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Eco Hotels
It often seems like the hotel
industry simply pays lip service to ethical and environmental
issues. Do hotels really believe that a note asking you to re-use
your towels constitutes a socio-ethical policy when the heating
or air-conditioning is cranked full on and they employ the cheapest
foreign labour they can get? The origin of food is often indeterminate
and contact with the local economy minimal.
Why not ask them a few questions
to sharpen their performance:
- can you turn the heating/airconditioning
down please?
- where is your food procured?
Is it local/organic?
- can I see your ethical policy
please?
- do you re-cycle?
- in what ways do you support
the local community?
There are a number of environmental
accreditation organisations working with the hotel industry.
Green Key
Having had our rant, we have
to acknowledge that the world does have a fair number of environmentally
conscious hotels, so here is where you can find a few of them:
UK:
 Bedruthan Steps
Hotel, Cornwall-http://www.bedruthan.com
Family friendly hotel on the Atlantic Coast, with a strong environmental
policy. Close to Mawgan Porth Beach, many of the rooms offer
sea views. Restaurant and café offering local produce
-special feature is the attention the give to kids menus. Indoor
and outdoor pools, spa treatment, jacuzzi and beauty treatments.
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- Percy's
Country Hotel and Restaurant,
Virginstow, Devon -http://www.percys.co.uk
- Set in 130 acres of verdant
gardens, this is a tranquil paradise from which to escape the
pressures of modern living. Living accommodation is situated
in a restored, converted 17th century granary and offers every
comfort from Egyptian cotton bedlinen to broadband
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- Tyf
Eco Hotel and Adventure Sports Centre, Pembrokeshire -http://www.tyf.com
Located
in the tiny Welsh city of St Davids the hotel is set in a converted
12 bedroom windmill. It is the first hotel in Wales certified
by the Welsh Organic Scheme, and has a ethical purchasing policy.
They offer world class coasteering -sea kayaking, surfing and
rock climbing and it is also a perfect location for retreats,
courses and events.
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- 51 Buckingham Gate, London -http://www.51-buckinghamgate.com
Smart five star hotel in the heart of Westminster that champions
green causes with its own 'green team' who promote environmental
initiatives amongst the hotel's 250 staff. The have 86 luxury
suites and serviced apartments for short or long stay, along
with spa including a state-of-the-art gymnasium, saunas and steam
rooms.
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Ireland
 Lake Hotel -http://www.lakehotel.com
An eco friendly spa hotel in
Killarney -boasts geothermal heat pump and solar hot water systems
as well as being located in a beautiful lakeside situation with
mountain views.
Brook
Lodge, Macreddin
-http://www.brooklodge.com
Country house spa hotel
in Wicklow with its own micro-brewery and organic restaurant
that also features geothermal heating from an underground spring
supplemented by a biomass boiler
Austria
- Altstadt, Vienna -http://www.altstadt.at
- An exclusive hideaway with rooms
designed by architect Matteo Thun that aims to be a meeting point
for artists, musicians and travellers looking for a character
hotel with good service -some beautifully presented images give
a good idea of what is on offer (helpful as parts of the website
are German only). The hotel is part of the Umweltzeichen
-the Austrian equivalent of the EU Ecolabel.
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 Aqua Dome, Tirol Therme
Längenfeld -http://www.aqua-dome.at
- A stunning thermal spa and wellness
hotel set in the Tirollean mountains. It features a domed, glass-walled
thermal spring hall with two pools and a huge waterfall -two
canal pools connect to the amazing outdoor area, with the whole
complex designed to blend with the mountain setting.
- Schlank Schlemmer Hotel Kürschner, Kötschach-Mauthen -http://www.hotel-kuerschner.at
Wellness hotel in an old house in the Gail Valley
-the hotel enjoys a tranquil location next to the forest with
stunning views. It offers a variety of wellness treatments and
other activities -rafting, riding, swimming. Tey operate a host
of green policies from energy conservation to conservation of
local wildlife, and have a European Eco Lavel.
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- Biohotels -http://www.biohotels.info
An association of independant hotels offering holidays based
around natural products. Started in austria, they now offer hotels
in a number of European countries from Ireland to Spain. They
offer an organic guarantee of standards to be met by participating
hotels.
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- Biolandhaus Arche, Carinthia -http://www.bio.arche.hotel.at
At an altitude of 930m in wooded countryside, this
hotel certainly offers clear air. It also offers solar heated
water, wholefood cuisine, a wellness suite with massage and sauna
and a construction of natural materials -they will ask you to
separate your rubbish. Each room has a different characteristic,
ranging from a small sun trap bio loft room to the larger wooden
outhouse nearby.
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- Das Park Hotel
-http://www.dasparkhotel.net
Probably the most
unusual place to stay featured on this site -rooms are in pods
made from concrete drain pipes with "pay as you wish"
system -brilliant!
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- Rogner
Bad Blumau, -http://www.blumau.com
An extraordinary hotel and wellness spa in an architecturally
inspiring environment -green roofs, organic forms, colourful
facades and golden domes make up this amazing complex. Power,
heat and energy are supplied by the two curative springs. The
spa aims to touch all senses -imagine floating in the warm water,
daydreaming, under canopies, on the grass-covered roof or reading
in the room of silence. Features include a geomantic path, Celtic
tree circle, island of flowers of love, path of the wild fruit,
love trees and garden of the 4 elements. There is so much we
could write about the hotel -do have a browse through their website.
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- Stadthalle,
Vienna -http://www.hotelstadthalle.at
Three star
boutique eco hotel in vienna, boasting solar powered hot water
and green roof gardens -the hotel was the first Viennese hotel
awarded with the European Eco Label. The hotel is central yet
peaceful and they are proud of their gardens of lavendar and
roses.
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- Stanglwirt, Kaiserweg -http://www.stanglwirt.com
Bio and energy hotel in a 250-year-old resort in
the Austrian Tirol that blends eco with luxury. A great destination
for families with its own Childrens Farm in a mountain setting.
The hotel uses recycled wood to fuel the heating system, avoids
the use of chemicals, grows its own produce, and makes its own
cheese.
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Belgium
Cyprus
Vaha
Spa -http://www.vaha-spa.com/
Idyllic spa set in a lemon orchard in northern Cyprus
16 km west of Kyrenia. They offer a comprehensive range of spa
treatments, including hot stones, massages, body wraps, facials,
hip and thigh treatments as well as Qi Yoga, a therapeutic blend
of Hatha Yoga (balancing and restorative Yoga) and Qi Gong (ancient
Chinese healing practice), to create centring, grounding, energy
harnessing, stress relief and healing on a cellular through to
an energetic level.
Czech Republic
- Adalbert,
Prague -http://www.hoteladalbert.cz
Located in
a restored building on the grounds of the Brevnov monastery,
and close to Prague Castle. It was the first hotel in the Czech
republic to be awarded an Eu Green Flower accreditation. Website
has a good list of their environmental measures, which range
from water saving to energy efficiency.
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- Adria, Prague -http://www.adria.cz
- Centrally located four star
Eu eco-labelled hotel . Mind you, one has to question a standard
where on one hand the hotel boasts having air-conditioning, and
on the other hand lists having wooden company pencils as one
of their eco measures.....
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- Chateau Mcely
-http://www.chateaumcely.com
Renovated chateau
one hour from Prague in the middle of St. George Forest -says
it is the first five-star "green" eco chic hotel in
the Czech Republic -Green Flower accredited. Green features included
heating by woodchip fuel, recycling of waste, use of grey water
for irrigation along with careful selection of suppliers and
staff training on green issues. Not sure how the hunting on offer
squares with all this, though.....
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- Jested
Hotel, Liberec-http://www.jested.cz
- Not an eco hotel, but a totally
unique architectural experience -the hotel and restaurant are
located in a 1960s telecoms tower designed by by architect K.
Hubacek who received the Perret's Prize for it. You will not
find more impressive views anywhere but you will need a good
head for heights!
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- MaMaison Residence Belgicka, Prague -http://www.residence-belgicka.com
- Executive aparthotel just ten
minutes from Wenceslas Square offering serviced apartments in
a classic Art Nouveau building fitted out by interior designer
Barbara Skorpilova. Awarded a European Eco-label, they offer
business class accommodation with all the facilities you would
expect, although its a pity they don't make more of their eco
credentials.
Denmark
Look out for 'Green Key' certified
hotels (http://www.green-key.org) that have to follow 55
criteria ranging from saving water to environmentally friendly
cleaning materials. There are also the Flower and the Swan (www.ecolabel.dk) independently
certified eco-labels.
- CPH
Living , Copenhagen
- -http://www.cphliving.com
Opening late 2008, Denmarks first floating hotel offers the best
in Scandinavian design and perhaps reflects the future of a world
with sea level changes. Located in the heart of the city, the
boat is furnished to a high specification, with wifi internet
throughout.
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Finland
 Kakslautten -http://www.kakslauttanen.fi
A stunning hotel, igloo village
and cabins complex in Lapland. Especially notable are their glass
igloos from which you can watch the Aurora Borealis -they say
they use specially insulated glass. Snow restaurant, smoke saunas
and wilderness exploration completes the experience.
France
Chateau Gauthie,
Bergerac -http://www.chateaugauthie.com
Relive
your childhood and stay in a treehouse B&B built in a magnificent
oak tree in the grounds of a restored chateau in Perigord. You
can also stay in the chateau for more sumptuous accommodation.
- La
Clairière,
Alsace -http://www.la-clairiere.com
- The first bio-hotel in France
offering 100% organic food and well-being spa in a forest glade
setting. They offer walking, mountain biking in the beautiful
surrounding forests of St Pierre.
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- Gavarni, Paris -http://www.gavarni.com
- Super chintzy Parisian charm
with a green emphasis and not far from the Eifel Tower -this
was the first independant hotel in Paris awarded the European
Eco-Label. They even run their own green tourism blog.
Maison
Flore, http://www.maisonflore.com
A ten room environmental hotel in the heart of Arcais
in the marshes of Marais Poitevin. The hotel is located in two
historic marsh houses that have been refurbished with 40 sqm
of photo-voltaic roof tiles, and an aerothermal floor heating
system fed by an air/water heat-pump itself connected to their
own solar energy system. They operate a green housekeeping program
which only uses environmently friendly cleaning products and
are planning to install a 10,000 liter rainwater collector for
greywater flushing.
Villa Rosa, Alsace -http://www.villarosa.fr
Small nature hotel restored with natural paints, oiled floors
and wax. It has achieved 'Hotel au naturel' classification
meeting of criteria on the preservation of the environment such
as use of renewable energy, waste recycling, water preservation,
and reduction of noise and light pollution. |
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Germany
- Künstlerheim Luise, Berlin -http://www.luise-berlin.com
Located near to the Reichstag, the design of this hotel has been
fully integrated with the display of art work. It offers 50 individual
rooms in a mixture of classical and modern accommodation, and
also has its own gallery for functions. It has a fantastic history
-this extract from the website "We had the idea even before
the Berlin Wall fell: starting as an artists' hotel in the center
of Berlin, a place where artists and friends of art could live
and work, where people play music and gather."
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- Creativ
Hotel, Luise -http://www.hotel-luise.de
Centrally located family run hotel and wellness spa
in Luise. Their Lunyu Wellness Oasis offers Finnish sauna, Turkish
steam-bath, a jacuzzi whirlpool, aroma shower and fitness room.
They have specially equipped rooms for allergy sufferers and
for people requiring a handicapped accessible room. The restaurant
serves organic food.
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- Flachshaus,
Wachtendonk -http://www.hotel-flachshaus.de
Biohotel
and restaurant offering organic food and wine in the Niederrhein
region. Excellent cycling.
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- Kenners Landlust -http://www.kenners-landlust.de
Organic
hotel and guest house in northern Germany. You can enjoy the
nearby Göhrde forests and wetlands of the Elbe or relax
with natural spa treatments such as massages, a Shiatsu pressure
point massage or a Craniosacral therapy. The meals are certified
organic ("Biosiegel") and they are members of the Organic
Hotel Association (Bio Hotels).
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 Mitart, Berlin -http://www.mitart.de
- Central Berlin hotel and café
in a listed building, with easy access to the cultural life of
the city. The café serves organic food, sourced locally,
and they support local artists, whose work is on display in the
hotels 30 individually styled rooms.
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 Ökotel, Hamburg, Germany -http://www.oekotel.de
Comfortable modern ecological hotel in built using natural materials
to a low-energy building standard, including highly insulated,
photovoltaics for energy, waste recycling, greywater flush system,
and environmentally friendly cleaning products. They also offer
certified organic food for their guests.
Greece
- Guest
Inn -http://www.guestinn.com
Selected Ecotourist traditional accomodation in Greece.
The philosophy of Guest Inn, the first Greek Network of Rural
Accommodation is to display and promote small tourist accommodation
via the Internet, as well as to suggest and provide the traveller
with accommodation which is particular to its location and complies
with specific common quality standards.
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- Grecotel, various locations -http://www.grecotel.com/
- The largest hotel chain in Greece
wouldn't seem a likely candidate for a selection of eco-hotels,
but they are in fact proud of their green credentials. They established
their environmental department in 1992, persuaded Coca-Cola to
reintroduce returnable glass bottles to Greece; and set up the
Agreco traditional organic farm in Crete supplying many of their
hotels with organic produce. Their stunning resort hotel in Cape
Sounio near Athens has a strong educational programme "ambassadors
of the environment" lead by Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of
the great underwater broadcaster.
Iceland
- Eldhestar,
Hveragerdi -http://www.hoteleldhestar.is/
- Eco labelled countryside hotel
dedicated to the Icelandic Horse. Located 30 minutes from Reykjavik
in a geothermal resort with many excellent riding and hiking
trails. Strong environmental policy including the careful control
of tours to avoid damaging delicate ecosystems.
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- Hotel
Hellnar, Hellnar
-http://hellnar.is
Country hotel and retreat located at the head of Snaefellsjokull
Glacier with spectacular views. It was the first hotel in Iceland
to be Green Globe Eco rated. Owner Gudrun Bergmann worked with
her late husband Gudlaugur on environmental protection and sustainable
tourism for many years, and Gudlaugur was project coordinator
for Local Agenda 21 in Snaefellsbaer municipality. Activities
include glacier tours by snowcat, horse riding and hiking. Snaefellsjokull
National Park is just minutes away and island tours are available
at Stykkisholmur, and hour away.
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Italy
- Ariston Hotel,
Milan -http://www.aristonhotel.com
- Three star hotel in the centre
of Milan, that describes itself as being designed on principles
of bio-architecture. It is not entirely clear what that actually
means, although they do offer guests the use of free bicycles.
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- Atelier sul Mare, Castel di Tusa, Siciliy -http://www.ateliersulmare.it
This is not just a hotel that incorporates art -it
is the art. Sleep inside a sculptured, themed room. Most definitely
a night to remember. The hotel has an idyllic location right
on the beach front -watch the fishing boats landing by day or
enjoy a panorama of the lights of the town while enjoying an
evening drink.
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- Lana
Hotel, Lana -http://www.esserhof.com
Ultra
modern boutique hotel built from straw bale construction in the
mountains of north east Italy. Relax with an active massage or
enjoy the pool.
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- Il Palazzo,
Venice -http://www.ilpalazzovenezia.com
- A magnificent five star hotel
in a gothic building just yards from St Mark's Square. As well
as innovative energy saving systems and recycling initiatives,
the hotel is unique in providing a solar powered boat to ferry
guests to their other hotel, Bauer Palladio Hotel and Spa on
Giudecca Island. Bauer Palazzo is a wellness hotel, with gym,
sauna, steam room and a rooftop Jacuzzi with a view. They also
offer guests hand-made, all-natural beauty products from the
botanical gardens on Giudecca Island.
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- Panorama,
South Tyrol -http://www.hotel-panorama-mals.it
Bio-hotel
offering panoramic views of the Ortler Mountains and food produced
on their own organic farm. Enjoy beautiful hiking country or
relax in their sauna.
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- Villa Casanova,
Venice http://www.casanovavenice.com
A villa
on the Venice Lido that has been refurbished in line with Feng
Sui principles using natural materials and offering an organic
breakfast buffet.
Netherlands
Capsule Hotel, The Hague/Antwerp
-http://www.capsulehotel.info
A hotel with a difference
-sleep inside your own "love pod" -actually they are
oil rig survival pods, simply kitted out for a very different
night's experience. Location varies -check the website to see
where they are now.
Green Key
-Dutch eco label that scores hotels, campsites and restaurants
in Belgium, Holland and Germany with a bronze, silver or gold
environmental barometer (Dutch language only).
Hans Brinker Budget Hotel -a budget hotel that takes a tongue-in-cheek approach
to eco travel -have a look at their eco-tour and you will see
what we mean......
Norway
- Ongajok
Mountain Farm, near
Alta -http://www.ongajok.no
- A traditional farm comprising
nine buildings around a yard in the wilderness of northern Norway.
They offer accomodation for up to 35 guests, with traditional
Norwegian cuisine including grouse, reindeer and trout from mountain
lakes. The farm is accredited with a Swan Eco Label, and works
actively to minimise the environmental impact of your stay, with
measures including waste sorting and recycling, bio toilets,
and localkly sourced ingredients.
Scandic Hotels,
Oslo -http://www.scandichotels.com
This Scandinavian hotel chain has a strong Responsible Living
agenda -it introduced the concept of its 97 percent recyclable
hotel room in 1995 and has opened two eco-hotels in Oslo -the
Oslo Sjolyst- and the newer Byporten Oslo. A particular feature
is the ability of guests to electronically override the temperature
settings. They are retrofitting all their hotels rooms to reduce
the amount of plastic and metal used, replacing them with natural
materials. They aim to be zero CO2 by 2025.
Thon
Hotels, across norway
-http://www.thonhotels.com
This chain has set
out their aim to have all their hotels certified as "Eco-lighthouses"
by the end of 2008 -policies include waste reduction and environmental
friendly waste management, purchasing environmental friendly
products and ecological food. They also offer self catering apartments
in some locations.
Portugal
Quinta Rio Touro, near Cascais -http://www.quinta-riotouro.com
A certified organic farm, that is part of Sintra/Cascais Natural
Park World Heritage Site. Enjoy an organic breakfast made from
their own produce and pick your own oranges straight from the
trees.
Hotel Rural Quinta de Bispos, Serra do Caramulo -http://www.quintadebispos.com
Eco-labelled country house hotel and apartments on
an organic farm in Central Portugal. The complex enjoys fantastic
views and offers pools, turkish baths, horseriding, walking,
tennis and a music recording studio. Eco measures include photovoltaic
solar power, water and waste management, plus briefing of all
staff on ecological issues.
Spain
- Cerro de Hijar,
Malaga -http://www.cerrodehijar.com
This three star hotel enjoys a stunning mountain location, silence
and fantastic views -you can do trekking, biking and horseback
riding or retire to the hotel for a spa and gastronomic meal.
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 Consolacion
Hotel, Monroyo / Mont-roig.
Matarraña -http://www.consolacion.com.es
- A striking modern hotel located
in the Matarraña, Aragón, one of the most beautiful
and undiscovered regions of Spain. The hotel was designed by
architects Camprubí i Santacana as an innovative
project comprising a central house with communal areas, plus
ten rooms built as cubes with three solid and one glass wall,
enjoying interrupted views of the natural surroundings. The rooms
have sunken bath of luxurious black slate and a chimney suspended
in mid air, as well as speakers for your I-pod. The restaurant
serves some of the best regional produce and the swimming pool,
carved from the rockface, enjoys the same spectacular views
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- La Correa,
Canary Islands -http://www.ecohotelcorrea.com
An
oasis of peace and tranquillity in the heart of a native vegetation
estate situated in Altavista de Arona (South of Tenerife). This
small rustic hotel of only 6 double rooms offers a variety of
activities from hillwalking to paragliding. They serve organic
food, organise therapeutic services and talks on wellbeing and
try to bring respect for the environment into everything they
do.
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Sweden
 Kolarbyn -http://www.kolarbyn.se
Describes itself as Sweden's
most primitive hotel -stay in a forest hut -you are provided
with firewood, matches, sheepskin blanks and primitive cooking
facilities. Bring warm clothing!
 Salt
and Sill, Klädesholmen
-http://www.saltosill.se
A modernistic floating hotel
moored at Klädesholmen, one hour from Gothenberg. The oceam
itself provides heat through a turbine beneath the boat. Enjoy
the coastal air and fresh fish from one of the top seafood restaurants
in Sweden.
Switzerland
 Balance, Les Grange -http://www.vegetarisches-hotel.ch
Organic vegetarian cooking plus
well-being treatments using the La Grange natural spring water
-sauna, pool, shiatsu or simply relax in the garden with a herbal
tea.
Style
Hotel, Zermatt -http://www.stylehotel.ch
Wellness hotel near the Matterhorn, offering
pool, jacuzzi, caldarium, sauna and massage, along with certified
organic food.
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- Featured books:
- Eco Hotels of the World
- Alex Conti
- Paperback
- Oct 2008
- The best eco hotels in the world,
all green star rated for their contribution to saving the environment.
- Price in UK pounds
- Price in US dollars
- Green Places to Stay: Eco-lodges
and Other Green Places to Stay
- (Alastair Sawday's Special Places
to Stay)
- Paperback
by Richard Hammond
- Price in UK pounds
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Scandic Hotels have sustainability
at the core of their policies with over 100 Swan eco-labelled
hotels in northern Europe.
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