Green Key- certification

As recognition for our efforts in sustainability, our company was awarded the Green Key certification in September 2024.

The Green Key certification granted to us covers the buildings within our accommodation offerings, as well as our restaurant and sauna services. Among the accommodation buildings, the certification includes the Sport Resort rooms, Standard rooms, and the Sports Apartments. Additionally, the lakeside saunas are covered by the certification.

At this time, the Green Key certification does not cover the Chalets apartments, as these are privately owned, and we need a positive decision from the Chalets’ board before including them in the certification. Furthermore, all sports facilities we maintain are excluded from the Green Key certification.

As a Green Key-certified company, we are committed to continuously improving our sustainability practices and reporting on them each year as part of the renewal application. Compliance with the criteria is verified through regular on-site audits. The certification is granted by an external, independent Green Key jury.

Green Key is an international sustainability certification for the tourism sector, which has been achieved by over 5,300 companies in 68 countries worldwide. The certification criteria are based on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and include requirements related to reducing environmental impact, increasing social benefits, and supporting the local economy. The criteria are practical and effectively take into account the unique characteristics of the tourism industry.

Green Key is also a sustainability program: participating companies commit to the continuous development of their operations and report on their progress in the annual renewal application. The program offers participants personalized advice, as well as training and communication materials. The quality of operations is ensured through regular on-site audits. The certification is awarded by an external, independent Green Key jury.

Our journey toward Green Key certification began in 2023, and in the fall of 2024, we finally achieved the certification. To obtain the certification, we implemented practical, concrete actions, some of which are listed below:

• We installed flow restrictors on taps and showers to reduce water flow.
• We replaced our lighting with LED bulbs.
• We installed a food waste tracker in our restaurant to encourage the reduction of food waste.

The requirements for the Green Key certification include setting goals for the following year. Our goals for 2025 are as follows:

1. Increase staff training throughout the coming year. Next year, training will focus on recycling practices and enhancing self-monitoring, so we can critically evaluate our own operations.

2. Launch feedback channels on the Webropol system for both customers and employees, allowing them to provide feedback and suggestions for improvement in our sustainability efforts.

3. Improve recycling efficiency and increase the volume of waste directed to sorting stations. We aim to place greater emphasis on extending the life of items such as retired furniture, blankets, pillows, etc., by prioritizing reuse. Any unusable waste will be taken to sorting stations more efficiently than before.