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Delphina Hotels & Resorts, A My Green Pod Hero and P.E.A. Award winner, has been named the ‘World’s Leading Green Independent Hotel Group’ at the World Travel Awards 2021.
The family-run chain of 5* and 4* hotels, resorts and residences in the north of Sardinia had already scooped four other gongs at the awards, which are known as the Oscars of the travel industry.
Delphina was crowned ‘Italy’s Leading Hotel Group’ and its Valle dell’Erica Resort reconfirmed as ‘Europe’s Leading Green Resort’ and ‘Italy’s Leading Green Resort’. Resort & SPA Le Dune was named ‘Italy’s Leading Beach Resort’.
‘To be known and recognised as the greenest independent hotel group in the world from the leading authority in travel and tourism is one of our proudest achievements to date, and something we have been working towards as part of our brand DNA for nearly 30 years.
‘For me and my hard-working and mostly local team, green values are not a trend, buzzword or something to cross off of a checklist, but a deep-rooted core value and identity we have based all of our business decisions around from day one, including sustainability, respect for nature and enhancing the local tradition. Over the years we have faced challenges and sacrifices to place care for the environment at the centre of our projects.’
ELENA MUNTONI
Brand manager for Delphina Hotels & Resorts
A favourite destination for British holidaymakers, Delphina offers a wide range of wellness-focused Sardinian stays.
Boasting white sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters, families, couples and groups can enjoy a wide range of spa, leisure and sport activities as they experience and explore the scenic Italian island.
As part of its work to be recognised as the greenest in the world, Delphina introduced and registered its own We are green® brand, demonstrating its love and commitment to the environment with a set of sustainable policies and practices.
Delphina is the first Italian hotel chain to use 100% green energy in all hotels, resorts and headquarters, saving 3,536 tonnes of CO2 each year. That’s equivalent to the carbon absorbed by 25,000 trees.
The Gallura hotel chain famously built and integrated the resorts across the landscape in a natural and aesthetically pleasing way. They’re set among native plants and built from materials – such as wrought iron, cork and ceramics – made and supplied by local artisans.
Delphina is committed to limiting its use of plastic and uses biodegradable materials for lunch boxes, straws, cutlery, plates and glasses. In the rooms, bars and restaurants, plastic bottles have been replaced with glass, Tetra Pak or cans.
All staff and collaborators have received a free reusable water bottle to refill in specially installed fountains, saving 68,700 plastic bottles per year.
All hotels and resorts use Ecolabel products for ordinary cleaning, and the courtesy line of SPA products are eco-bio certified and paraben free.
Other important green practices include sustainable mobility with electric vehicles – all recharged on site – to transport guests. The recyclable catalogues are printed with vegetable-based inks, and the paper and covers are made from certified ecological cellulose.
Sustainability also means social responsibility through cooperation with local suppliers, and Delphina favours local Sardinian art, crafts, entertainment, manufacturers and services where possible.
The food and wine are also preferably sourced locally through the chain’s ‘Genuine Local Food Oriented®’ project, which supports healthy, high-quality cuisine based on genuine ingredients that respect seasonality – ideally with zero food miles.
At the Resort & SPA Le Dune in Badesi, guests can enjoy a five-hectare vegetable garden with aromatic herbs and fruit trees. In additional to serving an educational purpose for the children at the resort, this also functions as a source of supply for zero-mile ingredients across all resorts.
Delphina also promotes local excursions to introduce guests to the unique scenery, archeology and history of Gallura and beyond. Delphina is also a Corporate Golden Donor in support of the FAI – Fondo Ambiente Italiano – in the protection of the Italian cultural and naturalistic heritage.
‘I am confident that operating responsible and thoughtful tourism, whilst respecting the local land, is a great way to create value, especially for a small regional island like Sardinia. We would like to thank everyone who has supported our green mission so far, our next goal is to maintain our position as the greenest in the world, and to continue to innovate our sustainability standards. We wholeheartedly care about the local land; it is very precious to us, so we’ll preserve it in every way possible.’
ELENA MUNTONI
Brand manager for Delphina Hotels & Resorts
The five-star resort named Europe’s Leading Green Resort at 2021’s World Travel Awards.
The family-friendly four-star resort crowned Italy’s Leading Beach Resort at 2021’s World Travel Awards.
Delphina Hotels & Resorts receives four accolades at 2021’s World Travel Awards.
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