Delphina hotels & resorts, the family-run chain of 5* and 4* hotels, resorts and residences in the North of Sardinia, has officially been named as the ‘World’s Leading Green Independent Hotel Group’ at the World Travel Awards 2021. This major new world title follows four additional accolades for Delphina at the World Travel Awards 2021 including ‘Italy’s Leading Hotel Group’, Valle dell’Erica Resort reconfirmed as ‘Europe’s Leading Green Resort’ and ‘Italy’s Leading Green Resort’, as well as Resort & SPA Le Dune crowned ‘Italy’s Leading Beach Resort’.
“To be known and recognised as the greenest independent hotel group in the world from the leading authority in travel and tourism is one of our proudest achievements to date, and something we have been working towards as part of our brand DNA for nearly 30 years” celebrates Elena Muntoni, Brand Manager for Delphina hotels & resorts.
“For me and my hard-working and mostly local team, Green values are not a trend, buzzword or something to cross off of a checklist, but a deep-rooted core value and identity we have based all of our business decisions around from day one, including sustainability, respect for nature and enhancing the local tradition. Over the years we have faced challenges and sacrifices to place care for the environment at the centre of our projects.”
“I am confident that operating responsible and thoughtful tourism, whilst respecting the local land, is a great way to create value, especially for a small regional island like Sardinia. We would like to thank everyone who has supported our Green mission so far, our next goal is to maintain our position as the greenest in the world! and to continue to innovate our sustainability standards. We wholeheartedly care about the local land, it is very precious to us, so we’ll preserve it in every way possible.” concludes Muntoni.
A favourite destination for British holidaymakers, Delphina hotels & resorts offers a wide range of wellness focused Sardinian stays. Featuring white sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters, just a two-hour flight away, families, couples and groups can enjoy a wide range of SPA, leisure and sport activities to experience and explore the scenic Italian island.
As part of their work to be recognised as the greenest in the world, Delphina introduced and registered their own We are green® brand, to represent its love and commitment to the environment with a protocol of good eco-sustainable policies and practices. Delphina is the first Italian hotel chain to use 100% green energy, coming exclusively from renewable sources, in all hotels, resorts and headquarters, with a saving of 3,536 tons of CO2 each year, the equivalent of the CO2 absorbed by 25,000 trees. The Gallura hotel chain is also synonymous with having built and integrated the resorts across the landscape in a natural and aesthetically pleasing way, amongst native plants and local essences, whilst using materials made and supplied by local artisans including wrought iron, cork and ceramics.
Delphina is committed to limiting the use of plastic in favour of biodegradable materials for lunch boxes, straws, cutlery, plates and glasses, while in the rooms, bars and restaurants, plastic bottles have been replaced with glass, tetrapak or cans. Among the virtuous actions, the elimination of plastic bottles for all staff and collaborators who received a free reusable water bottle to refill in specially installed fountains, saving 68,700 plastic bottles per year.
All hotels and resorts use Ecolabel products for ordinary cleaning, and the courtesy line of SPA products are eco-bio certified and paraben free. Other important green practices include sustainable mobility with electric vehicles, all recharged on-site, to transport guests. For the printing of catalogues completely vegetable-based inks are used, with paper and covers all in certified ecological cellulose which are entirely recyclable.
Sustainability also means social responsibility through cooperation with local suppliers, so Delphina favours local Sardinian art, crafts, entertainment, manufacturers and services where possible. The food and wine are also preferably sourced locally through the “Genuine Local Food Oriented®” project, a Delphina quality brand, in support of healthy, high quality cuisine based on genuine ingredients that respect seasonality, ideally at 0 km.
In one of the Delphina hotels, at the Resort & SPA Le Dune in Badesi, guests can enjoy a 5-hectare vegetable garden with aromatic herbs and fruit trees, which in additional to having an educational purpose for the children of the resort, also functions as a source of supply for zero km ingredients across all resorts.
Delphina also promotes local excursions to introduce guests to the unique scenery, archeology and history of Gallura and beyond. Delphina is also a Corporate Golden Donor in support of the FAI – Fondo Ambiente Italiano in the protection of the Italian cultural and naturalistic heritage.
Rooted in nature, Delphina’s mission is to offer authentic Mediterranean hospitality in unique places. Delphina built, owns, manages and directly markets twelve 5*, 4* Superior and 4* hotels, exclusive residences, 6 SPAs and prestigious villas in the best locations in Northern Sardinia. An oasis of hospitality, all Delphina resorts are immersed in lush Mediterranean parks overlooking the sea between the Costa Smeralda, the Archipelago of La Maddalena and the Gulf of Asinara, in the towns of Cannigione, Palau, Santa Teresa Gallura, Isola Rossa and Badesi.
The World Travel Awards™ was established in 1993 and serves to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry. Today the World Travel Awards™ brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of industry excellence.
