The implementation of the Shmile 2 plan has allowed accommodation providers in the department and region to obtain the European Ecolabel. This enables them to attract a new clientele and also to reduce the environmental impacts caused by the production and service activities.
The European Ecolabel is an environmental certification dedicated to tourism accommodation services, with more than 300 certified in France and double that in Europe. Supported by the European Union, this label is one of the strictest and most demanding in the world (90 criteria).
As part of an initiative to promote sustainable tourism in the Mediterranean, called Shmile 2, over the past 9 months, the Nice Côte d’Azur Chamber of Commerce and Industry has conducted 30 pre-diagnoses, supported 17 tourist accommodations, trained 250 hotel employees, and raised awareness among 300 tourism stakeholders.
Shmile 2 is a European plan, implemented within the framework of the multilateral cross-border cooperation plan “Mediterranean Maritime Basin,” which brings together 11 partners in 6 countries (France, Italy, Greece, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia).
The objectives of this project are to promote the Ecolabel among accommodation providers, contribute to sustainable development, enhance the skills of tourism professionals, and also raise public awareness of environmental issues.
Implemented in 2012, the results are already apparent, with an eightfold increase in the number of certified accommodations. From only two two years ago, today, this number is 16 and is continuously increasing.
The benefits for the region and companies are numerous: reducing resource consumption and waste production, attracting and retaining a clientele sensitive to sustainable tourism, promoting and supporting the local economic fabric, and ensuring the competitiveness of the Côte d’Azur tourism sector.
A concrete example is the Negresco, which replaced 5,845 bulbs with LED lights, allowing them not only to respect the environment but also to save €80,000 per year. Water, electricity, waste management, and even food are concerned, with a preference for organic products. Initially, all this has a cost for accommodation providers, but in the long term, they benefit in terms of their image and finances.
Last night, Bernard Kleynhoff, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Rudy Salles, Deputy and Deputy Mayor, awarded the 17 tourist accommodations that have been supported for a year in obtaining the European Ecolabel. During a ceremony, they were officially presented with the Ecolabel.
