As pioneers of a greener and more sustainable luxury, the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer establishments have made a proactive commitment to environmental and social issues. Already holders of the Green Globe certificate since 2014, the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort and the Monte-Carlo Beach were awarded the prestigious Green Globe Gold Standard certification in June 2018: a fine reward for all of the teams involved who work daily to manage energy and water resources more economically, strive to produce a healthier and more responsible cuisine and take awareness and support actions in partnership with associations.
Green Globe is a world-renowned certification programme designed for the luxury travel and tourism industry, using 300 indicators to assess the approach of hotels in terms of sustainable development. Already certified since 2014, the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort and the Monte-Carlo Beach have made a further step this year, thanks to Green Globe Gold Standard certification, which distinguishes organisations that have held the label for five consecutive years. This demanding certification acknowledges the many actions taken by the “green teams” of the two Monaco-based establishments.
The Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort has reduced its energy expenditure by 30% in just eight years
The Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort is successfully continuing its environmental commitment by combining service quality, competitiveness and energy management. Among the key actions implemented are the replacement of 8,000 standard light bulbs with LEDs; the adjustment of air conditioning and heating times in unoccupied spaces ; the replacement of LCD-screen televisions with LED-screen sets. The underwater lighting in the pools and the lagoon, as well as lighting in the gardens, will soon be changed to LED too.
In addition the hotel is now fitted with Smart+, a box connected to the Internet that measures energy use without any work or investment. Thanks to this careful monitoring, the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort should save the equivalent of one month of energy per year! Lastly, the hotel is planning to install photovoltaic panels on the hotel's roof within one year, in order to produce around 170,000 kWh/year.
Monte-Carlo Beach: a commitment to organic products and sustainable development
A luxury holiday resort in close contact with nature, situated between the pine forest and the Mediterranean Sea, the Monte-Carlo Beach embodies a lifestyle, which is both timeless and firmly rooted in its period, in particular thanks to its strong commitment to organic products and sustainable development. The hotel aims to make energy savings through promoting good actions, and now buys the equivalent of its electricity use in renewable energy. For external cleaning, dishwashing and watering of green spaces, the establishment opts for water-efficient equipment and habits. The green spaces are part of a “Zero Phyto” approach that favours biological control, with gardeners receiving specific training. In terms of clean transport, the Monte-Carlo Beach has electric vehicles as well as a private electric bicycle station. The hotel has also introduced an electrical terminal in its car park.
The Monte-Carlo Beach also has a proactive approach to recycling (paper, glass, packaging, batteries, waste electrical and electronic equipment, tubes and light bulbs, cooking oils, fat from cooking, etc.). All towels and table sets are recycled in partnership with the association Pacôme Recyclage, which collects them. Detergents and cleaning products have ecology labels; all Monte-Carlo Beach bathrooms have Casanera products, an organic skincare line made from plants from the Corsican scrublands; and all rooms offer organic fair trade coffees and ecologically designed and recyclable Malongo coffee machines.
Natural and organic cuisine!
The Monte-Carlo Beach is home to the restaurant, Elsa, the first 100% organic star-awarded restaurant certified by Ecocert: the talented chef, Paolo Sari, excellently combines taste and health thanks to a careful selection of food and wine producers, with seasonal products made or harvested in the region. All of the products on the menu of the Elsa restaurant are from organic farming and have the AB label. This label guarantees food without pesticides, fertilisers, GMOs and colourants. Fish produce comes from wild fishing and bread is kneaded and freshly baked in the kitchen twice a day. Chocolate and coffee are also organic and fair trade. The Monte-Carlo Beach aims to become the first hotel to receive organic certification in all of its food services: gastronomic restaurant, room service, minibar and hotel bar.
Sustainable development is also central in the kitchens of the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort, thanks to star-awarded chef Marcel Ravin, who promotes healthy and authentic cuisine. At the Blue Bay, the signature restaurant of Monte-Carlo Bay, fruits, vegetables and plants collected just a few steps away from a 400 square-metre organic vegetable garden are at the centre of the chef's creations. The vegetable garden is the work of close collaboration with the start-up Terre de Monaco, founded by Jessica Sbaraglia, creator of urban organic vegetable gardens. For the past year, a charter has been established with “Mister Good Fish” in order to respect marine resources thanks to a list of species recommended per season.
Year-round awareness-raising and charity actions
Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort teams are very involved in local social matters and each year take part in events such as charity lunches organised with the Fourneau économique de Nice and the Solidarpole association, or workshops to raise children’s awareness in terms of the environment at Monacology.
The Monte-Carlo Beach, for its part, takes part in the Route du Goût, which was initiated in 2015 by Chef Paolo Sari, to promote organic produce to young people, as well as the “World Ocean Day” to encourage protection of the oceans. The hotel is also strongly committed to the Monaco association “Les Anges Gardiens”, which provides help to deprived people in the city of Nice.
Both establishments also take part every year in the "Pas de Noël sans jouets” operation organised by the SIVOM of Villefranche for the benefit of the Restos du cœur, and the “Les bouchons d’amour” action which helps to fund wheelchairs through recycling plastic bottle lids.
In addition, the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort and the Monte-Carlo Beach are pilot establishments in Monaco for the implementation of the Energy Transition, for which the National Energy Transition Pact was signed at the Grimaldi Forum on 23rd March 2018.
About the Green Globe Gold Certification of the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel and Resort and the Monte-Carlo Beach, Didier Boidin Managing Director, Hotel Operations and Procurement noted:
“Environmental Sustainability has definitely become a worldwide necessity. Beyond the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort and the Monte-Carlo Beach, Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer has been committed to sustainability for years. Indeed, for the third year in a row, the group has been awarded the Green Globe certification for its wellbeing and preventive health center Les Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo.
I am very proud and grateful of the work undertaken for many years by the teams. Implementing ‘Green Teams’ in each one of our establishments have enabled the achievement of effective sustainability actions. Our guests are known to be more and more supportive and sensitive towards these initiatives.
The Green Globe Gold certification is the recognition of this great work to pursue and develop” declared Didier Boidin.
In congratulating both Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort and Monte-Carlo Beach, Green Globe CEO Guido Bauer said:
“We have been studying with great interest how these establishments manage to balance a luxury offering with the rigour of sustainable practice and the result is simple astounding.
“The key to both these properties achieving Gold Certification is not only their continuous five year commitment to sustainability, but their remarkable energy in taking on so many diverse initiatives.
“From organic kitchen gardens to international compacts on carbon reduction, the properties have clearly decided that a sustainable approach to operations does not have to take away from the guest experience, but in fact can bring so much more,” added CEO Bauer.
About Green Globe Certification
Green Globe is the worldwide sustainability system based on internationally accepted criteria for sustainable operation and management of travel and tourism businesses. Operating under a worldwide license, Green Globe is based in California, USA and is represented in over 83 countries. Green Globe is an Affiliate Member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). For information, please visit www.greenglobe.com
About Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer
Since 1863, Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer has been delivering a unique lifestyle, a world-unique resort with four casinos, including the prestigious Casino de Monte-Carlo, four hotels (Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo, Monte-Carlo Beach, Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort), 30 restaurants of which four have a total of six Michelin stars, the Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo, dedicated to well-being and preventive health. A hub of nightlife, the Group offers an amazing choice of events, including the Monte-Carlo Sporting Summer Festival and the Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival. End of 2018, One Monte-Carlo will complete the real estate offer with 37 high standard residences and will develop the luxury shopping experience with the international fashion most acclaimed brands.
