Periodic inspections aid evaluation process

Three of Menorca´s hotels win award from tour operator TUI

Leading hotels. Their environment is of prime importance

Hotels Audax, Santo Tomás and Club Royal Son Bou are among the top 100 establishments in the world achieving successful environmental management

Hazel Martin.Maó

Three Menorcan hotels - the Audax in Cala Galdana, the Santo Tomás of Es Migjorn and the Club Royal Son Bou in Alaior - are among the "environmental champions," an honour afforded by the German tour operator TUI to encourge good practices and thereby guarantee the protection of the local environment in areas where their hotels are situated; this applies to all destinations in which they operate. There are thousands of hotels throughout the world eligible for consideration but only the most efficient qualify to enter the elite club of the one hundred best. Of the seven establishments in the Balearic Islands, three are from Menorca and the rest are located in Mallorca.

Candidates receive this distinction through scoring the highest marks in various areas of hotel management where many environmental concerns are of importance in their installations. Taken into account are such things as the level of renewable energy employed, the selective collection of waste, efforts at saving water and even the existence of green spaces close to the hotel.

TUI carries out periodic inspections of the establishments contracted to the company which, at the same time, are criticised by clients through questionaires. From all this information, marks are awarded in order to determine the rankings. Every year about 10% of the awards go to hotels situated in the Balearic Islands.. The director of communications in Spain stated that, for TUI clients, the Balearics is the number one destination.

This environmental "race" commenced in 1997, but with fewer candidates and, therefore, less award winners. With the increase in the number of hotels eligible to participate and their sensitivity to such matters, the competition grew much larger. In Spain alone there are between 4,000 and 5,000 competitors, all hoping to figure in the top 100. The "champions" figure in holiday brochures with a distinctive emblem, which brings these hotels to the attention of potential holiday makers and awakens the interest of German clients who are very concerned about the environment.

High season has not been entirely satisfactory in Menorca, due to a fall in tourism so these awards are seen as an encouraging climax to a disappointing holiday campaign. It is forecast that the German market in the island will return to 2004 levels next year; the spokesman for TUI confirms that the island is a difficult destinaion for their German clients owing to the strong presence of British tourism.

The hotel association ASHOME is more than satisfied with the outcome. Fourteen establishments already hold certificates for their environmental management - the highest percentage in Spain. Another five hotels are in the process of installing similar schemes.

On a less optimistic note, some hotels have already shut their doors to tourists for this year, owing to a drop in demand.

Confortel, who have managed both the Beach Club and Sol Parc in Son Parc are giving up their control of these establishments due to lack of confidence as a result of the drop in clients this year.