Environmental management systems for hotels may represent a tool for constant improvement in day-to-day operations and their impact on the natural environment. Certification by independent third parties confers greater credibility and transparency on the activities carried out by a hotel.

In this context, hotels with management systems which integrate other aspects of sustainable development include, in addition to the environmental impact, the impact of the business on the socio-economic and cultural environment in the location.

Sol Meliá operates hotels which have achieved four types of certification. On the one hand there are the ISO 14001 and EMAS European regulations which cover environmental management and which may be adopted by public and private organisations in any industrial sector. On the other hand, the Green Globe XXI and Biosphere Hotel standards cover not only environmental requirements, but also other requirements related to sustainability such as socio-economic and cultural factors.

The Company ended 2008 with 20 certified hotels holding a total of 25 certifications, and one additional hotel about to achieve the top category rating in the Green Globe XXI certification.