Sustainability at the Hotel

Climate Efficiency Class A – Our CO₂ Footprint

In summer 2024, our hotel’s CO₂ footprint was once again calculated according to the Viabono methodology. The result: Climate Efficiency Class A – the highest of the six climate efficiency classes used by Viabono.

The classification is based on a comparison of our calculated CO₂ emissions with benchmark values from other businesses. Among other things, Viabono determines the CO₂ emissions per guest and overnight stay as well as the total emissions generated by the hotel operation.

How is the CO₂ footprint calculated?
Viabono’s CO₂ footprint is calculated using a methodology developed by CO₂OL. The calculation considers the CO₂ emissions generated by the hotel operation. The results can also be presented according to the scopes defined by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol).
The relevant greenhouse gas emissions are recorded and converted into CO₂ equivalents. The emissions are assigned to different scopes according to where they originate.You can find detailed information in the assessment here.

What does Climate Efficiency Class A mean?
Being classified as Climate Efficiency Class A means that, based on its calculated CO₂ emissions, our hotel performs particularly well compared with the benchmark values for comparable businesses used by Viabono.View certificate

What We Specifically Do at the Hotel

For us, sustainability is reflected above all in the many small decisions we make in our day-to-day hotel operations. Our entire team contributes to this process – from purchasing and the responsible use of resources to the selection of our service providers. We regularly review our processes and continue to develop them.

• Use of fresh and local products, such as bread and rolls from the Laquai bakery, cold cuts from Metzgerei Kempenich, honey from the Wispertal, homemade jams, and dips.
• 30% of the total offering consists of regional products (eggs, honey, cold cuts, bread).
• 50% of the total offering consists of vegetarian/vegan dishes.
• 5% of the total offering consists of organic products.
• Elimination of disposable products and single-portion packaging.
• Linen rental from GREIF: For our hotel linen, we use GREIF’s professional linen rental service. GREIF calculates the CO₂ emissions associated with the rental linen service and supports a certified climate protection project to offset these emissions.
• Use of recycled paper
• Use of cleaning agents with ECO label (biodegradable).
• Use of green electricity.
• Ongoing conversion to LED lighting.
• Reduction of outdoor lighting (hotel and garden area).
• Modern technical equipment such as heat pumps.
• Motion sensors for lighting control.
• Automatic climate regulation in guest rooms; when windows are opened, the air conditioning in the respective room automatically switches off.

Making a Climate Contribution Together

Together with VIABONO, we offer our guests the opportunity to make a voluntary climate contribution for their stay.
With €0.45 per person per night, you can support certified climate protection projects. The contribution goes directly to selected projects that help protect forests and natural carbon sinks.

How does the climate contribution work?
Despite numerous measures to reduce our environmental footprint, emissions are still generated by hotel operations that cannot currently be completely avoided. By supporting high-quality and certified climate protection projects, we can take responsibility together and make an additional contribution to climate protection.

Every voluntary contribution helps finance further climate protection measures and preserve valuable ecosystems in the long term. The more guests participate, the more funds can be made available to the selected climate protection projects. Naturally, we only support projects that are reviewed and certified according to recognized international standards. We place great importance on transparent information about the projects supported and the standards they are based on.

Thank you for voluntarily participating in this climate contribution and thereby supporting the selected climate protection projects.

2025
Around 1,620 overnight stays were associated with a voluntary climate contribution. This resulted in around 14 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents being addressed through the selected climate protection project.

Our climate protection project: Sodo/Humbo – Community-managed reforestation

Nature Conservation on the Yucatán Peninsula

For the currently unavoidable CO₂ emissions generated by our hotel operations, we support a certified forest conservation project on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula: the XiCO₂e: Mexican Peninsula Forest Project.

This project protects and preserves part of Mexico’s largest remaining tropical rainforest. Across an area of more than 72,000 hectares, valuable forest regions are managed sustainably and maintained as important long-term carbon sinks. At the same time, the project contributes to the protection of biodiversity in a highly significant ecological region.

A key focus of the project is collaboration with local village communities, known as Ejidos. Through sustainable forest management, environmental education, and training programs, local people are supported in using natural resources responsibly while creating long-term income opportunities. In this way, the project effectively combines climate protection, nature conservation, and social development.

The project contributes to:

• the protection and sustainable management of tropical forests on the Yucatán Peninsula
• the long-term storage of CO₂ through the preservation of valuable forest areas
• the protection of biodiversity and endangered plant and animal species
• the strengthening of local communities through education and sustainable income opportunities
• the prevention of deforestation and illegal logging

Our understanding of climate protection

We believe that effective climate action starts with avoiding and reducing emissions. Supporting the XiCO₂e project helps offset the currently unavoidable emissions from our hotel operations while also contributing to the protection of a valuable ecosystem.

In this way, we and our guests take shared responsibility for more conscious and sustainable tourism.

Project  Partner: Ala Bool Trust SA de CV, 

Climate Action Reserve, FSC
Projekt-ID: CAR 1943, CAR1944, CAR 1945, CAR 1946
Climate Action Reserve Mexico Forest Protocol Version 3.0
Core Carbon Principles Labelled

For more information please read here.

This project contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals

Viabono

The Viabono company has made a name for itself as a leading independent professional organisation certifying environmental sustainability in the leisure, travel and tourism sectors. Viabono offers you the enjoyment of an intact natural environment in “the most beautiful weeks of the year”. Your holiday becomes a unique quality experience.

Top Ranking in the German Sustainability Award 2024
 

We are proud to announce that our hotel achieved an outstanding result in the German Sustainability Award 2024. The expert jury ranked us among the top 3 pioneers of transformation in Germany – a remarkable recognition of our commitment to sustainable business practices and responsible action.

The award ceremony took place on Thursday, 28 November 2024, at the MARITIM Hotel Düsseldorf. Surrounded by numerous innovative and exemplary companies, we had the honor of receiving this prestigious recognition.

We are grateful and proud that the commitment of our hotel team has been acknowledged at such a high level. This award serves as a strong motivation for us to continue contributing decisively to sustainable transformation.

As part of the two-day congress accompanying the award ceremony, a wide range of inspiring presentations and discussions on transformation and sustainability took place. The event provided a valuable platform for exchange and new impulses in the field of sustainable development.

We are honored to be part of this important initiative and look forward to continuing to shape a more sustainable future.