Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz Has Been Awarded The Prestigious Gold Award By Travelife

Online, July 5, 2011 (Newswire.com) - The initiative was developed by the FTO (British Federation of Tour Operators), which has been merged with ABTA (The Travel Association) and ANVR (Dutch Federation of Tour Operators). Furthermore is supported by the Association of Belgium Tour Operators (ABTO) and the German Forum Anders Reisen (FAR).

Travelife has been set up to support an efficient and cost effective introduction of sustainability principles. It aims to increase the quality of travel products, customer satisfaction and the quality of life in the holiday destinations. The audits itself focus on energy saving practices, waste management, emissions and environment sustainability principles. In the Travelife Sustainable tourism survey, hotels are scored Bronze, Silver or Gold depending on the degree of their environmental commitment. Achieving a Travelife Award is not easy and requires a good result from the Travelife Audit. The award is given after the premises are subjected to an on-site inspection, followed by a series of questions to ascertain that the benchmarks and criteria established are met, such as management of energy and water, chemical usage and community relations - to mention a few.

The Hotel has managed to achieve over a 90% score, and this high result determined the achievement of the Gold Award. This is an impressive accolade for the Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz in Gozo, as it is the only hotel on the island to be presented with Travelife accreditation, as well as its pinnacle award. Achieving a Gold Award shows the high commitment to sustainability by encouraging others to get involved, constantly seeking new opportunities for improvement, and actively communicating the progress. This is the second accreditation for this hotel after it has been the first and only certified hotel in Gozo achieving the Eco Certification from the Malta Tourism Authority.

The driving force behind Kempinski San Lawrenz's successful application was Mr. Noel Attard, General Manager of the Hotel. Asked for his comments, Mr. Attard said: "We have been passionate about implementing environmental and social management strategies. It is extremely satisfying to achieve such a prestigious award. This certificate underlines Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz and all the team and staff's constant commitment towards the environment sustainability in the hospitality sector. This award would have definitely not been possible without the contribution of all the team at the hotel where we endeavour to make the holiday of all our guests a remarkable experience. Gozo has a lot to offer and we must continuously underlie its potential as an eco island, promoting it for its richness in history, culture, traditions, tranquility, its people and the environment. All in all this is what sustainable tourism is all about".

Editor's Notes:
The Kempinski name is proudly borne by a growing collection of distinguished properties around the world. Europe's oldest luxury hotel group, Kempinski has built its reputation on the belief that exclusivity and individuality are key elements of true luxury. Each year, an increasing number of guests come to appreciate these qualities, as Kempinski adds new hotels and resorts in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. While this growth reflects the strength and success of the Kempinski brand, the collection will remain a limited one, where exclusivity can be nurtured and individuality can flourish.
As latest company news we are happy to announce that Kempinski won the Best Brands award, in the category of Best Service Provider. The luxury hotel group was ranked No. 1. This brings Kempinski to the same league as Volkswagen, Lego and Apple, among the most successful brands in Germany. What is special about the Best Brands Awards is that the winner isn't defined by a jury, but by the consumers themselves. During the survey, Kempinski stood out in all areas relating to service.
As a valued private-sector member of the Stop TB Partnership, Kempinski is proud to support the Luis Figo Campaign to Stop TB through the distribution of campaign postcards in guest rooms, explaining how tuberculosis, if it is diagnosed and treated with effective medication, is curable. We share the Stop TB Partnership's vision and goal of a TB-free world.
Kempinski is a member of the Global Hotel Alliance. Based on the airline alliance model, Global Hotel Alliance is the world's largest alliance of independent hotel brands.