GreenSign Community Circle

“Certified Wins”: GreenSign Celebrates International Debut in South Tyrol – Setting New Standards for Profitable Sustainability

After eight successful Circles in German metropolises, GreenSign has brought its Community Circle to South Tyrol for the first time. The premiere made one thing clear: Sustainability carries economic weight. Hoteliers, associations, and technology leaders discussed the balance between environmental responsibility and profitability.

The expert talk, “Certified Wins: Sustainability as a Competitive Advantage for South Tyrol’s Hotels,” was the intellectual centerpiece of the event. Moderated by Nicola Baumert, industry leaders debated the growing impact of certified sustainability:

Hannes Waldmüller (IDM South Tyrol): He outlined the radical shift from traditional destination marketing to holistic “habitat management.” South Tyrol sets the trend: 19 destinations are already certified, 18 at the highest Level 3 (Dark Green), including the Gitschberg Jochtal region. A core element of certification is the mandatory use of six specific South Tyrolean products (milk, butter, yogurt, apple juice, apples, and wine). Waldmüller emphasized the strategic choice: Only these six products are currently available in sufficient quantity to supply the entire hotel industry across South Tyrol regionally.

Reinhard Leitner (HGV): The sustainability consulting expert focused on hard economic facts. He highlighted that sustainability is no longer a “nice-to-have,” but a measurable competitive factor that increasingly intersects with other sectors. Especially important: A new regional government decision grants businesses with Level 3 certification significant advantages in the highly sought-after allocation of bed contingents. Additionally, mandatory greenhouse gas accounting according to the international Greenhouse Gas Protocol (Scope 1 & 2) is now required. This not only drives cost savings in energy and water, but also strengthens negotiating positions with banks and investors.

Anne Schiefer (GreenSign by VERIS Certifications): She addressed the sharply tightened regulatory requirements. To guarantee maximum transparency and legal certainty for hotels in light of the EU Green Claims Directive (Empco), GreenSign has sharpened its structure: The independent auditing body Weres Certifications now conducts audits, separated from standard development. This is a direct response to the ban on generic environmental claims without robust evidence. The GreenSign standard provides a legally secure “to-do list” for the hospitality sector, with over 130 criteria across 10 core areas.

Best Practice: Hands-On Sustainability at Hotel Rogen

Host Ewald Rogen demonstrated how technical innovation reduces operating costs:

• Energy Self-Sufficiency: A 200 kW photovoltaic system combined with a 200 kW battery storage allows the business to cover a large portion of its own energy needs CO₂-neutrally.
• Heat Efficiency: The installed refrigeration system includes a 1,200-liter heat recovery unit, efficiently repurposing waste heat for hot water production.
• The “Pipi-um” Effect: As a standout technical detail, Ewald Rogen presented the manual adjustment of valves beneath washbasins. By precisely throttling the water flow (“Pipi-um”), the operation drastically reduces water consumption without compromising guest comfort during handwashing or tooth brushing.
• Zero Waste Strategy: A rigorous waste separation system with four distinct fractions on each floor achieves a significant reduction in costly residual waste.

From Hamburg via Mainz, Munich, Leipzig, Düsseldorf, Cologne and Stuttgart back to the capital: with the 8th GreenSign Community Circle, the networking series for sustainable hospitality celebrated its second ‘homecoming’ today, Tuesday, at URBAN LOFT Berlin. What began two years ago as an idea to offer the local hotel industry a genuine after-work meeting place has developed into a well-established movement. The evening proved impressively that the industry is not looking for a stuffy trade event, but rather for a genuine exchange on equal terms.

A strong signal for the hospitality sector

The fact that sustainability goes far beyond mere statistics and, above all, thrives on human connection was evident at every moment at URBAN LOFT Berlin. Wherever you looked, participants were putting their heads together, sharing experiences and celebrating their collective progress. The host hotel, led by Brand Manager Steffi Stark, set a particularly fine example: by throwing open its doors to make room for regional competitors and colleagues from across the city, URBAN LOFT Berlin turned the motto ‘Together rather than against each other’ into a living reality.

Expert Talk: Practical Approaches to Transformation

The highlight of the official programme was the panel discussion moderated by Florian Hermanns (GreenSign) on the topic of ‘Sustainability standards in practice’. Three high-profile industry representatives provided in-depth insights into their approaches:

• Steffi Stark (URBAN LOFT Berlin / Althoff Hotels) highlighted the interplay between group standards and local autonomy. Sustainability thrives on the team’s enthusiasm and strong local partnerships – such as the collaboration with a Berlin beekeeper or Ali, the local greengrocer from the immediate neighbourhood.
• Daniel Reuner (Flair Hotel Reuner & President of DEHOGA Brandenburg) demonstrated the agility of a family-run business. Under the motto ‘From the field to the guest’, his hotel relies on its own farming, geothermal energy and modern heat pump technology.
• Jannik Böhme (Wilmina Hotel Berlin) reported on the award-winning conversion of a former women’s prison on Kantstraße. The project impressively demonstrates how circular construction within existing buildings, the reuse of historic building fabric and the preservation of listed buildings can coexist harmoniously.

A Focus on Innovation & A Culinary Finale

The subsequent elevator pitches offered practical solutions for day-to-day hotel operations: Peter Bichler (Ecowaterjet by Rabmer) demonstrated innovative water-saving technologies for hotel showers, whilst Martina Riediger (Trias Consulting) presented practical models for assessing carbon footprints and offered support on the ‘GreenSign Journey’.

The atmospheric setting was provided by an entirely vegan buffet, created by Head Chef Domenico, which provided the perfect backdrop for lively conversations that lasted well into the evening.