Parisian Hotel "Aux Ducs de Bourgogne" gains Ecolabel approval for environnemental awareness

May 17, 2010 - PRLog -- Since April 2010, the Best Western Hotel Ducs de Bourgogne benefits from the european Eco-label. This certification is the only official bio-label recognized by all member countries of the European Union. It distinguishes goods and services that are environmentally friendly.

To obtain this certification, the hotel had to satisfy many environmental and sanitary standards, like the use of environmentally friendly products and materials, a thrifty use of water and electricity, or training sessions of staff to ensure compliance with the environmental criteria.

Thus, the hotel has integrated low-energy lighting solutions (compact fluorescent bulbs and LEDs), spigots with aerators and mixing valves in order to spare water, and a card system for automatic cut off of lights has been added to the rooms.

For breakfast, a special attention a been given to the selection of products, that are mostly fair-trade or organic food (organic honey, Max Havelaar teas, fairtrade cocoa ...). A choice that ensures both quality and ethical modes of production and marketing.

"Beyond technical measures, it is a certain conception of tourism we want to protect" says Françoise Roboly, the manager of the hotel. "To reduce our ecological footprint, we need the customer’s collaboration, therefore it is important to explain our approach to them."

Guests are therefore informed of the environmental policy implemented by the hotel. They know for instance, that disposable products have been replaced by rechargeable products, or that a towel/sheet re-use program is applied for long stays, unless otherwise specified by the customer.

"Besides, in order to minimize any energy waste, we ask our customers to report any possible water leak," says Françoise. "As for ourselves, we strive to meet the needs of our customers, and regularly advise our guests on a tour route or a ride in the neighborhood, preferably on foot!"
 
World’s largest industry of the service sector, tourism has been bound to take into account growing environmental concerns, and tries increasingly to control its impact. Today, touristic accommodation is one of the few categories of service sector industry eligible to the European Ecolabel : a proof that a thriving tourism industry is not incompatible with a healthy environment and the respect for nature.

By becoming the first hotel of the group to gain this label, the Hotel Ducs de Bourgogne shows the way of a responsible accommodation, and a tourist industry eager to limit its environmental impact. This is the path that undertakes Paris Inn from now on, who hopes Ecolabels will now be thriving.

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