Gold for the Bülow Palais: Dresden's five-star hotel receives top rating in environmental check
- MICE news
Comfort and sustainability do not have to be mutually exclusive. Dresden's five-star superior hotel Bülow Palais proves this. For its commitment to environmental protection, the privately run hotel in the Baroque Quarter received gold, the highest award in the DEHOGA Environmental Check. Only ten hotels in the whole of Saxony currently bear this label. The Bülow Palais is the only luxury hotel to join the ranks of green hosts.
For the environmental check, the hotel, which opened in 2010, underwent a comprehensive analysis based on strict environmental criteria. How high are energy and water consumption? How much residual waste is produced? What is the CO2 balance? How regional is the menu? The Bülow Palais shone in all aspects and was thus able to exceed the requirements.
"Environmental and climate protection are becoming increasingly important not only in general, but also in the hotel industry. The fact that luxury hotels are also addressing the issue is a good signal. The Bülow Palais impressed us with its application for the DEHOGA Environmental Check. It is a pioneer in this segment and we congratulate it on this outstanding result," says Antje Mikoleit, Managing Director of SAXONIA Fördergesellschaft für das Hotel- und Gaststättengewerbe and project manager of the DEHOGA Environmental Check.
Ralf J. Kutzner, hotel director of the Bülow Palais, had not expected such a result. "For us, resource-saving operating procedures are part of our daily work. With the energy crisis, we have intensified our efforts once again. The entire team has contributed ideas. I am very grateful for that. The award confirms our chosen path," says the hotel manager.
- A plus for the balance sheet: hardly any waste and station for e-cars -.
LED lamps, meticulous waste separation and energy-saving measures are now a matter of course for the staff. "The guests often support the measures willingly and are also happy to make their own contribution. Although the standard of our hotel includes regular cleaning and making up the beds, it is not uncommon for short-stay guests to order daily cleaning upon arrival," explains the hotel manager, who is one of the top 50 hoteliers in Germany according to Schlummer Atlas.
There is a new offer for drivers of electric cars. In the hotel's underground car park, two charging stations have been installed in cooperation with the car manufacturer Porsche - usable for all E car types. This makes the Bülow Palais part of the e-mobility network in the entire country.
The cuisine of the in-house gourmet restaurant Caroussel Nouvelle also contributes to the hotel's good eco-balance. Chef Sven Vogel attaches great importance to the complete use of food so that no usable leftovers have to be disposed of. He also pays attention to short delivery routes. He knows a large number of his suppliers personally. Trout, beef and game, for example, are sourced from the region, as are numerous wines.
The environmental check introduced in 2011 by the DEHOGA Federal Association in all federal states is part of an energy and environmental concept that the industry representative is implementing together with the Federal Ministry for the Environment as part of the energy campaign for the hospitality industry. It helps hotels and restaurants to self-assess their environmental commitment, provides a comparison with other similar businesses and offers tips on how to further optimise environmentally conscious business management. Since then, about 6,000 businesses have taken part in the programme throughout Germany. Currently, twelve hotels in Saxony have received the award, ten of them with gold and two with silver. The award is valid for two years. After that, businesses can apply again. The professional organisation publishes all award-winning companies and the test criteria at www.dehoga-umweltcheck.de.
For the environmental check, the hotel, which opened in 2010, underwent a comprehensive analysis based on strict environmental criteria. How high are energy and water consumption? How much residual waste is produced? What is the CO2 balance? How regional is the menu? The Bülow Palais shone in all aspects and was thus able to exceed the requirements.
"Environmental and climate protection are becoming increasingly important not only in general, but also in the hotel industry. The fact that luxury hotels are also addressing the issue is a good signal. The Bülow Palais impressed us with its application for the DEHOGA Environmental Check. It is a pioneer in this segment and we congratulate it on this outstanding result," says Antje Mikoleit, Managing Director of SAXONIA Fördergesellschaft für das Hotel- und Gaststättengewerbe and project manager of the DEHOGA Environmental Check.
Ralf J. Kutzner, hotel director of the Bülow Palais, had not expected such a result. "For us, resource-saving operating procedures are part of our daily work. With the energy crisis, we have intensified our efforts once again. The entire team has contributed ideas. I am very grateful for that. The award confirms our chosen path," says the hotel manager.
- A plus for the balance sheet: hardly any waste and station for e-cars -.
LED lamps, meticulous waste separation and energy-saving measures are now a matter of course for the staff. "The guests often support the measures willingly and are also happy to make their own contribution. Although the standard of our hotel includes regular cleaning and making up the beds, it is not uncommon for short-stay guests to order daily cleaning upon arrival," explains the hotel manager, who is one of the top 50 hoteliers in Germany according to Schlummer Atlas.
There is a new offer for drivers of electric cars. In the hotel's underground car park, two charging stations have been installed in cooperation with the car manufacturer Porsche - usable for all E car types. This makes the Bülow Palais part of the e-mobility network in the entire country.
The cuisine of the in-house gourmet restaurant Caroussel Nouvelle also contributes to the hotel's good eco-balance. Chef Sven Vogel attaches great importance to the complete use of food so that no usable leftovers have to be disposed of. He also pays attention to short delivery routes. He knows a large number of his suppliers personally. Trout, beef and game, for example, are sourced from the region, as are numerous wines.
The environmental check introduced in 2011 by the DEHOGA Federal Association in all federal states is part of an energy and environmental concept that the industry representative is implementing together with the Federal Ministry for the Environment as part of the energy campaign for the hospitality industry. It helps hotels and restaurants to self-assess their environmental commitment, provides a comparison with other similar businesses and offers tips on how to further optimise environmentally conscious business management. Since then, about 6,000 businesses have taken part in the programme throughout Germany. Currently, twelve hotels in Saxony have received the award, ten of them with gold and two with silver. The award is valid for two years. After that, businesses can apply again. The professional organisation publishes all award-winning companies and the test criteria at www.dehoga-umweltcheck.de.
