Romagna becomes first Italian truly green tourism destination

Camping Marecchia – Green Gold award winner

With 25 green companies and 2 top gold awards the process "demonstrates that Romagna has some world-class green businesses"

The results of the pilot project to green Romagna tourism have been announced. The Hotel Caribia in Cervia and Camping Marecchia of Pennabilli, both got gold awards after the visit of a team of Italian and British inspectors. Now all 25 participating companies have been inspected and became part of Green Tourism with the majority of them receiving a silver award.

All of the companies will now be able to put up their green plaques with confidence, make enhanced green offers to a global market of clients and save money and energy into the bargain.

The prestigious awards were made at a ceremony in Cervia  attended by Ravenna’s Deputy Mayor, Giannantonio Mingozzi and Cervia’s Deputy Mayor Gabriele Armuzzi,  also in attendance were  Luigi Rambelli, Head of Green Tourism Italy, Sandra Sazzini Technical Coordinator, Cesare Brusi, Director of Ascom Cervia – the local hotel association.

Said Jonathan Proctor, Technical Director of Green Tourism who led the Italo/British inspection team:

"This is a great achievement for all and demonstrates that Italy has some world class green businesses."

"I was most impressed with how the businesses in Romagna are genuinely tackling the green challenges we all face. Many are family businesses and they support local and home produce very well with a lot of businesses specialising in an organic range for breakfast."

 "As a team we identified many areas for cost savings from aerator taps which have high flows to improvements to air conditioners, refrigeration units and boilers."

Said Andrea Nicholas, Green Tourism CEO: "We are extremely pleased to welcome the first businesses in Italy into the Green Tourism family."

"Emilia Romagna is a beautiful part of Italy with fantastic local produce, great countryside and lovely beaches.  All the hotels participating in Green Tourism are using these wonderful natural assets as well as embracing all aspects of sustainability and making sure that their guests have an enhanced experience."

 "As the founding members in Italy they are ambassadors for Green Tourism and will attract holiday makers from other parts of Europe that have yet to discover this amazing destination."

The pilot scheme was organised in co-operation with local hotel association ASCOM and Green Tourism – the largest and most credible green certification programme in the world with over 2500 members.

The Romagna initiative has enabled local tourism businesses to save money and have their offers audited and certified. This provides a credible globally-recognised branding so that the ever-increasing group of discriminating green clients can be sure that they are getting the real green thing.

Valere Tjolle

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Find out more about Romagna on a FAM trip  HERE

And there’s more about this fabulous destination: Put the Christmas back into Christmas.  Follow the Christmas star…   Discover the Heart of Italy   – Fireflies, Cherries and Soaring Hills – Tourism attraction from scrap  Romagna – Very Hot Metal   – Dancing in the Piazza  – Meet Romagna’s Cast    – Mayday Mayday – Romagna’s got it covered  – Kite festival   – Green and very pleasant land gets even greener

You’ve done the work now get the benefits – make your green destination visible HERE

Valere Tjolle

@ValereTjolle