The key to a greener future

The nine hotels of the Arp Hansen Group are the latest to receive the prestigious Green Key eco-tourism award, enhancing Copenhagen's position as a world leader in environmentally friendly tourism.

With hotel guests increasingly showing an awareness of environmental issues when choosing where to stay, the internationally renowned Green Key award is becoming more and more sought after by hotels who successfully minimise their environmental impact.

The nine Copenhagen hotels of the Arp Hansen Group are the latest to receive this prestigious award in recognition of their effectiveness in reducing energy and water consumption; minimising waste; introducing organic produce; and creating a healthy environment in which to work and stay.

Other Copenhagen hotels already boasting the Green Key are the Hotel Alexandra, Bautahøj Course Centre, Havreholm Castle and Vilvorde Course Centre.

The environmental stamp of approval
The Green Key is the leading tourism eco-label. It was founded in Denmark in 1994 and now operates in 38 countries worldwide.

Green Keys are awarded to tourism-related companies that successfully meet specific, targetted criteria including: reducing their consumption of water and energy; reducing and disposing of waste in an environmentally friendly manner; using environmentally friendly cleaning products; and seeking to reduce other environmental impacts of their company and of their partners and suppliers. To receive the Green Key companies must meet over 50 different criteria. The Green Key is reviewed every twelve months.

The Green Key is supported by the Danish Hotel Restaurant and Tourism Employer's Association (Horesta), Copenhagen City Council, VisitDenmark and Wonderful Copenhagen CVB. All four work together ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference in November to promote Copenhagen as a green destination. In that connection they incite all hotels and venues to take advantage of the Green Key.

Copenhagen's leading Hotel Group
Arp Hansen Hotel Group A/S is Copenhagen's largest hotel group, offering a total of 1,713 hotel rooms in nine hotels. The nine hotels, all now proud recipients of the Green Key, are: Phoenix Copenhagen, 71 Nyhavn Hotel, Imperial Hotel, Grand Hotel, the Square, Copenhagen Island, Copenhagen Strand, Hotel Opera and Gentofte Hotel. The group is known for operating hotels at the best, most central addresses in the city, including on Nyhavn, beside the Royal Theatre and on the City Hall Square, among other locations.

The group has recently commenced construction of a new congress and conference centre which will also include three hotels. Designed by renowned architect Kim Utzon, the project will eventually offer conference space for up to 4,000 delegates and 1,300 hotel rooms, within a total area of 75,000 sq m. The new complex will be located besides Kalvebod Brygge close to the centre of Copenhagen. The first stage will open in the first quarter of 2008.