Portugal's most responsible hotels

Discover Portugal's Sustainable Hotels

Portugal is a country that is rich in culture, natural beauty, and delicious food. It's also a country that has made great strides towards sustainability and environmental responsibility, with a growing number of sustainable hotels that cater to sustainably-oriented travelers. These hotels are not only dedicated to reducing their carbon footprint and preserving the environment, but they also play a central role in the local community, creating more diverse spaces and focusing on the needs of disregarded communities. In this article, we'll take a closer look at some of the best sustainable hotels in Portugal, categorized by purpose, and show you what makes them stand out.

Hotels that Support Local Communities

One of the ways that hotels can do good is by playing a central role in the local community, reinvesting their profits or employing locals to help support the area's economy. Two examples of such hotels in Portugal are São Lourenço do Barrocal and White Exclusive Suite & Villas.

São Lourenço do Barrocal, Portugal

São Lourenço do Barrocal is a hotel that is committed to creating a sustainable and eco-conscious community. The hotel has put in place green practices such as hiring local artisans and suppliers, farming organic ingredients, and maintaining the health of the surrounding landscape. Each of these practices helps the hotel retain its self-sustaining legacy and positively impacts the environment. The hotel also emphasizes its respect for the community and the people who live within it, ensuring they make a positive social impact. For example, the hotel team participates in charity work, prioritizes employment access to locals, and supports small businesses.

White Exclusive Suite & Villas, Portugal

White Exclusive Suite & Villas believes sustainable tourism is achievable and essential in keeping our planet healthy. The White concept relies on organic farming and agricultural techniques to overall reduce the hotel's carbon footprint. White Exclusive management's goal is to supply its restaurants with incredibly fresh, tasty, and healthy organic produce at competitive prices while promoting and developing an ecologically- and socially-responsible production chain that is integrated into its entire operation. The farming techniques utilized by the hotel consist of composting, soil correction, and the proper care of farmland. Each of these methods contributes to lower production costs and ensures eco-friendly tourism.

Hotels that Support Sustainability & Environment

The Sustainability & Environment category highlights the eco-friendly efforts of some of Portugal's hotels that go beyond greenwashing. These hotels take sustainability seriously, and their efforts have a positive impact on the environment.

Areias do Seixo is one of these hotels that make a difference. The hotel recognizes the negative impact of tourism on the environment and acknowledges its social responsibility. To reduce carbon emissions and implement responsible practices, the hotel uses renewable energy from natural sources and geothermal systems for cooling and heating. The hotel also collects and stores rainwater for use in their organic garden, which minimizes their water consumption. Moreover, the hotel offers guests the opportunity to participate in their "land to table" concept, where they can help select the organic ingredients used to make their meals, and they can also learn about composting while on a guided eco-tour around the hotel.

Santa Barbara Eco-Beach Resort is an environmentally friendly hotel that also protects its core values of authenticity, exclusivity, sustainability, and excellence. The hotel takes pride in minimizing its energy consumption, managing its waste effectively, and reducing water usage. The hotel collects and stores rainwater and uses it to water their organic garden, and the team also dedicates time to cleaning up the beach to minimize debris and pollution that might put the wildlife under the sea at risk.

These hotels are inspiring examples of sustainable tourism practices that promote a greener future for Portugal.

Hotels that Support Diversity & Inclusion

The Diversity & Inclusion category focuses on hotels that create inclusive spaces for everyone, including marginalized groups such as the LGBTQI+ community, people with disabilities, and other disregarded communities. These hotels strive to make everyone feel welcomed and respected, and they do this by implementing various policies and services that cater to the needs of diverse guests.

One such hotel that exemplifies this category is Villa Batalha, an eco-friendly and inclusive hotel located in the heart of Batalha, Portugal. The hotel recognizes its social and environmental responsibilities and works tirelessly to ensure that its practices meet its ethical and environmental standards.

Villa Batalha has made an effort to reduce its carbon footprint by equipping the hotel with 50 solar panels to produce energy from a renewable source and an intelligent electricity management system to help save energy across the entire building. As a result, the hotel's energy consumption is 40% less than other hotels with comparable sizes and dimensions.

However, what sets Villa Batalha apart is its commitment to inclusivity. The hotel's management team is guided by a policy of inclusion, seeking to meet conditions to be increasingly accessible. Visitors will find easily accessible entrances, large corridors, business and personal venues on the first floor, elevators with handicap-accessible buttons and rails, and spacious hallways to accommodate wheelchairs.

In addition, Villa Batalha has a team trained in inclusive service, ensuring that all guests feel welcomed and respected regardless of their background or needs. With these practices, Villa Batalha creates an environment that is not only sustainable but also inclusive and welcoming to everyone.

Conclusion

Portugal is a country with a rich history, culture, and natural beauty. As sustainable tourism becomes more popular, it's essential to support hotels that prioritize sustainability, community development, and diversity and inclusion.

Whether you’re interested in staying in a hotel that supports the local community or one that is committed to reducing its environmental impact, there are many options available in Portugal. By choosing sustainable hotels, you can have a fantastic vacation experience while also doing good for the planet and local communities.

So, book your stay at one of these sustainable hotels in Portugal today and enjoy an unforgettable vacation experience that leaves a positive impact on the world.