Green Luxury

The Hotel Bristol and Hotel Imperial attach great importance to environmental protection. They carry the EcoQuality Label for Tourism.

Viennese hotels have to deal with hundreds of tons of laundry and even more tons of waste every year. They use high amounts of cleaning agents and spend thousands of kilowatt hours of energy. The Viennese EcoQuality Label for Tourism, however, shows that tourism and environment can walk hand in hand. The environmental award provided in EcoBusinessPlan Vienna is conferred upon hotels and restaurants with eco sensibility and services in line with sustainability. Since 2006 also the Luxury Collection Hotel Bristol and Hotel Imperial have been carrying the eco label.

"Environmental awareness is not only a priority, it has also become a trend today", says Hotel Director Riccardo Giacometti. It is not surprising therefore that international media, such as the renowned BBC Newsnight, are interested in the green line of luxury hotels. Guests of deluxe hotels not only appreciate this commitment, they also support it actively. Already now travellers can decide whether having their bedding washed and changed every day or sleeping in beddings that are "only" freshly made.

Environmental activities focus on efficient energy saving, waste prevention, eco-friendly buying and ecological cleaning. By using water-saving modules in the fittings, the Hotel Imperial saves four million litres of water per year accounting for an incredible amount of 25,000 full baths. "Heat recycling from air conditioning saves 70,000 kilowatt hours per year accounting for an annual heat consumption of some 10,000 Viennese households", proudly explains Wolfgang Panzer, who is responsible for technology and energy. The hotels have separate waste disposals and buy eco-friendly refill packages. Meals are largely prepared from Austrian organic products. Dedicating himself to ecologically fair culinary products, Bristol chef Siegfried Kröpfl offers a luxurious platform to Austrian farmers.

Ecological measures do not only benefit the environment but also the budget of the enterprises awarded with the eco label. While operating costs decrease, the service quality for guests remains unchanged or even increases. "There is a high value in the cooperation of ecology and economy. We take pride in adding a better quality of life to the Austrian capital with our commitment to sustainability.