Lisbon Hotel protects UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sintra

A top-performing Green Globe member since 2012, the Inspira Santa Marta Hotel in Lisbon, Portugal, lives its motto ‘Engaging your Senses’, involving guests, staff members, partners, and suppliers, encouraging everybody to join their sustainable mission and act responsibly.

"Inspira has always aimed to identify itself with many CSR projects considered to really make a difference or add value, true to our motto ‘Doing the Right Thing’. Supporting the community inspires us," states General Manager, Nicolas Roucos.

The Inspira Santa Marta Hotel is part of the first Business Interest Group constituted under the BIO & Sintra project ‘Reduction of carbon footprint, a contribution to enhance biodiversity in Sintra‘. Listed by UNESCO in 1995, the cultural landscape of Sintra is a World Heritage Site. It is integrated in the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park and the Natura 2000 Network – a privileged eco system that includes natural and cultural values classified as priorities for conservation. The Serra de Sintra is surrounded by an urban fabric of 445,000 inhabitants and 39,200 businesses. Parks and monuments under the tutelage of Parques de Sintra attract around 1 million visitors a year.

"The activities emitting greenhouse gases carried out by those who visit, live, and develop economic activities in Sintra produce a negative impact on the eco systems and habitats of the cultural landscape, and speed up the climate change phenomenon, with global repercussions," explains Nicolas Roucos. "However, we can all contribute reducing the ecological footprint of daily activities through small changes in our approach."

The overall project objective is to develop a pilot experience (transferable to other locations) for the cultural landscape of Sintra, aimed at changing people’s attitudes, and targeting a decrease in carbon emissions to mitigate climate change, safeguarding local habitats and species.

"It is crucial to improve the understanding of key biodiversity issues, not only from an environmental and ethical point of view, but also from a financial perspective. The natural values of the cultural landscape of Sintra have an important contribution towards the sustainability of the regional economy," added Nicolas Roucos.

In collaboration with 25 regional working groups, the Inspira Santa Marta is on a mission to raise the awareness level, promoting active public participation in the conservation of the key natural values of the Serra de Sintra. All Inspira staff members participate in volunteer activities to benefit the cause. On a regular basis, the hotel organizes workshops and field trips, providing information on carbon dioxide emissions, climate change, and the loss of biodiversity.

The goal is to encourage the adoption of environmentally-friendly behaviors and sustainable visits to the Sintra.