Climate change also affects the hospitality sector. With that objective, Hostelería #PorElClima was born in 2017, promoted by Coca-Cola to seek the decarbonization of the sector by promoting the implementation of measures to reduce emissions. With the support of Hostelería de España, the initiative held its first meeting this Tuesday, which brought together 50 attendees at the Cocina Hermanos Torres restaurant in Barcelona.
The organization of the first edition of Acción Climática en la Hostelería - Encuentros de Hostelería #PorElClima wanted to recognize the work of the establishments adhering to the initiative and promote climate action in the sector. As of today, the project has more than 13,000 affiliated establishments in Spain, of which 3,500 are in Catalonia. Under its umbrella, establishments have implemented more than 200,000 actions such as reducing water consumption, collecting, recycling and reusing glass, paper and cardboard, optimizing electricity consumption, or consuming local products and collaborating with local suppliers.
Owners of hospitality establishments and hospitality and catering guilds attended this first edition "with the aim of promoting the adoption of sustainable practices in the hospitality industry". For the organizers, the choice of the Cocina Hermanos Torres restaurant "responds to the commitment to sustainability of one of the reference restaurants at the national level." In addition to being recognized with three Michelin Stars, the establishment is one of the 49 Spanish restaurants that hold the Green Star distinction, which has been awarded since 2022 as recognition for pioneering establishments in sustainable gastronomy and a notable commitment to eco-responsibility.
For the Communication, External Relations and Sustainability Manager of CocaCola Europacific Partners, Igone Bartumeu, "the celebration of this meeting is an opportunity to highlight the work carried out by the collaborators and members of Hostelería #PorElClima, as well as to continue promoting the adoption of sustainable practices in the sector and awareness in the fight against climate change." "This meeting demonstrates our firm commitment to the hospitality industry and we are proud to be able to meet with hoteliers committed to the sustainable development of the sector to advance together towards its decarbonization," Bartumeu remarks.
Fifth anniversary
The activities carried out during Tuesday's meeting have focused on promoting good practices and fostering awareness about the importance of sustainable development. Among them, there have been various presentations by experts and exemplary actors in the sector regarding sustainability.
The journalist specializing in science and health Josep Corbella and the Project Director of the Spanish Hospitality Business Confederation, Beatriz Cecilia, have focused on the role of hospitality in the fight against climate change. The head of Hospitality#ForClimate at ECODES, Ana Mastral, centered her intervention on the regulation of the sector in terms of sustainability and the importance of receiving good advice. Likewise, the commercial director and sustainability manager of Grupo El Pòsit, Ángel Pérez, explained how they have turned their establishment into a benchmark in the application of sustainable measures and the importance of being inspired by good practices.
Tuesday's meeting coincided with the fifth anniversary of the first intervention of Hospitality #ForClimate in Catalonia, on La Rambla. The interventions are campaigns carried out in collaboration with hospitality associations from different provinces and autonomous communities to highlight actions against climate change that are carried out in different emblematic areas of Spanish hospitality. Since then, in Catalonia, interventions have been carried out in Lleida, Sitges, the greenways of Girona-Olot, Tarragona, and Aran.