Respect the Dolomites

Already today, we have invested quite a bit in sustainability:

We are a partner of the Climate Neutrality Alliance and so we also aim for carbon-neutral operations.

Regionality and local supply chains

• Most of our meat and dairy needs are produced by Gardena and South Tyrolean farmers, benefiting deep synergy with the local area and greater traceability and quality of products served.
• During the summer season, our organic garden is able to cover much of the need for vegetables used in the kitchen, reducing dependence on outside suppliers and decreasing our burden on the environment.
• At the Insterski Hotel we also provide for the self-production of beer that we serve to our guests. This choice allows us to reduce dependence on outside suppliers, greenhouse gas emissions associated with distribution, and the production of waste from glass packaging.
• We have significantly reduced as of 2018 the paper materials distributed in the rooms. Here we provide QR codes for digital communication of stay-related information and real-time updates.
• Most of the artisans and workers employed in the hotel's construction work conduct their business within a few kilometers of our facility, an important factor in ensuring a local and quality workforce.

Electrical efficiency and sustainability

• Cutting energy waste is the priority point on which we have acted since 1997 through the installation of home automation sensors in our hotel rooms. These devices block the delivery of thermal energy the moment the opening of doors and windows is detected, avoiding unnecessary energy waste. Additional motion and room access sensors reduce wasted electricity for lighting.
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• Heat distribution is adjustable for each room.
• The thermal energy used is produced through two natural gas condensing boilers characterized by high energy efficiency, while the low-temperature heat made available by the operation of refrigeration, ventilation, and brewing equipment is recovered.
• The hotel building envelope, characterized by a good degree of insulation, and the thermal insulation of the outdoor swimming pool are able to reduce heat loss especially during the winter season.
• To cover part of our electricity needs, we installed a photovoltaic system in 2021, which was later upgraded to a nominal power of 87 kWp. Through this system, we are able to meet about 40 percent of our electricity consumption by producing zero-carbon local energy.
• The energy we take from the power grid is certified 100% Green Energy, i.e., it is produced entirely from South Tyrol's hydroelectric power plants.
• We make our contribution to supporting the development of electric mobility in Val Gardena through our 6 electric car charging stations serving guests. For e-bike enthusiasts, we have set up an area for charging vehicle batteries in the lower rooms of the facility. The shuttle we use to operate the shuttle service is also electrically powered.

Wise use of water

• In 1997, we installed an underground tank with a capacity of 5000 liters for storing rainwater at our hotel. The system is used for irrigation of the green area on our property and makes it possible to substantially reduce the withdrawal of water from the network for this purpose.
• The hotel rooms are equipped with water-breaking devices to achieve further water savings. We have been using water-saving showerheads and toilet flush cisterns in our rooms for several years.
• The modern purification system we use for our swimming pool greatly reduces the use of disinfectants for cleaning, such as chlorine, while ensuring excellent water healthiness. In this way, the frequency of complete drains is reduced.
• The water we serve guests comes from the springs in Val Gardena. Our brewing also uses the same high-quality water resource.
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• Since 2022 we have been closely monitoring our water consumption by participating in metering campaigns promoted by Dolomites Val Gardena.

Waste Reduction

• The annual reporting of solid waste production, measures taken and planned actions is outlined in the Waste Management Plan, a document that allows us to draw the picture of our organization in reference to this issue.
• In the common areas of the facility, the guest has the opportunity to confer separately their waste.
• A portion of glass packaging, amounting to approximately 20%, is intended for reuse through a returnable vacuum system.
• Consumer goods are delivered inside rigid plastic crates that are returned and reused by the supplier, greatly reducing the amount of packaging.
• Since 2016, we have been providing bottled natural and sparkling water at our facility, thus providing guests with an excellent quality product with zero waste. This measure has made it possible to eliminate plastic bottles from the supply chain and reduce the amount of glass packaging used.

Reduction of CO2 emissions

• The measures implemented to reduce and make efficient use of resources also result in the reduction of our hotel's carbon footprint, with a 23% cut in greenhouse gas emissions from 2019 to date.
• As members of Dolomites Val Gardena, we provide our guests with the Mobilcard, a card valid for 7 days that allows free access to all local public transportation in the Tourist Destination. Also through the trip planner we encourage the choice of climate-friendly means of transportation by reducing the volume of private traffic.
• Joining the Turn-to-Zero platform gives us the opportunity to offset a partial or full share of the greenhouse gas emissions produced by our hotel. In the year 2022, all emissions generated, amounting to a share of 220 tons of CO2e, were offset through two carbon offsetting projects.

Communication in sustainability matters

• Since 2022, we have participated in consumption data measurement and monitoring campaigns promoted by the local tourism company. Through these actions, we are able to track the trend of consumption efficiency over time and plan improvement actions.
• We believe that raising awareness and communicating our sustainability achievements is very important to stimulate a new collective consciousness towards environmental protection. In this regard, we publish below our first Sustainability Report, referring to the year 2023, our Code of Ethics, and the Waste Management Plan.