"Green Key" 2014: Eco-label awarded to 2 new hotels and renewed

19 January 2014
Press Release
"Green Key" 2014:
Eco-label awarded to 2 new hotels and renewed for 26 sites
in Brussels
The Green Key international eco-label, which recognises tourism establishments for
their environmental performance, has just revealed its "2014 Promotion" for Brussels:
the Silken Berlaymont and the Hilton Brussels City hotels have each received their
"Green Key", while 26 other establishments have had their labels renewed. This
means almost 20% of hotel rooms recognised by the French Community Commission
(Cocof) and 80% of youth hostel capacity now carry this prestigious eco-label.
Brussels has now enjoyed this label for over 5 years. This shows it's possible to
operate more ecologically over the long term, while continuously improving.
At a time when sustainability is progressively becoming a selection criterion in the tourism
industry, and against the backdrop of an extremely competitive market, having an
internationally recognised tourist label can make all the difference.
The Green Key is an international, neutral, independent eco-label for tourism establishments.
Created in 1994 and managed at international level by a non-profit organisation (the FEE –
Foundation for Environmental Education), today, over 2,200 sites in 45 countries hold the
award. In the Brussels-Capital Region it's implemented by the Wallonia Inter-Environment
Federation (IEW) in collaboration with different partners, including Wallonia-Brussels
Tourism, visit.brussels, the Brussels Hotels Association and Brussels Special Venues.1
Below are the details of the two new recipients of the label and the establishments who've
had their labels renewed in 2014.
1
The label is awarded annually, after strict monitoring procedures and evaluation by a jury. To obtain
the label, candidates must comply with a series of essential criteria and meet 30% of the optional
criteria given. To keep the label, they have to improve year on year and prove their new
"performance". The criteria for attributing the label are focused on roughly 10 themes that enable
tourist establishments to limit their environmental impact: reducing their energy and water
consumption; reducing the amount of waste they produce; selectively sorting their waste; promoting
more sustainable mobility and renewable energy; using a certain percentage of sustainable power;
buying eco-labelled products; taking measures to promote biodiversity, etc. Several criteria also cover
informing and raising awareness among staff and customers.
The new recipients of the label are:
(click on the name of the establishment to go to its website):
The Silken Berlaymont Hotel (boulevard Charlemagne 11 – 19, 1000 Brussels)
This 4-star hotel in the European quarter has opted for the Green Key after obtaining the
Eco-dynamic Enterprise label. As well as complying with the essential criteria of the Green
Key, the hotel is notable for:
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its waste management and, in particular, the composting of organic waste in the
hotel; having dispensers in the showers; reducing packaging in the food served at its
buffet; and making guests aware of waste sorting in the rooms;
its policy on corporate social responsibility, particularly in terms of accessibility and by
collaborating with a social enterprise;
communication about environmental issues to its guests (including via the hotel
window and the "Green" blog);
the numerous measures taken in terms of energy saving, use of renewable energy,
and a high percentage of energy-saving light bulbs;
the steps it has taken to offer guests more sustainable food (seasonal menu and
substantial use of local produce);
the "green" activities offered to guests: its "green" package, walks and cycle rides
leaving from the hotel, etc.
The Hilton Brussels City (place Charles Rogier 20, 1210 Brussels)
This 4-star hotel in the centre of Brussels is notable for:
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its corporate social responsibility policy (for example, giving sheets and soap to
homeless people);
its energy management (condensing boilers, audits using infra-red technology, card
system that cuts the power off in the rooms, etc.);
giving guests the option of sorting waste in the rooms;
the hotel's waste prevention policy (particularly the avoidance of disposable
tablecloths and mats and some of the individual packaging at breakfast);
its use of microfibre cloths to reduce water consumption and chemical products;
the vegetarian dishes available in the restaurant.
Sites whose labels were renewed at the end of 2014:
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The B&B Les Iris (1214 chaussée de Haecht - 1140 Brussels)
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Tour&Taxis – Hôtel de la Poste (5 rue Picard - 1000 Brussels)
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Tour&Taxis – Openbaar Pakhuis (88 avenue du port - 1000 Brussels)
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Autoworld (11 parc du Cinquantenaire - 1000 Brussels)
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The Event Lounge (16F boulevard Général Wahis - 1030 Brussels)
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The Aloft Brussels Schuman Hotel (1 place Jean Rey - 1040 Brussels)
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The Martin’s Brussels EU Hotel (80 boulevard Charlemagne - 1000 Brussels)
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The Scandic Grand Place Hotel (18 rue d'Arenberg - 1000 Brussels)
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The Thon Hotel EU (75 rue de La Loi - 1000 Brussels)
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The Park Inn by Radisson Brussels Midi Hotel (3 place Marcel Broodthaers - 1060
Brussels)
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The Jacques Brel Youth Hostel (30 rue de la Sablonnière - 1000 Brussels)
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The B&B Van Lerberghe (15 rue Charles Van Lerberghe - 1030 Brussels)
Sites whose labels were renewed in mid-2014:
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The B&B Opale (11 avenue de l’Opale - 1030 Brussels)
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The B&B Chambre Chocolat (145 rue de la Cambre - 1150 Brussels)
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The Auberge des 3 Fontaines Youth Hostel (2057 chaussée de Wavre - 1160
Brussels)
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The Bruxelles-Génération Europe Youth Hostel (4 rue de l’Eléphant - 1080
Brussels)
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The Sleep Well Youth Hostel (rue du Damier 23 - 1000 Brussels)
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The Diamant Brussels Conference & Business Centre (80 boulevard A. Reyers 1030 Brussels)
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Hotel Le Plaza Brussels (118-126 boulevard Adolphe Max - 1000 Brussels)
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The Stanhope Hotel (9 rue du Commerce - 1000 Brussels)
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The Dolce La Hulpe Brussels Hotel (135 chaussée de Bruxelles - 1310 La Hulpe)
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The Hilton Brussels Grand Place Hotel (formerly the Méridien Brussels)
(Carrefour de l'Europe 3 - 1000 Brussels)
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The Four Points by Sheraton Brussels Hotel (rue Paul Spaak, 15 - 1000 Brussels)
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The NH Stephanie Hotel (32 rue Jean Stas - 1060 Brussels)
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The Radisson Blu Royal Hotel (47 rue du Fossé-aux-Loups - 1000 Brussels)
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The Radisson Blu EU Hotel (35 rue d’Idalie - 1050 Brussels).
For more information please contact Marie Spaey (IEW): +32 (0)496 / 12 78 45 or
www.cleverte.be