Portrait Milano’s General Manager, Diego Roggero, Wins 2025 EHMA Sustainability Award by Diversey

Warsaw — Diversey, a Solenis company, proudly announces Diego Roggero, General Manager of Portrait Milano, as the recipient of the 2025 Sustainability Award, presented in collaboration with the European Hotel Managers Association (EHMA).

Roggero’s visionary leadership has redefined what sustainability can look like in the luxury sector. At the heart of Milan, in a restored 16th-century seminary, Portrait Milano has become a model for circular hospitality. Examples of their great work include:

• Reviving Ancient Ingenuity: Rainwater Reuse Cuts Irrigation Water Use by 70 percent — Drawing inspiration from the building’s history as a self-sufficient seminary, the hotel brought a centuries-old cistern back to life. Now holding up to 60,000 litres of rainwater, it supplies the lush gardens and Piazza with sustainable irrigation—saving 700,000 litres of water in 2024 alone.
• Turning Waste into Fuel: Zero Oil to Landfill — Every drop of used cooking oil from the hotel’s kitchens is repurposed into biodiesel—helping prevent an estimated 7.5 tons of CO₂ emissions annually. It’s a clean break from wasteful practices.
• Cocktails with a Conscience: The “Updrinking” Revolution — The bar’s “Updrinking” cocktail menu is shaking up sustainability by transforming food scraps—like citrus peels and mushroom trimmings—into signature drinks. It's a bold, creative twist on reducing waste, one sip at a time.
• Reducing single-use plastic waste by more than 90 percent.
• Reducing food waste by 80 percent.

This comprehensive and creative approach proves that environmental responsibility and exceptional guest experience are not only compatible but also mutually reinforcing.

“Sustainability is at the heart of modern hospitality,” said Roggero. “At Portrait Milano, we integrate eco-conscious solutions that not only reduce our footprint but also enhance the guest journey. Receiving this award affirms our mission.”

A Jury of Industry Experts

This year’s EHMA Sustainability Award winner was selected by a distinguished jury of sustainability and hospitality experts, including:

• Dr. Daniel Daggett, Vice President Corporate Sustainability, Solenis
• Pawel Lewtak, Vice President EHMA, CEO Syrena Hotels, and General Manager Polonia Palace Hotel, Warsaw, Poland
• Arjan van Rheede, Senior Research Fellow in Sustainability, Hotelschool The Hague

The selection process was led by Yann Bancourt, Global Leader Corporate Accounts Institutional at Diversey, who moderated the session, ensuring a thorough evaluation of all submitted applications.

“The jury was impressed not only by the results achieved but also by the strategic integration of sustainability into every aspect of the hotel’s operations,” said Bancourt. “Portrait Milano demonstrates how thoughtful leadership can turn a historic property into a model for the future of luxury hospitality. Their submission stood out for its clear vision, measurable impact and seamless blend of heritage, innovation and responsibility.”

Pawel Lewtak echoed this sentiment, highlighting the transparency and depth of the decision-making process. “Selecting the winner was no easy task. The finalists showcased groundbreaking approaches to sustainability, from energy efficiency and waste reduction to community engagement. In the end, Diego Roggero and his team at Portrait Milano stood out for their holistic and long-term commitment to environmental responsibility—especially remarkable given the challenges of implementing such practices in a historic building.”

The award was presented to the winner by Christoph Steindorf during the EHMA General Assembly. Anouk Sassen, Regional Marketing Expert Hospitality – Europe at Solenis, played a key role in overseeing the preparations for the EHMA Sustainability Award Show.

Recognizing Excellence: The 2025 EHMA Sustainability Award by Diversey Finalists

This year’s award featured an exceptional lineup of hospitality leaders from across Europe, each demonstrating remarkable sustainability initiatives within their properties:

• Robert-Jan Woltering, De L'Europe Amsterdam — A historic luxury hotel emphasizing energy-efficient solutions, circular economy principles and community engagement to enhance cultural heritage and environmental responsibility.
• Tim Martin Weber, Appenzeller Huus, Switzerland — A visionary wellness retreat that blends sustainability, longevity and cultural preservation, featuring a carbon-neutral wooden structure, geothermal and solar energy, water conservation, and a zero-waste food program.
• David Taylor, Adriatic Luxury Hotels, Croatia — Committed to a holistic sustainability strategy, integrating renewable energy, waste reduction, biodiversity restoration and community-driven initiatives, supported by industry-leading certifications like Travelife Gold.
• Diego Roggero, Portrait Milano, Italy — A historic restoration project combining cultural sustainability with circular economy principles, implementing rainwater harvesting, food waste upcycling, plastic-free policies and partnerships with local sustainable businesses.
• Eleni Basi, Koullias Hotels, Greece — Focused on sustainable tourism, energy efficiency and responsible waste management, incorporating eco-friendly practices to reduce environmental impact while delivering a luxurious guest experience.
• Sami Aglietti, ADLER Spa Resort Sicilia, Italy — Their initiatives include food waste reduction, research on textile recycling and biodiversity protection efforts, alongside achieving the Ecotable label for sustainable gastronomy and supporting community projects.
• François Delahaye, Hôtel Plaza Athénée, France — Based on the circular economy principles, the projects within the hotel transformed environmental constraints into opportunities thanks to water recovery system, reevaluation of waste cycle and replacement of amenities with sustainable ones.

This year’s EHMA Sustainability Award received a record number of applications. The high level of competition reflects the hospitality industry’s increasing commitment to sustainability, with all participating hotels now reporting direct and energy related emissions, or Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions—a significant advancement compared to previous years. As the industry continues to evolve, attention is now turning to indirect emissions across the supply chain, or Scope 3 emissions, marking the next critical step in sustainable hospitality. This progress underscores the sector’s dedication to transparency, innovation and long-term environmental responsibility.