Best of Budapest & Hungary

Crowne Plaza Budapest, a part of one of the world's largest hotel brands, InterContinental Hotels and Resorts (IHG), has achieved recognition for its sustainability efforts by obtaining the globally renowned Green Globe certification. To initiate the process, the hotel prepared a report on environmental and social initiatives taking place within the property. Subsequently, an accredited Green Globe auditor conducted an independent on-site examination, confirming that the hotel's measures fully comply with the standards set by this leading global organization.

    As stated on a communique released this Thursday, the hotel places a strong emphasis on educating colleagues about sustainable initiatives and organizes numerous community programs, such as gardening. Among the hotels in Budapest, the Crowne Plaza has the largest green area: the building connected to the Westend rooftop gardens features two roof terraces covered with grass, trees, and bushes. On one of these terraces, a small quince orchard is cultivated, and its fruits are used for jams, desserts, and cheeses served in the restaurant. Additionally, a vertical system operated with artificial lighting and hydroponics is used to propagate herbs and various leafy vegetables without the use of pesticides.

    As a member of the IHG family, Crowne Plaza Budapest utilizes the in-house Green Engage system to monitor, track, and gradually reduce energy consumption. Thanks to continuous upgrades to the hotel's machinery, energy usage has been reduced by nearly ten percent.

    Over the past two years, they have systematically replaced the previous chillers, and in 2023, they invested in an energy-efficient model to replace one of the heating furnaces.

    Crowne Plaza Budapest has taken significant steps against food waste and waste management. Due to newly implemented standards, used oil is sent for recycling to produce biodiesel, while food leftovers and kitchen surplus are donated to organizations that use them as animal feed.

    Portion control systems are employed in both the kitchen and the Food & Beverages (F&B) department for all menus to minimize restaurant waste. This approach is also applied to events, and the hotel allows participants to take home any leftover food.

    The hotel continuously expands its network of supplier partners with companies whose sustainability efforts align with the hotel's guidelines. Preference is given to companies that focus on minimizing the use of packaging materials, and retrieving and recycling them. The hotel's procurement department ensures the compression of non-recyclable waste, reducing the frequency of weekly waste collections.

    As a Hotels for Trees Foundation member, Crowne Plaza Budapest takes important steps towards creating a greener hotel industry. As part of this initiative, the hotel plants a new tree whenever a guest chooses not to request daily room cleaning.

     The Green Globe certification involves a structured evaluation of the sustainability performance of travel and tourism businesses and their partners. The standards set by this leading global organization include 44 essential criteria supported by over 380 compliance indicators. The applicable indicators vary depending on the type of certification, geographical location, and local factors. Green Globe members must undergo an on-site, independent audit in the first year and subsequently every two years to confirm compliance with the requirements.