February 21, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Manuel de Vasconcelos, President of the Organizing Committee EHMA Paris 2019 and National Delegate France & Monaco, received the award on behalf of Frédéric Darnet, who was unfortunately unable to participate. Center: Somer Gundogdu, Diversey President – Professional EMEA. Right: Inge Winkelman, Customer Development Marketing Lead Europe-Hospitality & Foodservice
All the competing projects demonstrated innovation, commitment to social responsibility, sustainable development and environmental stewardship. Over the course of this award’s 8-year history, it is becoming very clear that EHMA members have embedded sustainability deeply in their operations and culture. Employees from each property are committed to improving the lives of residents in their local communities. General Managers are taking active roles ensuring sustainability is part of the properties’ business plans. On the other hand, the numerous research available is clear: customers are more and more willing to stay in eco-friendly hotels. Sustainability is very close to the heart and to the philosophy of Diversey, a company constantly delivering revolutionary cleaning and hygiene technologies. In collaboration with EHMA, Diversey aims at contributing to a profitable hospitality industry which puts the environment and the guest first.
The Monte Carlo Bay Hotel and Resort truly embodies a commitment to sustainability throughout the property. The panel was particularly impressed with the depth and breadth of the sustainability activities undertaken by Frédéric Darnet, GM at Monte Carlo Bay, which includes banning plastic straws, using local fruit and vegetables, LED lighting, heating and air conditioning modifications, water conservation fixtures, recycling, guest education, plastic bottle reductions, beach cleaning activities, and injury prevention programs. As a result of these activities, Monte the team at Monte Carlo Bay Hotel and Resort!
A jury comprised of EHMA Treasurer Johanna Fragan; Daniel Daggett, a Diversey sustainability expert; Arjan van Rheede, an independent judge from a reputable research institute on sustainability and the International Hospitality Industry chose this year’s winner.
This year’s candidates were:
Apollonia Beach Resort and Spa, Greece
Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin, Netherlands
Hotel Metropole, Monaco
Monte Carlo Bay Hotel and Resort, Monaco
Nordic Hotel Forum, Estonia
The panel had a difficult time choosing a winner because all applicants were so strong. This year the Jury saw unique, innovative approaches to important issues along with properties that integrated sustainability across a wide variety of activities.
Environmental and social benefits were broadly demonstrated by Apollonia Beach Resort’s sustainability activities in Crete. In addition to more efficient use of energy and water, General Manager Emmanuel Manousos has done a remarkable job reducing waste and engaging the community.
The project presented by Stephan Stokkermans, GM of The Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin in Noordwijk (Netherlands), has focused on food-related sustainability issues by composting food waste with a new innovative machine. The compost is used on-site, but also in partnership with local farmers to supply the hotel, illustrating how the circular economy can work effectively.
Serge Ethuin, GM of the Hotel Metropole in Monaco, is addressing the urgent issue of plastic waste by banning plastic straws throughout the hotel and replacing them with fully biodegradable ones. This is a wonderful example of how the hospitality industry can take on a global issue by acting locally.
Nordic Hotel Forum in Tallinn (Estonia), has launched a new and innovative project to address the problem of the disappearance of honey bees by creating their own urban hive on the hotel roof. The GM Feliks Mägus has explained the added benefits bring delicious, fresh, local honey to their guests.
About Diversey
Diversey’s purpose is to protect and care for people every day. Diversey has been, and always will be, a pioneer and facilitator for life. We constantly deliver revolutionary cleaning and hygiene technologies that provide total confidence to our customers across all of our global sectors, including: cleaning products, systems and services that efficiently integrate chemicals, machines and sustainability programs. This makes us unique among leading global hygiene and cleaning companies. Everything we do has our customers’ needs at its heart and is based on the belief that cleaning and hygiene are life essentials. With over 95 years of expertise, we safeguard our customers’ businesses, contributing to productivity improvements, lower total operating costs and brand protection. Headquartered in Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA, Diversey employs approximately 9,000 people globally, generating net sales of approximately $2.6 billion in 2017.
About EHMA
EHMA was founded in Rome in 1974 by a small group of top quality hotel properties general managers of the Italian capital. The European Hotel Managers Association aims to improve qualification of professionals through training in view of increasing the standards of services to be provided to guests. At present the Association gathers more than 400 members, many of whom are general managers of the most prestigious hotels in 29 countries that make a total of 300 represented hotels, 80,000 rooms, and 62,000 employees. EHMA admission requires a minimum of ten-year experience in the hotel sector. Members meet once a year to discuss about shared themes such as: new technologies, trends, issues, relations, European hotel data and market search.