of Vicky Kourlibini
“Sustainable Hotel Agriculture” and “Sustainable Supplies”. These are two innovative programs already implemented by the hotel group Metaxa Hospitality Group, in an effort to reduce its environmental footprint, but also to develop a self-controlled ecosystem.
The actions were presented between June 23-25 in Crete, at the premises of the Creta Maris Beach Resort unit in the Heraklion Peninsula.
The two programs
The program “Sustainable Hotel Agriculture”, concerns the self-production of food in the group hotels, the implementation of cultivation and horticultural practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but also the development of a self-controlled ecosystem.
Organic herbs, fruits, nuts and organic vegetable gardens are grown in the hotel gardens with certified sustainable practices. At Creta Maris Beach Resort a restaurant is stocked with raw materials from the gardens, with the aim of providing all the restaurants with food.
What is being achieved, as the group emphasizes, is the implementation of cultivation and horticultural practices that eliminate the environmental footprint and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The program is based on actions that include both the optimal management of natural resources – water, energy, food raw materials – and the promotion of soil health, as well as the management of organic waste through four areas of application: vegetable gardens, aromatics, edible fruits, lawns.
The “Sustainable Procurement” program trains the group’s associates in sustainable practices in the field of food and beverages, aiming at their sustainable corporate governance.
The program involves 11 selected suppliers of Greek products, with whom the group maintains long-term cooperation.
The initiative started in September 2021 and according to the Metaxa Hospitality Group is organized for the first time by a hotel group in Greece with the aim of educating its partners-suppliers to understand sustainable practices in the food sector of sustainable corporate governance. It will last 17 months (until January 2023).
It is characteristic that 73% of the hotel suppliers are located in Crete and Greece.
At the same time, in twenty main product categories, such as Greek desserts, yogurt, eggs, pasta, 92% of the supplies are made locally and nationally.
In the future the group aims to expand other categories of supplies.
“With sustainability being at the heart of our Group’s strategy over time, we implement innovative and innovative actions and constantly highlight good practices that prove in practice a great truth: If you can dream it, then you can do it.
Apart from being a very important economic activity, tourism also has a great power of transformation. Creates synergies in the value base and shapes patterns and attitudes.
We use this great transformative power to cultivate a new culture of sustainability, with benefits for the environment, the economy and society.
With a high sense of responsibility and confidence in our capabilities, today we are creating the “green bridge” to a sustainable tomorrow, said the CEO of Metaxa Hospitality Group, Andreas Metaxas.
The investment plan
It is noted that the group was founded in Crete in 1975 and operates the hotels Creta Maris Beach Resort 5 * in the Heraklion Peninsula, TUI Magic Life Candia Maris 5 * in Ammoudara of Heraklion, Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa 5 * in Santorini, as well as a conference center, also in Hersonissos.
The development plan includes a large investment in Kavousi, Ierapetra, with a budget of 126 million euros, which includes a tourist village, hotel units and a tourist shelter and has been approved by the Interministerial Committee on Strategic Investments.
It will belong to the category of five stars and will have a total capacity of 1,044 beds. Also, the new five-star unit in Santorini, amounting to 14 million euros, is in progress.
According to the Sustainability Report for 2021, the turnover last year reached 32.8 million euros. The group finally employs 747 employees.
Source: Capital
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
