Riccione
The project - For some years Riccione, ever the trendsetter in the holiday field, has also been in the forefront of sustainable tourism with its "Recommended Hotels on Account of their Commitment to Environmental Protection" initiative. This prototype project was started by the Riccione Communal Authorities, the local Hotel Association and Legambiente in 1997. Their common objective was to raise environmental awareness in hotel management and accommodation services and to give guests ever more reasons for enjoying a quality holiday in the "Green Pearl" of the Adriatic Coast.
The Place - The old hamlet, which spread around the "Agolanti Castle" along the Flaminia Road in the Middle Ages, only grew to a little town with the advent of the railway station in 1865. Since then, Riccione has much developed to become one of the most renowned and fashionable seaside resorts along the Adriatic Coast. From Alba to its famous Spas, you can enjoy a nice walk or a bike ride on the cycle lane along the sea promenade up to Viale Ceccarini, where shopping, fun and society life are ever meeting.
The Commitments - The project started with an intense training phase which provided hotel operators with all necessary information to change and qualify their business, thus helping them to approach environmentally-conscious customers. Hotels joining the project agree to develop and implement the recommendations by Legambiente which are indicated in the Guidelines. Regular on-site verification by Legambiente ensure compliance with the obligations undertaken by hotel managers, which concern waste reduction, recycling through garbage sorting, water saving practices, the use of energy saving bulbs, the introduction of organic products into menus and breakfasts, the serving of meals prepared with foodstuffs containing neither chemicals nor genetically modified organisms.
As happens often abroad, receipts from the sale of bus tickets are devoted to environmental education courses. A growing number of hotel bicycles is available to guests free of charge to favour soft mobility. Other commitments include the promotion and organisation of visits to local environmental and artistic features and noise abatement. In hotels joining the project all guests shall be given a card where they can indicate merits and faults of the project and the degree of commitment compliance.
References:
- Associazione Albergatori di Riccione
Corso F.lli Cervi 76/a 47838 Riccione (RN)
Tel. 0541-605000, Fax 0541-601202
E-mail: info@albergatoririccione.net - Legambiente Turismo
Piazza XX Settembre 7, 40121 Bologna
Tel. 051-241324, Fax 051-4210514
E-mail: info@legambienteturismo.it
