by reducing the risk of respiratory diseases.

Mandatory climate impact assessment for organic hotels

As a member of the Biohotels Association, the Gut Nisdorf is also obliged to report on their CO2 footprint. This is assessed using a questionnaire and evaluated by the company Fokus Zukunft. The special thing about this assement is that not only the heating costs and electricity consumption are determined, but the consumption of goods as a whole. Detailed for each product, the working routes of the employees and other items. This produces a reliable figure for the actual CO2 emissions of the company, which are then offset by reforestation projects in Uruguay and Peru. Through various sustainability measures, the Gut Nisdorf has managed to reduce its emissions per day to about 1/6 of the hotel average in Germany.

The partners mentioned here, as well as all other Green Pearls® partners, are on a constant mission to continue reducing their carbon footprint while developing and implementing innovative sustainable measures.

While Gut Nisdorf has been able to prove itself as a specialist for organic-oriented family vacations over the past 15 years, hosts Jürg Gloor and his wife Sabine Stange want to set a new focus starting March 18, 2022 — after the winter break.

“The place is so beautiful, full of positive energy that we want to bring the offer to people without children,” Jürg Gloor says. Especially in spring and fall, nature at the Bodden coast has a lot to offer. A unique experience. Especially if you can also enjoy the food from the Gutshof kitchen, which uses only certified organic products.

The Gut Nisdorf is an ecologically and sustainably managed historic manor house. It is located directly at the Bodden coast, about 17 kilometers northwest of the Hanseatic city of Stralsund. 

Twelve cozy 2- or 3-room apartments or a single or double room are awaiting the guests. The apartments are between 38 and 76 square meters in size and provide a living area with kitchenette, bedroom, bathroom/shower and, depending on the apartment type, a separate bedroom or children's room. 

A bio sauna cabin, a steam bath, a heat bench and whirlpool tub, as well as a Kneipp pool and a relaxation room provide for a maximum of recreation.

During the day, a natural swimming pond, the Bodden beach and the unique nature around the Gut Nisdorf invite you to spend the day outside. For those who prefer a more urban atmosphere, the Hanseatic city of Stralsund with its beautiful old town directly at the water is only a short-distance away. The city is a World Heritage Site and worth a visit just for its architecture (brick Gothic). 

Visitors to Stralsund find a lot to discover like the Ocean Museum, the Ozeaneum and the Skurrileum. There is also a long theater tradition in Stralsund. Throughout the year, the Theater Vorpommern offers its audience exciting, challenging and entertaining performances in the fields of musical theater, drama, ballet, and concerts.

Those who prefer to spend time outdoors can take a harbor tour, go to the zoo, or climb the steeple of St. Mary's Church. From there you have a great view all the way to Rügen. 

Just as beautiful and worth visting is Greifswald, which is about 40 kilometers away from the Nisdorf estate. 

Many have also realized that this pandemic is the response to the exploitation of nature. We are getting too close to nature and thus also risk an accumulation of zoonoses – diseases that jump from animals to humans – in the future.

For the environment, the lockdown had positive consequences, but how long will these effects last? It is up to travelers to use this crisis as an opportunity to rethink and adapt their own behavior and to embrace the desire to travel more sustainably.

The topic of social distancing remains ever-present when it comes to traveling. And what is better suited for a holiday with distance than a holiday home or apartment?

Green Pearls® holiday homes and apartments combine independence with the comfort of a hotel. Depending on the guests' wishes, a breakfast basket with fresh bread rolls can await them in the morning, communal hotel facilities such as sauna, wellness area, or swimming pool can be shared and dinner is delivered right to their door.

In order to be able to enjoy a holiday to recharge your batteries and to spend time with your loved ones during the times of social distancing, we would like to introduce you to some of our sustainable Green Pearls® holiday homes.

MANOAH – Häuser am See

Manoah means "place of rest", "gift" or "present" in Hebrew.

The holiday village consists of 21 modern, minimalist homes situated on a reservoir which the locals affectionately call the Zeulenroda Sea. The solid timber houses are built from high-quality natural materials. “Moon wood" from sustainable forestry was used. The walls of the homes are connected by a wooden dowel, plug-in system and with this, glue, metal, toxic chemicals, or wood preservatives could be completely avoided.

The terraces offer spectacular lake views and the surrounding forests invite you to go for long walks, hikes, or cycling tours. Next to the holiday home village is the "MANOAH market" where guests can buy bread and rolls, barbecue packages, or regional specialties for their picnic baskets - all plastic-free and in organic quality. Those who don’t want to cook while on holiday will find a wide range of offers in the beach house "Da Rosario", the Patisserie Bergmann, or, of course, in the organic lakeside hotel. The holiday village is car-free.

An eco-village in unspoiled nature

The eco-village Sagna Rotonda is located in the Maira Valley above Cuneo and in the middle of the pristine Alpine wilderness. Giovanni and his wife Teresina have managed to fill this unique place with life again. Here, modernity meets a long-standing tradition. The old natural stone houses have been lovingly renovated. The valley is perfect for families and nature lovers. After hikes in the picturesque countryside, the Finnish sauna and a small pool await guests in the evening.

Dream holiday with children

Sabine Stange and Jörg Glorr have created the perfect place for families with the Bio- und Familienhotel Gut Nisdorf. The hotel's 2- or 3-room apartments offer enough space for the whole family. Children large and small will find everything they need for an active holiday with plenty of excitement. Whether handicrafts, pony rides, or go-carts, everyone gets their money's worth. At the Gut Nisdorf, families enjoy all the freedom of a holiday flat combined with the amenities of a hotel.

Summit Lodges in the tyrolean highlands

The Summit Lodges Pfunds in the Tyrolean Oberland consists of a pair of beautiful log cabins which combine the Alpine cottage feeling with modern luxury. Architecturally, the two holiday homes are inspired by the traditional log cabin construction of the Northwest of the USA and Canada and therefore bear the names "Yellowstone" and "Yosemite". An additional plus of the cabins: each holiday home has its own Finnish sauna!

Historic Estate in Spain

In the north of Spain, between the French border and the Costa Brava, at the foot of the Pyrenees, lie the three extraordinary holiday homes of POU DE GLAÇ - ECO TOURISM. The historic estate consists of five different buildings. The heritage-listed ice well building, which gives the estate its name, was used as a natural refrigerator in ancient times. In winter, ice was taken from a pond in the region and stored until June, when it was sold to Italy. The holiday homes are the perfect retreat with plenty of privacy for self-caterers who want to enjoy time out in a unique ambience.

The opening is planned for September 2021.

You can find even more inspiration here.

German holidays were even more popular last year than they already are, with the virus-related travel restrictions. For example, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's market share of Germans' main holiday trips of five days or more rose from 5.1 percent in 2019 to 7.6 percent in 2020. This year, too, many Germans are looking to take a holiday in their own state. All the signs are good. After a long Corona lockdown, hotels and guesthouses in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are finally open again. Guests from all federal states have been allowed to visit since 4 June.

This will especially please family holidaymakers, who will find ideal conditions for relaxed and exciting holidays between the Baltic Sea and the Mecklenburg Lake District. A special accommodation tip near the coast is the children's and family hotel Gut Nisdorf. It is located about 17 kilometers northwest of the Hanseatic city of Stralsund, directly on the coast of the Grabower Bodden. This is an extension of the Baltic Sea that reaches deep into the land and is called the "Bodden". The island of Rügen is about 50 kilometers away from the hotel, the Baltic Sea spa Zingst about 30 kilometers.

Get close to nature at Gut Nisdorf

The lovingly restored historic manor house with twelve comfortable holiday flats is surrounded by a garden of around 25,000 square meters. Adults can rediscover the child within and race around the extensive grounds on Go Karts and scooters. Next to the terrace is a playground with a climbing house, suspension bridge and slides, the natural swimming pond, and a sunbathing and play area. Ideal for enjoying the sunset in the evening on the beach bench by the bathing lake in the garden with a good glass of wine in your hand. Or to play a last round of badminton or table tennis with the children before the day draws to a close on the shores of the Bodden. The spacious grounds, surrounded by an abundance of greenery, promise relaxation for the body and soul right from the start. Pure paradise. Sometimes deer, foxes, and hares run through the village to the manor house. In spring and autumn, flocks of cranes nest around Nisdorf estate and the nearby Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula. In the evening and morning hours, they often fly directly over the manor house. It is a spectacular sight when the cranes sail across the Bodden - and a special opportunity to be very close to nature in your holiday home.

Ecologically renovated and lovingly furnished

Ecology and sustainability play an important role in the organic family hotel. In addition to their regular organic certification, the hotel has been undergoing a carbon footprint assessment for the last ten years. This records the CO2 footprint - and offsets it with certificates. Since the beginning of 2020, the family hotel has been climate neutral. The owners and operators of the estate, Sabine Stange and Jürg Gloor, use ecologically compatible building materials wherever possible.

Ideal terrain for hikers and cyclists

The attractive tourist region provides ideal conditions for a wide variety of activities, and Gut Nisdorf is the perfect base for excursions of all kinds. The beautiful Baltic beaches are close by and perfect for families. The nearest one is in Barhöft, only about 15 minutes by car from Nisdorf. A must is a visit to the Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula, which lies on the southern Baltic Sea coast between Rostock and Stralsund and boasts beautiful landscapes. If you like to be more active on holiday, you can enjoy a cycling tour with the family along the Baltic Sea Coast Cycle-Path. Despite its length (1,000 kilometers from Flensburg in the north to Usedom on the Polish border in the east), it is one of the more leisurely tours and leads through the gently rolling countryside or along the water - spectacular views included. Hikes on the Baltic Sea coastal hiking trail E9 are also recommended. And since 2013, there has even been a new pilgrimage trail that holidaymakers can hike on parts of. The 133-kilometre Birgitta Trail leads from Sassnitz on the island of Rügen via Stralsund to Triebsees.

A trip to the Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft National Park is also recommended. Visitors can explore the 786 square kilometer area with its diverse flora and fauna by bike or on foot. Another tip for families: the Recknitztal bird park region guarantees wonderful animal experiences. With "The magical adventures from the bird park region Recknitztal with Tizi Toll and Fiete Marlow", little ones can visit the stations of the two protagonists in search of the magical amulet. The booklet is available at the region's tourist information offices. The Recknitz Valley can also be explored from the water: Adventurous travelers can enjoy the landscape by canoe, kayak, or with pedal boats or rowing boats from the Recknitz.

And if, after so much nature and picturesque landscapes, you feel like experiencing the city, visit the Hanseatic cities of Rostock, Greifswald, and Stralsund and marvel at the impressive masonry architecture.

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.

Here you can find the award

What was your most memorable train ride? The Guardians' readers tell you theirs in this article.

Read the whole article here

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.

More information

For the guests who left on October 03, the hotel gave planted saplings of a beech tree so that they could plant them. In addition, there was an explanation about unit digging.

The success in 2019 was overwhelming. More than 125,000 trees were planted, almost 300,000 euros in donations were collected and almost 2,000 planting campaigns were organized throughout Germany. In 2020, some of our Green Pearls^® Partners will also take part in the campaign.

What our Green Pearls^® hotels want:

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The green pearls worldwide are committed to greater environmental protection and the fight against climate change every day

In 2019, the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA started to create high beds, from which the hotel's kitchen makes extensive use. In total there are 4 raised beds, distributed on the panoramic terraces, filled with organic humus/compost, with organic plants or seeds in organic and Demeter quality. All herbs are used fresh for the kitchen and bar. This year for the first time radishes, peas, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, zucchini, pumpkin, melons, kohlrabi, pepperoni, salads, and spring onions could be picked.

The Biohotel Sturm also relies entirely on organic in its 3-hectare snack garden, which supplies the kitchen with organic products. The herb and snack garden is also an inspiration for guests to imitate in small quantities and invites them to pick and taste for themselves. It was created by passionate herb and landscape gardeners with a natural bathing pond and log cabin sauna.

The Okelmann's in Warpe also relies on regional products in organic quality. All herbs and spices come from their own garden and the food is purchased seasonally and regionally from local producers, who the host family knows personally.

The Creativhotel Luise offers courses to bring people closer to the trees and their meaning. Shinrin-Yoku means immersion in the forest or also new-German Waldbaden. The name and origin come from Japan. As early as 1982, the Ministry of Forestry encouraged people to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the forest in their free time in order to reduce stress and live healthier. Many studies have proven that a stay in the greenery counteracts depression and burn-out and even lowers blood pressure and pulse rate. But what distinguishes immersing in the forest from a walk in the woods? It is the slowness and therefore also more attentiveness. The point is not to walk particularly much or for a long time or to have been to many places. On the contrary, Waldbaden means to let yourself drift, to switch off, and at the same time to look closely. Try it out. Click here for the offer.

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SUSTAINABLE COFFEE: THE STIMULANTS OF THE GREEN PEARLS^® HOTELS
Coffee can be grown in about 80 countries around the world. If you pay attention to a few things, you can also enjoy sustainable coffee. The origin of the beans and certifications such as fair trade labels are things to look out for.

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SOCIAL DISTANCING AND CORONA MEASURES - VACATIONs BY FAR
With the increasing number of tourists worldwide, reliable hygiene and safety measures are becoming increasingly important. The Green Pearls^® Partners, as hotels that operate in a sustainable manner, face these challenges in a very special way.

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WORKSHOPS ON VACATION: MORE THAN JUST REST AND RELAXATION IN GREEN PEARLS^® HOTELS
The Green Pearls^® Hotels offer great activities and workshops where you can learn new skills while relaxing on vacation. The offer is varied and everyone is sure to find something to suit them.

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LOCAL ARCHITECTURE AND SUSTAINABLE BUILDING
Our green pearls are scattered all over the world and can be found in many different places. This diversity is also noticeable in the construction methods of the hotels. We have taken a closer look at the hotel buildings and present here some architecturally special green pearls.

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At the age of 9 years, Felix Finkbeiner planted his first tree. He had just learned of Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan woman who had recently been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to plant 30 million trees in Africa. The young boy was very impressed by the message she gave - that trees are a powerful ally in fighting global warming. 

Read the article

Zero waste is one of the most significant lifestyle changes taking place in our 21st century, aiming to fight the human impact on our planet through reducing consumption, minimizing waste, and maximizing recycling. Find a sustainability expert's guide to zero-waste travel here.

Full article

• Ecological sustainability focuses on the conscious and resource-efficient management of the natural environment.
• Economic sustainability means doing business in such a way that future generations will not be disadvantaged.
• Social sustainability aims to establish a society where the community’s overall wellbeing is considered and labour and human rights are respected.

Tourism and Sustainability

Tourism has a special role to play in the issue of sustainability as it also contributes to changes in the climate, along with the use and exploitation of resources and people. Travelers want to enjoy nature and local, authentic experiences and sustainable tourism is becoming increasingly important all over the world in times of rapidly advancing climate change, over-tourism and unequal social factors.

Governments around the world have recognized the importance of sustainability and sustainable tourism. They make rules and laws, but it is the people who have to change their mindset and implement them in their day-to-day lives to make a difference.

At Green Pearls^®, we are very fortunate to work with pioneering people every day. Our hoteliers deal with environmental protection and social sustainability on a daily basis and inspire their employees and guests with their ideas. Managing employees, working conditions, training, safeguarding staff and safeguarding the interests of local communities are key issues.

Today we would like to introduce 5 hoteliers and their social concepts. Especially in times of crisis caused by COVID-19, hotels worldwide have a unique responsibility.

Creativhotel Luise – knight in shining armour

During the Corona crisis, the Creativhotel was deeply committed to supporting the local community. Right at the beginning of the crisis, a neighborhood aid scheme was set up with its main purpose being to protect the risk groups and help those who were alone. Neighbors were able to contact the hotel at any time and employees went shopping for them and ran errands or similar.

Another project was the Erlanger Carepaket - an aid package from the city of Erlangen for its residents.

This package contained numerous products from Erlangen retailers and the surrounding region and could be sent to people who one would like to thank or send well wishes to. Packages could not only be sent to specific people, but senders could also choose a "for strangers" option. The hotel chose fitting locations and people who deserved a special thank you during the Corona period, some of these included the local hospital and laboratory staff, nursing staff in the senior care home, postmen and many more. A total of 423 packages were purchased within 2 weeks. "We were very happy about the enthusiastic response to this project, which enabled us to support not only many retailers, but also many 'crisis helpers' a little bit," the hotel said.

In joint cooperation with the city of Erlangen, the Creativhotel also took in Corona patients who only had mild cases, but no suitable accommodation (for example a refugee home, hostel, etc.) to quarantine themselves in. Therefore, some families and individuals spent their quarantine period in a secured area of the Creativhotel.

Bio Children's and Family Hotel Gut Nisdorf

Sabine Stange and Jürg Gloor from the Bio Children's and Family Hotel Gut Nisdorf are part of the Common Good Economy movement, which was founded in 2010 by Austrian journalist Christian Felber and now has members all over the world. Its aim is to create an alternative to the capitalist market economy: Money and markets should serve the people and not vice versa. Instead of just economic growth, the aim is to constantly increase the common good. The well-being of the people is beginning to move more into the center of economic activity.

For the owner couple Jürg Gloor and Sabine Stange, the main focus is on working sustainably and for the benefit of all.

Children and Nutrition: The Bio Breadbox Initiative

In numerous cities and regions in Germany, local organic breadbox initiatives are working as a network to ensure children have access to healthy, nutritional food. Gut Nisdorf has also been involved for three years now, packing a reusable breakfast basket with ingredients from organic farming for first graders from the area to help them the best start to their school day. The aim of this initiative is to convey to children how important and valuable a healthy breakfast is as well as where it comes from.

Zeavola's contribution to mitigating the effects of COVID -19 for employees

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the hospitality industry in Thailand, where tourism is an important economic factor, particularly hard.

For the eco-boutique hotel on Phi Phi Island, sustainability also means protecting the workforce and the local community. The management of the resort decided to close the hotel on March 26, 2020, to allow employees to travel home before a lockdown. Due to Florian Hallerman's quick action, it was possible to send all employees home except for the emergency team before Thailand stopped all travel. This was good for both the employees and the hotel.

As a result, expenses for meals, electricity, water, sewage and even TV channels and WIFI were reduced significantly.

With the help of the Thai government, hotels were able to send their employees on vacation and pay them up to 62% of their regular salary with additional loans bridged the time until the first social security payment. All employees were therefore still able to provide for their families. In a joint staff vote, it was decided to dissolve the existing pension fund and pay it out to the employees so that another 3 months of payments could be secured. The small team that had stayed in the hotel took care of the hotel, the equipment and the jungle garden. Unfortunately, even the Zeavola could not avoid dismissals, 21 employees were dismissed in accordance with the applicable labor laws. Some of them took early retirement and received the full compensation package according to their years of service. Through the Thai social security system, many of them received compensation for 6 months, which gave them the opportunity to find alternative work during the upcoming travel season. The Sea Gypsy community was also affected by the lockdown. As the school was closed, Zeavola stopped the weekly meal for school children and teachers. However, the community was still supported by monthly rice contributions.

Tongsai Bay focuses on local engagement

Tongsai Bay on Koh Samui has followed a sustainable philosophy ever since it first opened its doors in 1987 and is one of the pioneers of sustainability in Thailand. Long before people around the world began to think about the impact of tourism on the environment and local communities, Tongsai Bay's founder, Khun Akorn Hoontrakul, had realized his vision of a sustainable hotel. Many employees have been with the resort for over 30 years and see themselves as a family. 95% of the team are from Thailand and 25 of the 200 employees are from the island of Koh Samui. It is important to the hotel to regularly provide training opportunities to their employees and foster an awareness of the environment through these training, only then can change be achieved. In order to support their employees during the closure of the hotel in the lockdown, free meals were offered and salaries were partly paid with the help of the Thai social security system. The employees are now receiving further training with a special focus on the new situation through Corona. The Eco Hotel also continued to support social projects such as the animal shelter, schools, temple projects and "Sisters of Samui", a project that feeds more than 1000 homeless people every day.

Gili Lankanfushi : GILIS SEAS – social & environmental awareness and sustainability

The 6-star hotel in the Maldives follows strict rules both in terms of the environment and social responsibility with its GILIS SEAS Program - Social & Environmental Awareness and Sustainability. Almost all employees are locals who receive intensive training and support. Whenever possible, the resort tries to purchase local and fair-trade products to keep transport distances as short as possible and to support regional producers. The suppliers are also selected according to criteria such as fair payment, good working conditions, and local employees. The hotel regularly provides a free ferry to Male and Himmafushi for the staff so that they can see their families, visit friends, or go shopping. The residents of Himmafushi can also use it and the hotel also supports the school there and pays the salary of a full-time English teacher there.

Inkaterra: Pioneer in sustainability in Peru

Since 1978, Inkaterra performs scientific research and invests in the development and education of local communities. The small hotel chain thus takes a pioneering position in terms of sustainability. More than 4,000 locals have already been trained since the foundation. Inkaterra offers career opportunities on hospitality, field guidance, and agroforestry projects on cacao and Brazil nut.  Regular workshops and conferences are organized for local communities to raise awareness of environmental protection.

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Sagna Rotonda and Locanda Mistral

Enjoy the autumn in the beautiful landscape of Piedmont. Stay 7 nights in one of the sustainable apartments of Sagna Rotonda or in a room at Locanda Mistral in September or October and pay for 6 nights only. Experience the deer season in the untouched Maira Valley with its impressive alpine scenery.

Gut Nisdorf

Relaxation on the autumn-like Baltic Sea coast can be found at Gut Nisdorf. The organic and family hotel has the right offer for a stay from 4.9. to 5.10.2020: Stay 5 days and pay only 4. The large apartments and the extensive estate grounds offer great opportunities for a relaxing time, especially for families.

 OCÉANO Hotel Health Spa

The OCÉANO Hotel Health Spa Tenerife welcomes you again from October 2nd for a completely relaxed stay directly by the sea. This is their attractive reopening offer from October 2^nd - October 30^th: stay 7 days and only pay for 5 days. The "BALANCE" half board is included in the price. In addition, you can book various treatments with professional care.

Cerf Island Resort

At Cerf Island Resort you will receive a 40% discount on half board for a stay until January 31^st_, 2021. The offer is valid for bookings made until 31 October 2020. Relax in beautiful Seychelles in one of the private villas or suites of the Green Pearls® Hotel.

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TRAVEL TO THAILAND – BUT SAFELY!
Although the corona pandemic is still present everywhere, a "new normality" seems to be gradually establishing itself. We asked about the current situation in Thailand and how it will be to travel there in the "new normality".

Read blog post

SHORT TRIP IN CORONA TIMES: BIOHOTEL STURM
We have tested it for you and made a short trip in Corona times. Read here how we were doing and why a trip in Corona times is worth it!

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ACTIVITIES IN THE GREEN PEARLS® HOTELS: FROM API-WELLNESS TO FOREST BATHING
Nowadays, what do people think of the holidays? A break from everyday life? Being on the road and getting to know foreign cultures? Relaxation with a breathtaking mountain panorama? Or taking part in various outdoor activities? Right, holidays can mean many things.

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NATURE COMES ALIVE – PANDEMIC OBSERVATIONS AND ANIMAL WELFARE PROJECTS OF OUR GREEN PEARLS® HOTELS
In many countries, curfews due to the corona pandemic suddenly caused busy cities and regions to become almost completely empty of people. Where humans have left, the animal and plant world is spreading.

Read blog post

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Destinations, NGOs and companies together call for sustainable tourism:

Read the whole article online

The authors of this article asked three US-based infectious disease specialists to get information about the different scenarios that could confront us this fall when it comes to travelling.

Find out more

Can carbon offset platforms help to make traveling more sustainable? This report informs about new platforms and their possibilities.

More information

HUBERTUS unplugged

At the HUBERTUS unplugged, almost everything is running normally again. Though, of course, masks are worn and shaking hands is avoided. The breakfast buffet is available once again, but only with the use of biodegradable disposable gloves. Some guests found the fact that saunas had been temporarily closed a positive, as it meant their holiday to-do list became one activity shorter. However, now nothing stands in the way of a sauna stay! The areas are completely disinfected twice per day which helps to ensure guests are relaxed yet safe, and cannot spend too much of their day in the sauna.

Holidaymakers wanting to socialize and get to know each other has posed a challenge for the hotel team. But managing director Marc Traubel is sure: "We will find a solution for this!”

Hofgut Hafnerleiten

Hofgut Hafnerleiten has moved many of its activities outside. The aperitif takes place in the inner courtyard and dinner is delivered directly to your room. Breakfast is also brought to the guests by individual arrangement. For the team, these changes have been going better than expected. Their guests even expressed the desire to also be able to book these new options after the Corona crisis.

Enthusiastic travelers:

"Due to the Corona circumstance, the service was particularly creative."

"We stayed at the Hofgut during the first week of the Corona reopening and at first, we were missing the evening "family dinner" (especially the company of the other guests). But to be able to pick up our starter and dessert at the aperitif, and then to hear a knock at the door half an hour later and have the main course hand-delivered: a holiday at its best".

Okelmann’s

In the Green Pearls® hotel, Okelmann's many things are also going better than expected. The guests are grateful for the opportunity to be able to spend some time away from their daily life at all. The large grounds and the limited rooms of the hotel make it possible to keep your distance. The staff provides their excellent service while wearing masks, but the guests themselves do not have to wear a mask at the table. The team always ensures the rooms are well-ventilated and the many terraces invite guests to enjoy the outdoors during good weather.

The individually arranged breakfast has been especially well-received by their guests. Meals are served in the café or in the rooms, and guests are enjoying the rich selection according to their wishes.

SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA

Especially the breakfast buffet in the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA is praised by the guests in the current situation. The hotel team serves the food and there is still a rich selection. With preserving jars a creative approach to the situation was found.

The guests are also enthusiastic about the always friendly staff, who have kept their good mood.

Corona also showed regular guests:

"We were always very satisfied. We will certainly be happy to come back again".

Bio Familienhotel Gut Nisdorf

The new regulations mean that procedures have changed somewhat at the Bio Familienhotel Gut Nisdorf. However, the families that visit are still very happy about the time off from everyday life. The large property makes it easier for everyone to keep their distance, and movement around the hotel is based on a “one-way street” system so that guests will not have the chance to run into one another. Instead of the usual buffet, food can be served in the rooms or outside. Although this eliminates some enjoyable conversations in the dining area, they can just as easily be held in the fresh air.

And this is what one guest had to say:

"I felt that the protective measures gave me a special crown to wear as a guest! It even felt a little bit more personal, since now, for example, you are served at the bar while the Head Chef prepares a freshly fried egg for you breakfast basket which is then handed over the bar to you to enjoy wherever you like. It is quite a nice experience."

The safety of guests and teams is the number one priority at all Green Pearls® Hotels. The current situation offers the opportunity to explore new possibilities with some unique and creative solutions.

Schloss Wartegg on Lake Constance reopened its doors last week and is happy to welcome back guests. Enjoy the blossoming flowers, fresh green leaves and the spring weather in the large park, stroll through the Demeter garden and pay a visit to the hotel sheep – relaxing and unwinding is easy at Schloss Wartegg. And look forwarding to enjoying creative and seasonal organic cuisine for breakfast and dinner.

In Austria, hotels may reopen from the 29^th of May onwards subject to certain conditions. Here too, of course, the 1.5 m social distancing must be observed, as well as the obligation to wear a mask, proper hand hygiene, and sneezing and coughing etiquette. In the Genießerhotel Die Forelle am Weissensee in Carinthia, preparations are in full swing - both in the hotel and in the accompanying restaurant. Possible concerns are directly addressed by owner and head chef Hannes Müller: "We want to offer our guests a wonderfully relaxed stay and naturally we make sure that all hygiene regulations are observed."

Home office, home schooling and the corona lockdown are particularly difficult for families. The Biohotel Grafenast in Tyrol, therefore, has special offerings for stressed families: "We would like to support families and invite them to recover from the stress of the past months. That's why children who stay in their parents' room from the 6^th of June to the 19^th of July 2020 and from the 15^th of August to 6^th of September 2020, will receive a 50% discount. The children's discount is also valid for single parents and from 5 nights or more."

The Naturhotel Outside is located in one of the most beautiful places on earth, surrounded by the impressive mountain world of East Tyrol - and is looking forward to your visit from the 19^th of June! Let the stress disappear into the beautiful nature surrounding you as you hike past mountain lakes, larch forests and rushing streams.

Relaxation through the power of nature is what the Naturhotel Waldklause in Ötztal has on offer: Deeply rooted within the region, you can enjoy regional delicacies, explore the Tyrolean Alps and relax in the spacious wellness area - what more do you need?

We are already looking forward to further re-openings and to our next getaway!

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We posted them as an Easter breakfast treat, but actually we like to eat them all year round: quinoa pancakes! Not only are they super delicious, but they also bring back memories of our last Peru trip with Inkaterra!

Click here for the recipe

The Kasbah du Toubkal in the Moroccan Atlas Mountains perfectly combines hiking with getting to know the local Berber culture. Find out what sustainability means to owner Mike McHugo on the blog.

Hoteliers Up Close: Kasbah du Toubkal

An old, heritage listed granary directly at Lake Ziegelsee in Schwerin: today, this is the location of Hotel Speicher, a climate-friendly 4* hotel. We are happy to share its story with you:

Sustainably renovated: Hotel Speicher

Some mountain tribes live in the region of Mae Hong Son. Within the structure of community-based tourism, they are slowly opening up to travelers. We introduce you to the DoiSter Organisation, where you can learn traditional handicrafts during their CraftStays.

Handicrafts in Mae Hong Son

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The Puri Dajuma Beach Eco-Resort & Spa in western Bali currently remains open. A small team of 12 employees takes care of the few guests of the resort from morning until night. The Puri Dajuma Team has come up with a special system: The 48 employees in total have been divided into 4 groups, each working for one week. In this way, all important positions can remain occupied and the staff can continue to be employed. Of course, all safety and health measures are also observed and kept at a distance at the Puri Dajuma.

The current situation is disastrous for hoteliers and restaurateurs. The campaign "Leere Stühle" (Empty Chairs) in cities across Germany has drawn attention to these businesses: one chair per business was placed on the main square of the respective city. The aim is also to show that hotels and catering businesses are quite capable of implementing the necessary hygiene rules and contact requirements. Among others, the Bio Kinder- und Familienhotel Gut Nisdorf was one of the participants.

The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts worldwide have launched a competition for all content creators: the "Curated Journey Video Competition". Participants receive exclusive access to The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts' video and content bank, which contains recordings of all hotels, destinations and experiences, and are also allowed to use their own content from hotels in the region. A public vote will be held between the 12^th and the 22^nd of May 2020 for the top five videos. The winner will receive a fantastic 7-night stay including breakfast in one of the group's hotels, e.g. in our Green Pearls® partner hotel The Pavilions Himalayas – The Farm. 

Health at home: Although we are unable to take part in the fasting treatments at the OCÉANO Hotel Health Spa in Tenerife at the moment, the hotel's medical director, Dr. Georg Kettenhuber, regularly shares tips on the hotel's Facebook channel on how to find inner balance and support both physical and mental health.

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„For hundreds of years, indigenous groups have warned that destroying the environment leads to disease and adversely affects lives and culture. Is the world now ready to listen?“

Read about the indigenous communities that predicted Covid-19 on BBC

„The coronavirus pandemic has shut down many of the most popular national parks, creating a forced experiment: What happens when animals who make their homes in these protected space have (mostly) free rein of the park grounds?“ 

Read the full story about the US national parks and their animal residents here on CNN

Are you looking for some special travel inspirations for the time after the lockdown?

Check out these tips and wishes from thirteen Lonely Planet writers

Statistics about Sustainable Traveling 

If the various statistics are to be believed, environmentally conscious and socially responsible travel is the trend. Most reports and surveys show that people are willing to opt for a greener holiday. While a survey by TripAdvisor in 2017 showed that 60% of travellers were still interested in environmentally friendly travel, a survey by booking.com in 2018 indicates 87% of travellers worldwide intend to make their travel more sustainable. As many as 39% confirmed that they were able to realise their green plans, while 48% said that they never or only rarely succeed in travelling in an environmentally friendly way.

But what exactly does sustainable travel mean? Sustainable travel has a different meaning for every traveller: for most people, it is the choice of eco-friendly accommodation, a sustainable destination or local and authentic experiences.

Communication and Transparency 

A major point of criticism from many travelers continues to be a lack of communication and transparency. Travelers often criticize that there are not enough green offers and demand more sustainable travel ideas, however, there are many attractive offers worldwide. What is often missing is clear: comprehensive and transparent communication. This concerns both destinations and their surrounding regions along with many hotels and holiday homes. Travelers do not want to spend hours searching the Internet for green destinations.

The Story of Green Pearls®

When Green Pearls® was launched in 2012, sustainable travel was more of a niche market. The development over the last seven years shows that responsible tourism certainly has reached many people worldwide. Our green pearls, which can be found all over the world, show what can be achieved, even as a small hotel. And behind each of these hotels is a visionary, creative individual.

The Incubator 

One of the first green pearls and also the incubator for Green Pearls® was Tongsai Bay on Koh Samui in Thailand. It was built by Khun Akorn Hoontrakul, the owner of the Imperial Hotel Group. In 1985 he spotted the bay from the sea and it was love at first sight. Within days he bought the land with a plan to build a resort with minimal impact on the natural environment. He slept on the beach for three months to ensure that the cottages were correctly positioned, that no trees were cut down, no animals were injured and that there was as little interference with nature as possible.

After his death, his son Gob and daughter-in-law Goya continue to run the resort in line with his philosophy. This story is all the more remarkable as it takes place in 1987, a time when nobody really thought about travel and the impact on our environment. In 2009 Stefany Seipp, the founder of Green Pearls®, met the current owners of Tongsai Bay Gob and Goya and the story of Khun Akorn has never left her mind. She has often thought about how visionary hoteliers such as Khun Akorn, Gob and Goya could have a voice and worldwide recognition. 

Green Pearls® all over the world 

Even then, there were people for whom conscious travel was important, who were looking for local experiences and after intensive research, the label, communication agency and information platform Green Pearls® was founded in 2012. Here, travelers can find sustainable accommodation, green destinations, restaurants, business hotels and projects – worldwide.

All these hoteliers are united by the conviction that tourism should be designed in such a way that future generations can still experience and enjoy tourism. They are all committed to environmental protection and socially responsible travel. As a pioneer starting 2013 with less than a handful of green pearls, Green Pearls® now has 82 partners worldwide. Partners such as the country of Thailand, with whom they develop concepts to make tourism more environmentally and socially responsible with the idea of tourism that benefits the communities. Green Pearls®, for example, are the small hotels and holiday homes in Piedmont away from the tourist streams, hotels in Austria with the ambitious goal of "import self-sufficiency" or a manor house in Germany that accommodates families and provides for small and large guests alike with maximum. 

2019 was a good year for sustainable development. Many people around the world have made a strong case for sustainability. Whether it's people like Greta Thunberg, Prince Harry, Larry Fink of Blackrock, or issues such as flying ashes, climate change and plastic, or the global Fridays for Future movement, travelers around the world have begun to be more mindful of their environmental impact.

Let us overcome the crisis together and plan your next holiday after Corona in one of the many green pearls worldwide. Support the many people who work every day for a more harmonious coexistence and future for the environment.

Therefore we have a request for you: Keep dreaming about your holiday and plan it for the time after the Corona crisis. It really helps the hotels and tour operators if you don't cancel your booking completely but rather postpone it to a later date. Some hotels have introduced special policies especially for this situation in these difficult times, especially since nobody can say for sure when the situation will begin to ease. With your rebooking, you are supporting livelihoods and above all, you are supporting the people who are already feeling the challenging impacts of this crisis. These tips are already circulating in the media in a similar tenor for musicians and artists: If you can afford it, support them by simply letting the tickets for the events expire or buy their books and CDs for enjoyment at home to help make sure that their very survival is not threatened.

We will continue to provide you with travel inspiration for the time after the Corona crisis and try to remain as positive as possible. We wish you much strength and perseverance. 

We all slipped into this crisis together, so let us all find a way out together.

Stay home and healthy!

Your Green Pearls® Team

Stefany, Nadine, Anke, Anca, Hanna

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Have you ever experienced a hike lasting several days? To conquer kilometers of trail and meters of altitude only with your own muscle power is a very special feeling. We will introduce you to some great long-distance hiking trails and some wonderful hotels where you can rest and recuperate.

Long-distance hiking trails

Whether hiking, flying or relaxing - we love to get high! In these hotels, you will experience adventure and relaxation at lofty heights.

High up

Who actually are the people who make our partner hotels so sustainable and unique? We introduce them to you - this time, the owners of the Biohotel Sturm!

Hoteliers up close

Holidays as a family are a very special and precious time – these eight hotels have been perfectly designed to meet the needs of young and old.

Relaxing family holidays

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Our partner hotels around the world are suffering from the effects of the Corona virus. On www.greenpearls.com, we will try to keep current measurements taken by the hotels, terms of rebooking or canceling as well as closings up to date. 

Our home page has a new layout – have a look at www.greenpearls.com and let us know how you like it via mail to info@greenpearls.com! We are looking forward to your feedback!

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While the coronavirus forces us to social distancing, the question arises, if that social isolation also helps to reduce everyone's production of greenhouse gases – and if the changes will stick.

Read the full article on The New York Times

Staying home all the time can be boring, but these 50 best travel movies of all times by Conde Nast Traveler will not only distract but inspire you for your travels after the crisis: the extensive list includes movies from 1953 - 2019!

Get inspired 

And also the blog Expert Vagabond published some of the best travel movies. There you will find 19 travel movies from the Motorcycle Diaries to Indiana Jones introducing you to different kinds of travel. 

Find more on Expert Vagabond

CNN Travel says, there's a perfect beach for every week of the year. On a 12-month journey, CNN is presenting the best beaches. The perfect inspiration!

Find the best beaches

The Economy for the Common Good (ECG) is an alternative, ethical economic model. Here the focus is on people and the environment and it is no longer just about making as much profit as possible. Money and markets should serve the people and not vice versa. The ECG was developed by the Austrian author Christian Felber. His vision: Companies support each other instead of competing with each other. The common good balance is measured with a point system that makes enterprises and products transparent and comparable.

We think this is very forward-thinking! A few of our hoteliers also see it that way and some are even already part of the ECG – hoteliers such as the Landgut Stober, which in 2018 achieved the highest new entry in common good certification. The vision is consistently implemented on the Landgut Stober and a lot of value is placed on the ecological, humane, solidary and fair organization of the company.

The eco-family-hotel Gut Nisdorf also measures its common good balance. For the owner couple Jürg Gloor and Sabine Stange, the main focus is on sustainability and, as far as possible, on working for the good of all. “It changes the way one thinks and acts a great deal,” says Sabine Stange. “Everything is questioned. It goes so far that if there is no justifiable solution or product, the project is not carried out at all. The financial aspect no longer comes to the fore, but it is important how I and my environment feel about my actions.”

The Biohotel Grafenast in Austria also focuses on people and nature. Sustainable business management has been a core theme of the founding family Unterlechner for many years. Since the business year 2015/2016, the family has been regularly preparing its common good report and thus evaluating the hotel's processes and products.

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Feelings of happiness and sunshine: Editor Hanna spent a few winter days in the Maira Valley in Piedmont – on the blog she tells us about her experiences.

To the blog post

We love to hike and that’s why we show you some of our favorite hiking trails around the Green Pearls® Hotels, from Franconian Switzerland to the Moroccan Atlas Mountains.

Discover now

On January 17th we celebrated the Day of Italian Cuisine and we found a delicious recipe for you at our Italian partner Dolomit Homes & Hotel: Ladin Apple Pancakes with Vanilla Sauce. Delicious!

Start cooking now!

Curious, but cozy: We show you who to make yourself really comfortable – not only on the International Sweatpants Day!

Find out more

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The German TV show 'Grenzenlos - Die Welt entdecken' visits a wide variety of destinations across the globe and shares personal stories of the local people. In January, the documentary about Liguria was shown – and the Relais del Maro, one of our Green Pearls in Italy, was part of it! You can watch the whole show online – but be careful: wanderlust is guaranteed!

Watch it now

Relaxation, sports and hiking between the mountains and the sea in Tenerife – you will find this wonderful combination at the OCÉANO Hotel Health Spa. The hotel in the northern part of the island is not only the starting point for outdoor activities of all kinds but also offers a wide range of offers for the sustainable promotion of health with its spa and the new Center of Healthy Motion.

Discover more

Looking for a winter holiday with lots of snow, far away from the major ski resorts? The Maira Valley in Piedmont offers a unique alternative: whether snowshoeing or cross-country skiing, here you can enjoy the unspoiled nature. Renato is not only the owner of the Locanda Mistral, but he is also on the road with his guests every day as a mountain guide. At the beginning of February there are still places available for a touring week with mountain guide Renato – get the special price and send your request directly to info@locandamistral.com.

Five of the seven Inkaterra hotels have been nominated by Travel + Leisure as Best Hotels and Inkaterra itself as "Best Hotel Brand". Congratulations! You can now vote online for our Green Pearls in Peru.

Vote now

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Unfortunately, microplastics can be found everywhere in the world. The Guardian wrote about how the microplastic pollution is now raining down on city dwellers – while the health impacts of breathing in these particles are still unknown.

Read the whole article

Why should travelers leave their concerns about the environment and their food choices at home? We’ve been stating this since the beginning and a new study shows that accommodation and food could be worse for the environment than the air miles logged getting there!

Find out more on Lonely Planet

The Economy for the Common Good (ECG) is based on values such as honesty, cooperation, solidarity, appreciation, and trust. Companies support each other instead of competing with each other. Thus, success is no longer measured by financial profit, but by the goals a company sets itself. These could include, for example, employee satisfaction and opportunities for participation, fair cooperation with suppliers or the sustainable investment of profits. The points system of the common good balance allows for companies and products to become transparent and more easily compared with each other.

Newcomer with great ambitions in the Havelland region

The Landgut Stober in Groß Behnitz has been part of the Economy for Common Good since 2018 and the hotel achieved the highest new entry in Common Good certification with 690 points. "This once again confirms that the conference hotel assumes a special responsibility for the social, ecological and economic restructuring of society," says owner Michael Stober. The Landgut Stober has been an agricultural model estate since 1866 and already practiced corporate social responsibility at that time. This tradition has been actively continued since the purchase of the demolished ruin in 2000.

Based on the vision of Christian Felber, the founder of Economy for the Common Good, the Landgut Stober today stands for a new economic and value community. This vision is consistently implemented at the Landgut Stober and thus great importance is attached to the ecological, humane, solidary and fair organization of the company.

This can be seen, for example, in the transparent handling of company profits, a fixed portion of which is donated to charitable institutions and reinvested. Employees also receive improved social benefits and higher salaries. Another part is used for special loan repayments and then only the remaining portion goes to the owner, who bears the entire entrepreneurial and financial risk. At the Landgut Stober, the focus is not on profit maximization, but on the sense of purpose of the company.

People and nature at the center of activity

At the Biohotel Grafenast in Austria, the focus is on people and nature as well. Sustainable business management has been a core theme of the founding family Unterlechner for many years. In cooperation with two other Tyrolean bio-hotels and a business mentor, the family – after more than 80 hours of analysis and work – has been able to produce its first Common Good report for the business year 2015/2016 and have evaluated the hotel.

A lot has happened since that time, but the Biohotel Grafenast also has a lot of plans! They are working to improve the relationship management with suppliers, to integrate the operating environment into the process of the Common Good balance sheet and to make the balance sheet results more transparent for guests.

A sustainable hotel for the benefit of all

The eco-family-hotel Gut Nisdorf also measures its Common Good balance and its contribution to the common good of a democratic society. For the owner couple Jürg Gloor and Sabine Stange, the focus is on working sustainably and for the benefit of all. “Developing a balance sheet for the common good is an excellent way of thinking about all aspects of one’s business in a detailed and targeted manner,” says Sabine Stange. In four very intensive meetings, the two of them and three other organic hotels in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Brandenburg worked out the matrix for each of the businesses.

“It changes the way we think and act a great deal. Everything is questioned. Is what I buy and do fair, ecologically sound and sustainable?” Sabine explains the process. “It goes so far that if there is no justifiable solution or product, the project is not carried out at all. We also deliberately buy from companies that also have an ECG balance sheet. With this, we know that companies are acting correctly and align with our interests. We cannot imagine a different way of thinking. The financial aspect is no longer in the foreground, but it is important how I and my environment feel about my actions.”

Veganuary is a nonprofit organization and campaign that encourages people around the world to eat a purely plant-based diet in January. You can register online for free to get lots of tips and recipes. You also find a lot of inspiration on Instagram at #veganuary.

A purely plant-based diet helps to protect the environment, has a positive impact on our climate, saves animals and is also good for our health. Apart from that, vegan food is simply delicious! “How delicious?” you may ask? Our two vegan hotels Bio-Agrivilla i pini and Biotiquehotel LA VIMEA show their guests every day. Perhaps you would even like to eat plant-based long after the 30 days? Just give it a try!

We are pleased that we can not only count hotels among our green pearls that always have a purely vegan offer, but that other hotels are also part of the Veganuary, such as the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA in Bad Herrenalb. Following the principle of the "planetary health diet", the Selfnesshotel has been offering creative vegan and vegetarian dishes for many years, à la carte as well as at the "Zero Waste Breakfast Buffet". You will also find vegan products in the bathrooms and in the wellness area – and of course well beyond January.

At Gili Lankanfushi on the Maldives, you can book a vegan experience in the Organic Garden with Chef Hari. Taste the freshness of exotic herbs, homegrown rocket and beach lettuce, then pick pomegranates and bananas. 

Whether in Keemala in Thailand, in the Naturhotel Outside in East Tyrol, in the Strandhotel Kurhotel Juist on the North Sea island Juist or in the organic children's and family hotel Gut Nisorf – in many of our hotels you can also have vegan meals if you wish. By the way: Refugium Lindenwirt is now a member of Vegan Welcome and you can always enjoy regional and purely plant-based dishes at the hotel in the Bavarian Forest.

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Before 2019 came to an end, we shared our blog highlights for the year with you and reviewed our most beautiful trips of the year.

To the highlights of the editorial team

Environmentally friendly sunscreen? What does sun protection actually have to do with corals? This blog post was particularly popular in 2019 – and you can already remember our tips for the summer.

To the blog post

Do you already know our green pearl in Lithuania, the ROMANTIC Boutique Hotel & Spa? Here you stay in a former grain mill – tradition meets modern.

Learn more

Are you always looking for very special experiences, far away from the tourist crowds? Here are our insider tips!

5 insider tips for your next vacation

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We have found a new green pearl for you: the La Subida Country Resort in Friuli, Italy, on the border with Slovenia. Luxury close to nature and modern architecture, great wine and delicious food, here you can enjoy the Friulan lifestyle to the fullest.

Find out more about the La Subida

The Landgut Stober collects one award after the other – now there is another award for the sustainability of the hotel. In December, the testing institute CERTIFIED announced its test results for the year and the Landgut Stober not only secured the top grade 'Excellent', but also the first place in the 'Green Hotel' category.

The Keemala is a “villa wonderland” in the middle of the forests of Kamala, on the Phuket peninsula. The resort with its very special architecture celebrated its fourth anniversary at the end of last year. Congratulations!

Read on

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Annika from The Midnight Blue Elephant was a guest at The Tongsai Bay last year and was able to take part in a fruit sommelier course there. She shares her experiences and what was especially tasty with you on the blog.

“12 Thailand Fruits you need to try!”

Traveling by container ship across the sea simply fascinates us again and again, which is why we devoured the experience report in the Guardian.

"I didn't want to fly – so I took a cargo ship from Germany to Canada" 

2020 is the perfect time to reinvigorate your bucket list and to check out the places, attractions and brand new experiences that will have their moment in the spotlight for the first time, or exclusively, in 2020. Lonely Planet has some ideas for you.

“20 brand new experiences for your travel bucket list in 2020”

Adventures in the Peruvian rainforest

A long-distance trip with kids? When the whole family feels as welcome as in the Inkaterra hotels in Peru, why not! In addition to cots and highchairs, there is also a "nanny service" for children from the age of four: experienced staff take care of the little ones – including games, lemonade or milk, and cookies. Children from the age of four can also experience adventures in the rainforest as researchers: they can accompany a guide, go on a treasure hunt, discover nature around the Machu Picchu or learn a lot about Peru's only bear species, the Andean bear.

A family holiday at the Baltic Sea

In the organic family hotel Gut Nisdorf children are not only welcome but also encouraged! Here everything revolves around families and how they can spend an enjoyable and relaxing time together. There are play areas on every floor and a large playroom next to the dining room, an organic buffet where children of all ages can find their favorite food, and a large garden with playground and natural swimming pond. And this is exactly what the family hotel is all about: Parents finally don't have to think about anything, they can choose to cook in the sustainably renovated, spacious apartments, but thanks to the hotel service they don't have to. Couples also have the chance to spend some quality time together while the little ones are busy having fun at the childcare.

Relaxing under the sign of the bees

In the Hotel Rinner on the Ritten, everyone really feels at home in the family-friendly rooms. Whether summer or winter, no one will ever be bored, thanks to a visit to the organic beekeeping, a ride on the Rittner train or cable car, swimming in the Wolfsgrubener See or skiing and tobogganing! While parents sunbathe comfortably or finally are able to settle in and enjoy a book again, the children play in the large meadow with playground and trampoline.

The Api-Wellness treatment in the Hotel Rinner is particularly beneficial for children: an inhalation device gently sucks in the air from the beehive and guides it through a heated tube over a fine-meshed grid to the inhalation mask – without disturbing the busy animals. You and your children can relax and breathe in the healing air of the bees and the little ones will certainly find it exciting to watch all the activity in their beehive.

Vacations in the Maldives

The Maldives are not only a great destination for honeymooners, but also for a trip with the whole family! The large villas of the Reethi Faru Resort offer privacy and even arrival by seaplane or speedboat is a special highlight for children. The house reef is only a few meters away from the detached villas – here, families can experience the coral conservation project and environmental protection practices first-hand.

Gili Lankanfushi is also located on the Maldives and the motto "No News, No Shoes" applies to everyone. Leave your worries at home, and settle into in the family villa, where no wishes are left unanswered: Large bedrooms and living rooms, a private bathing area surrounded by the crystal-clear ocean, a private sun deck and the private wellness area are just waiting to be discovered by guests of all ages.

Hiking holidays that inspire everyone

The Northern Black Forest is a fantastic region to experience, and around the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA hiking enthusiast families (or those who want to become one) get their money's worth! Think hiking is boring? Think again! On the adventure trails in Bad Herrenalb, you can experience animals and the natural environment with all of your senses. Older children can also take part in an adventure scavenger hunt with geocaching or try their hand at gold panning. Bad Herrenalb also has numerous playgrounds, a thermal spa and in winter even husky sleigh rides are possible. The fully equipped apartments of the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA offer enough space for the whole family.

Romantic Christmas market with lake view

A visit to Landgut Stober in Havelland is always worthwhile, but those who make it to the organic hotel on 8 December can enjoy the 12th traditional Advent market! Enjoy fresh salmon, which is cooked at the open fire, listen to Christmas stories, sample delicacies from the country estate kitchen, browse handicrafts or excitedly wait for Santa Claus to visit – the Advent market enchants the whole family. Spend a relaxing pre-Christmas weekend and enjoy the magnificent view of Lake Groß Behnitz and Brandenburg's oldest plane trees.

Christmas in the Black Forest

Traveling over the Christmas holidays? Of course! Visit, for example, the snow-covered Black Forest around Bad Herrenalb. Whether sledding or snowshoeing, here you can be sporty as you like. However, relaxation and reflection shouldn't be neglected – luckily the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA has the perfect Christmas offer: On Christmas Eve allow yourself to be spoiled with a festive 4-course menu, including wines and musical accompaniment. Enjoy delicacies from the kitchen over the Christmas public holidays, with the option of vegetarian or vegan on request. And of course, you can also relax in the 850 m² SPA area with mineral thermal swimming pool and saunas.

DIY Gifts from the Allgäu Mountains

Stressed out by everything that still needs to be done this year? Then escape everyday life to the airy heights of the Allgäu Mountains! At the HUBERTUS unplugged you can enjoy a break for both body and soul – and take part in one of the natural cosmetics workshops. Here you will learn how to make your own deodorant, lip balm, body scrub, bath additives and much more – gift them to yourself or share them with your loved ones. The "Zero Waste" workshop, where you can make beeswax cloths, will have a lasting effect. If you're looking for a gift from the kitchen, you'll also find it in the Allgäu Mountains: Ayurvedic chef Gabriel Simon regularly produces chutneys and pralines himself in workshops with guests – which are also great under the Christmas tree.

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Two years ago our editor Hanna visited the OCÉANO Hotel Health Spa on Tenerife and a lot has changed there since then – we show you what changes await you in our blog post.

Discover Now

Climate change affects us all. We have spoken to our partners around the world about how they are feeling the effects of climate change – and show you what they are doing about it.

To the blog post

Our editor Anke visited the organic family hotel Gut Nisdorf with her family. Her conclusion: delicious food, happy children, time with the partner – pure relaxation!

Read about her experiences

There are so many great charities, projects, and associations that advocate for animals, the environment and people. We'd like to introduce you to a few organisations that work with our hotel partners around the world.

Learn more

Plastic Rebels and Ocean Children: We talked to Ozeankind e.V. founder Marina about her project and her commitment.
(Picture: Ozeankind e.V.)

Click here for the interview

We love Christmas – and we really love having a Christmas tree. But how can we reconcile a Christmas tree with our ecological conscience? We have the answers.

Take me to the blog post

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The Zeavola Resort on Phi Phi Island has just won three awards! Two in Responsible Tourism and one for its exceptional honeymoon offerings. Congratulations!

Click here for more information about the awards

The Keemala on Phuket also has a reason for celebration: The resort is delighted to be awarded Regional Winner for Luxury Eco Resort at the 2019 World Luxury Hotel Awards. This latest achievement is a testament to Keemala’s commitment to the sustainability of the environment while maintaining the highest standard of luxury for guests.

Read more

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„Today, the challenge is to be a ‘good’ tourist. And as we try to travel to places without making a negative impact, destinations are becoming emboldened to speak openly about which kinds of travelers are welcome – and which are not.”

Read the whole article at CNN Travel

As deforestation of the Brazilian Amazon has hit the highest annual level in a decade, we recommend this Guardian Article about river communities, activists and academics who are meeting in the heart of the rainforest to fight for the planet’s future.

Read on

‘Climate strike’ named 2019 word of the year by Collins Dictionary.

Find out more at The Guardian

Find the raffle here. 

Trees for Berchtesgaden

On the mountain Gröll in Ramsau the last winter damaged huge areas: many trees had fallen leaving open spaces. The Berghotel Rehlegg has joined the “mountain wood” offensive action started by the Office for Food, Agriculture and forests in Traunstein. Thus 100 larches were planted on the mountain Gröll on the 3rd of October with more following. Because most guests arrive on Fridays at the Berghotel Rehlegg, a tree will be planted from now on for every 5th guests arriving on a Friday. This will generate more than 3,000-4,000 trees yearly! Besides, the hotel is also involved in a reforestation program in Panama as well as in a regional compensation of building up humus through a compensation CO2 program

'Einheitsbuddeln' at the Baltic Sea

Also, the Lifestylehotel SAND has taken part together with some employees and even created a small event around: A pine was planted and to strengthen the participants (and the guests of course) green SANDsmoothies were served.​ The Gut Nisdorf at the Boddenseeküste at the Baltic Sea has also found space for a new tree on ist extensive garden property.​

'Einheitsbuddeln' in the Black Forest

The SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA in Bad Herrenalb also planted three new trees on the 3rd of October from which they will hopefully provide some apples for the hotel in the future...

Already for a long time many of the Green Pearls® hotel partners are involved all year round in the preservation of the woods – be it the use of only sustainable wood, reforestation or the preservation of the old forest.

The Mawell Resort in Hohenlohe was taking only minimal impact of the woods into consideration when building the resort – hence, the woods are intact and do not offer any space for new trees. The Landgut Stober close to Berlin owns 125,000 square meters of own forest and, besides, supports reforestation projects in India and Panama. And the Wild Mahseer in the Indian region Assam has only recently carried out its own actions for the reforestation of the local woods and, besides, has planted more than 284,000 trees.

The Inkaterra Group together with the Peruvian Society for environmental rights has brought to life a campaign starting in October: "Free Tambopata" draws the attention not only to the importance of the protection of the rain forest but supports the organization "The Tambopatas". They observe the woods in order to prevent unlawful digging and tree felling. In the last thirty years, Peru lost 234,750 Acre of rain forest and the mining of minerals and gold has risen by 916%. In order to preserve the biodiversity and to support "The Tambopatas", a T-shirt was specially designed for this purpose and even a special cocktail was invented (both available in the Regenwald-Lodges Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica and Inkaterra Hacienda Concepción). The proceeds run towards the organization.

Instead of demolishing and building anew, our hoteliers invest in renovation and refurbishment focusing on upcycling. To spend a night in an environment rich in history is especially exciting! At the Inkaterra La Casona in Peru you live in a mansion from the 16^th century that belonged to the army of the Inca, at the Wild Mahseer you sleep in buildings from the colonial era build by the British Assam Tea Company and the Bio-Agrivilla i pini accommodates you in a villa from the High Renaissance dating back to the early 16^th century.

Hotelier Ben Förtsch owner of the Creativhotel Luise also knows that demolishing and building new would probably have been more favorable, however, for him, sustainability takes center stage. With creativity and some upcycling projects, a lot of garbage could be saved – for example, a bridge made of old wooden beams or the plant throughs in the new patio that are made of former boilers.

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We all make decisions when eating: for our body, our health, and the environment. The Slow Food movement stands for good, clean and fair food. We show you at which hotels you enjoy the best Slow Food dishes.

Read the whole blogpost here

Plogging is a trend sport we support with pleasure – here you collect garbage while jogging. jogging. And this is not only possible at home, but also on vacation!

Get to know more about Plogging

For some time past long-distance flights are facing strong criticism. Read our tips on how to travel sustainably despite flying. Countries like Thailand can hardly be traveled without an airplane – learn about the positive impact of tourism.

Discover gentle tourism in Thailand

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The Germany-wide "Bio-Brotbox Initiative" campaigns healthy nutrion for kids – and the organic family hotel Gut Nisdorf supports first graders in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern with having a healthy breakfast every day as well. The hotel welcomes the initiative and supports it with a donation.

On September 20th the global climate strike took place and Green Pearls®, as well as some of our partners, joined the demonstrations. We were happy to see that so many engaged people of all ages were striking for better climate politics!

More Insights into global climate strike

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Oceana just wrote about climate change and the effect for the oceans – "What you need to know from the United Nations’ new report".

Find out more about the report on Climate Change and what it really stands for

All over the world, people engage in environmental protection. Meet Lilly who fights against plastic pollution in Bangkok, Thailand. 

Read the full article about Lilly on Channel News Asia

We from Green Pearls® – together with over 10.000 people – took part in the climate strike in Darmstadt. After having created beautiful posters from recycled material, Creativhotel Luise went to the demonstration in Erlangen. You can find some insights into the strike on Creativhotel Luise's Instagram channel:  ​

The closest demonstration for Sabine Stange and Jürg Gloor from family resort Gut Nisdorf was taking place in Rostock: 

"With our e-car and two posters, we drove to the demonstration and were overwhelmed by the number of participants. Over 7.000 people of all ages demonstrated together. We saw so many creative posters. It was amazing to see and we will keep on with these activities. The next one is #einheitsbuddeln on October 3rd."​

You can also find some insights into the demonstrations in this video by Steven from Funkloch. ​

The Green Pearls® team will close the office in the late morning to demand a just and sustainable climate policy. It is high time to act – and our hotel partners agree with us! From the Baltic Sea to the Alps, many of our hotels have joined Entrepreneurs For Future to help the students who have been demonstrating for more than a year.

We will be reporting on climate strike on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and we hope you will be there as well. You want to be a part of the climate strike, but need to know where and how? You can find information on globalclimatestrike.net

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You not only want to spend a vacation in a foreign country but also volunteer and support locals and organizations? We talked to Heiko Müller, founder of the information platform People Abroad, about what’s important when it comes to volunteering.

Read the whole interview here

The three pillars of sustainability, economy, ecology and social aspects should be balanced. However, active support of social issues has been neglected for a long time. We asked our hotel partners what they do in terms of social sustainability – and got some interesting insights!

Read more about social sustainability in hotels

Whether alone, as a couple or family – we want to leave our everyday worries behind on vacation. To make this happen we introduce the most beautiful hideaways: These eco-hotels ensure perfect relaxation away from the hustle and bustle!

Explore our luxurious eco-hideaways

Not eating everything – or choosing not to – can make traveling a bit more challenging. That’s why we collected some tips for you on how to prepare for your journey as a vegetarian and vegan. Additionally, we show you some eco-hotels with delicious best plant-based meals!

Vegan traveling around the world

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Together with her family, blogger Rosa has just visited the organic family hotel Gut Nisdorf and was impressed by the holistic sustainable approach there.

Read the whole article on Conscious Lifestyle of Mine

Upscale Magazine featured eleven unique and luxurious spa retreats around the world – and five of them are Green Pearls® partners! 

Luxury spa inspiration on Upscale Magazine

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On September 14th, the second Rhine Clean up took place in over 100 German cities along the river Rhine. More than 20,000 volunteers were collecting over 170 tons of waste. A huge success, as the number of participants has doubled compared to last year!

Find out more about Rhine Clean up here

As the Amazon forest continues to burn, BBC asks what would happen if all trees disappeared. Could humanity survive in a world without trees? 

Read the full story on BBC future

Rosa and her family visited the organic family hotel Gut Nisdorf. On her blog she shares some insights into the holistic sustainable concept. 

>> Read the full post here on Conscious Lifestyle of Mine

We are pleased to announce that the CO2 emissions at Bio-Kinder und Familienhotel Gut Nisdorf at the Baltic Sea is only 7.17 kg per guest and night. This is a very good balance and corresponds to the climate efficiency class A. As a comparison: the average emission load of a 3-star hotel is about 35 kg of CO2 per night.

Salty sea air in the morning at Hotel Speicher

The Hotel Speicher on the Ziegelsee is the perfect place for a family holiday simply because of its location. There are eleven beautiful lakes in the Schwerin city area that are just waiting to be explored. And water lovers can also jump directly into the cool water from the hotel's own jetty! The old town of Schwerin is only a 15-minute walk from the family-run hotel and can also be explored by bike. From April to October the ferries of the "White Fleet" commute several times a day between the hotel jetty and the jetty at Schwerin Castle.

The Hotel Speicher is hidden behind the brick walls of a former granary. At the breakfast buffet and in the hotel’s restaurant, aurum, fine Mecklenburg cuisine marries regional and seasonal specialties. Whether hiking, boating, museum visits or a trip to the Baltic Sea – the hotel is the ideal base for active families.

Reethi Faru Resort: Unforgettable holidays in the Maldives

Families can feel at home on this idyllic island in the middle of the Indian Ocean: jetting in by seaplane or speedboat is a highlight for children and adults alike, while the large villas offer plenty of privacy on arrival. The reef is only a few meters away from the individual villas and no one even has the option to be bored! Depending on your age, diving, tennis, squash, badminton, aerobics or water sports are on the agenda.

The Reethi Faru Resort invests in the preservation of the vulnerable environment of the Maldives and invites the guests to participate in its coral protection projects – so even the younger guests can start getting involved in environmental protection!

Authentic Thai at the Zeavola Resort

The Thai Zeavola Resort on Koh Phi Phi has plenty to discover for young and old alike. The island is known for its hilly landscape with striking cliffs, surrounded by unique beaches and emerald green sea.

The resort is particularly popular with diving enthusiasts, as the sea is home to beautiful colourful coral reefs and many species of fish. The maritime world can also be explored by snorkelling or kayaking. In Zeavola, families can explore the authentic Thai life and experience extraordinary service and luxury at the same time.

Biohotel Sturm: The house for happy people

The Biohotel Sturm is a paradise for children: They can roam the hotel's garden in the Rhön Biosphere Reserve and nibble on ripe berries, steal fresh wood-oven baked bread and delicious herb cheese in the hotel kitchen or splash around in the natural swimming pond. The rooms offer a cosy break from everyday life and the hotel is a great place for the whole family to relax and laugh together.

One of the most naturally beautiful and exciting regions in Europe can be found right on the doorstep of the organic hotel. The border triangle Hessen-Thuringia-Bavaria offers a lot for active families: access to the largest mountain bike route network in Germany or hiking in the UNESCO biosphere reserve are only a few steps away. If you want to take a completely new look at the diverse landscape of the Rhön, you can take off with host Matthias Schulze Dieckhoff – in the bright yellow Savage Cub, a 2-person ultralight aircraft. The area around the Wasserkuppe with a height of almost 1,000 m is an Eldorado for glider pilots in the Rhön.

Tongsai Bay – holiday in paradise

The relaxed Tongsai Bay Resort on Koh Samui emphasises that it is not a "Ken and Barbie Resort" where only perfectly styled people feel at home, but rather a haven where everyone is welcome – couples as well as families.

The spacious, quiet complex is situated on a private bay far from the annoyance of traffic noise or boisterous neighbours. The apartments are situated on a hillside around the bay and a particular highlight – for guests young and old – is the freestanding bathtub on the terrace which makes for a very special bathing experience, surrounded by tropical nature.

The Eco-Resort is a paradise for nature lovers and was created completely in harmony with nature: not a single tree had to be felled. If you wish to discover a bit more of the beauty of the island on your own, you can rent bicycles at the hotel.

Experience sustainability at the Green City Hotel Vauban 

In the city hotel on the green outskirts of Freiburg, sustainability, social responsibility, hospitality and inclusion are embraced wholeheartedly. The hotel is only ten minutes away from Freiburg's city centre by tram and is therefore perfect for a weekend trip. In addition to the historic city, Germany's longest cable car, hikes through the vineyards and on the Feldberg, or the many wellness and thermal baths, are also tempting.

The integrative Green City Hotel Vauban employs people with and without disabilities. Tolerance, acceptance and social responsibility are the main values here. Plastic waste is avoided, food is sourced from the surrounding region and there’s always lots of greenery: for maximum well-being with minimum energy consumption.

Gut Nisdorf: Family holiday at the Baltic Sea

A hotel in which guests, young and old alike get their money's worth? A place where everything is focused on the family as a whole? That's what you get at the organic Gut Nisdorf children's and family hotel on the Baltic Sea! Whether family apartments, playground, child care or pony riding; while the little ones discover the manor house and make new friends, the older ones can relax and enjoy the delicious organic cuisine.

Gut Nisdorf is situated directly on the Baltic Sea, not far from the island of Rügen. The spacious grounds are not only a wonderful place to frolic about, but there is also a natural bathing pond and many retreats for relaxation as well as a spa area. Holiday apartments with hotel service – this is relaxation for the whole family!

The manor offers 12 family apartments which are spacious and furnished comfortable and child-friendly. The meadows and the huge garden around the house invite children to play and use the vehicles for raving. Not only the Baltic Sea invites for a refreshing bath, but also the nature-swimming pond in the garden.

For Gut Nisdorf ecology and sustainability plays a major part: The kitchen uses regional organic food, fish is sourced regionally and all cleaning detergents are of course eco-friendly. Thanks to the familiar atmosphere the guests feel at home straight away.