Sustainable Holidays

Look for the Green Leaf!

When you're browsing hotels on On the Beach, you might spot a little green leaf logo on some of your options. That leaf means the hotel has been independently assessed by Rating.Bio and rated on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria. In plain English? Someone who isn't the hotel has checked how they treat the planet, their people and their local community, and given them a proper sustainability score.

It's not a vague "we care about the environment" badge. Hotels earn their green leaf by meeting specific standards, things like swapping single-use plastics for reusable alternatives, sourcing food locally, using LED lighting across the property, running towel and linen reuse programmes, installing water-efficient taps and showers, and working with local businesses rather than shipping everything in from elsewhere.

The rating covers more than just environmental stuff, too. Accessibility, fair employment practices, transparent communication and community engagement all count. So when you see that leaf, you know the hotel is putting effort into getting the important things right.

Say hello to our fave sustainably-recognised destination... Benidorm!

Apart from being an absolute crowd-pleaser of a jolly destination, holidays to Benidorm are now taking a future-proof turn. Benidorm currently holds the title of European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism, awarded by the European Commission. That's a seriously big deal. The award recognises destinations leading the way in sustainable tourism, and Benidorm earned it through years of genuine commitment.

Protected natural spaces cover 61% of the resort's compact territory, including the Sierra Helada natural park. The city runs smart water and energy management systems, has built an accessible and efficient sustainable transport network, and its vertical urban layout (all those famous high-rises) actually turns out to be one of the most land-efficient models in European tourism. More holiday capacity per square metre means less sprawl into natural habitats.

Benidorm has been a certified Smart Tourism Destination under the UN Standard since 2019, so this isn't a flash-in-the-pan PR moment. It's decades of investment in doing things differently, and it means you can get the beers in, end the night dancing on tables, and be saving the planet all at the same time! Time to sing Captain Planet at the Karaoke bar!

Some of our fave sustainable hotels...

There are plenty of sustainable hotels leading the way (and we could shout about them 'til the cows come home), but here are just a few of our faves to kick things off...

Iberostar Alcudia Park - Majorca, Spain

Iberostar Hotels might be big on fun, but it turns out they're pretty big on sustainability too. In fact, they have their very own Wave of Change programme that's all about boosting the circular economy, promoting responsible fish consumption, and improving coastal health. Talk about making a splash! Here are a few of their initiatives:

All Iberostar hotels are single-plastic free (with an aim to be completely waste-free!)
83% of the fish served in hotel restaurants is sustainably-sourced (with an aim to be 100%!)
Star Camp kids' club runs sustainable-themed activities for the kiddos, with access to the hotel gardens
On-site charging stations for electric vehicles
100% renewable electricity

Pssst! Peep the huge mural by artist Joan Aguiló at the hotel, too! It measures a whopping 1,900 square feet and showcases the importance of conserving the planet and ecosystems around the hotel.

Evenia Olympic Resort - Costa Brava, Spain

Evenia hotels are smashing it with their eco-friendly game - they even have their own sustainability concept called 'Ecovenia'. Evenia Olympic Resort is the perfect example of this, with a stack of awards to its name for all of its green practices, such as:

Providing reusable water bottles with water stations dotted around the hotel so you can stay hydrated without the icky single-use plastics
Recycled paper...literally everywhere - from trusty loo roll to napkins and tablecloths
Local food is the star of the show in all the restaurants - no imports from far and wide here!
A dedication to reducing use of conventional plastic throughout the resort, swapping out for more eco-friendly, compostable plastics instead
Recycling points all throughout the grounds for tossing plastic, paper and glass

Evenia Olympic Resort, Costa Brava, Spain

Aeolos Beach Resort - Corfu, Greece

Aeolos Beach Resort is another one that's changing the game, capturing a luxury feel but with sustainability at its core. Here's what Babbis Voulgaris, the CEO and big boss had to say: "Our comprehensive actions and initiatives aim to reduce energy consumption, minimize waste, conserve water, promote biodiversity, and support local communities." We are so on board with that, and here are just a few of the ways those initiatives are being put into practice:

100% of the property's lighting comes from LED bulbs
Rooms are kitted out with low-flow, water-efficient showers (don't worry, they still feel amazing)
The hotel works around a 'Towel Reuse Programme', instead of having towels washed daily
At least 80% of the restaurant's food is locally-sourced (within 50km)
Plastic drinks stirrers have been swapped out for more eco-friendly alternatives
All cleaning is done using chemical-free products

Jupiter Albufeira Hotel - Family & Fun, Albufeira, Portugal

Jupiter Albufeira Hotel - Family & Fun, aside from having a really promising name, is also smashing it in the sustainability game. All hotels that make up the Jupiter Hotel Group have the Green Key Award to their name (an international award that's basically a big fat thumbs up for eco-greatness), and this hotel right here is no exception. Here are a few of the sustainable practices they have up their sleeve:

Flow-control technology on taps to minimise water waste
Rocking a 'recycle, refill and reuse' policy to reduce waste
Teaming up with Phenix to donate any leftover food that's close to its expiry date
Amping up the solar power and using low-consumption light bulbs
Charging ports on site for electric vehicles
Kissing goodbye to single-use plastics and saying hello to reusable cups