Europe Awards Citations

Innovative ideas from across Europe have been applauded for creating better places for people to live in and better places for people to visit in, in the Europe Responsible Tourism Awards sponsored by easyJet holidays.

The Responsible Tourism Awards have been running for two decades and this is the first dedicated regional award for Europe. Judges are looking for examples of changemakers and best practice in six categories: responsible all-inclusives, managing waste, responsible to climate change, nature positive tourism, local sourcing and creating shared value and peace, understanding and inclusivity.

The winners were announced at the Press Club Brussels Europe on Thursday 16 October 2025 and the full citations are as follows:

ALL INCLUSIVE RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AWARD

The judges were looking for evidence of all- inclusive hotels and resorts that were rooted in their communities minimising negative impacts and enhancing positive impacts such as sourcing locally, employing locally and showcasing local products.

GOLD: Club Marvy, Turkey

Club Marvy is a 303-room property based in Özdere, Turkey. It views sustainable gastronomy as a core value and adopts local supply policies to strengthen the local economy, promote healthy living, and contribute to environmental protection and the preservation of traditional agricultural practices. For example, all artichokes used in the kitchen are sourced from the Women’s Cooperative in Urla.  Club Marvy also operates its own organic farm, mills olive oil, and has a production workshop where local women create crafts that can be sold in the hotel shop and spa. It spent almost USD $4 million in local purchasing in 2024.  In cooperation with the local government, a day care centre has been established to help local mothers join the workforce. It has increased the proportion of local female employees to 63% of female staff.

The judges said this is a clear demonstration of how responsibly an all-inclusive hotel can operate when it works to source locally and maximise local employment. They said Club Marvy demonstrates an award-winning level of commitment and involvement with local communities, demonstrating what responsible All-Inclusive hotels contribute to local communities. The judges hope that others will follow their example.

SILVER: Castelli Hotel , Greece

Castelli Hotel is a family-owned, adult-only, independent hotel on the island of Zakynthos in Greece. The owners believe that nature comes first and built the hotel around the oldest eucalyptus tree on the island, reducing room numbers in order to preserve the tree. The company minimises its impact while strongly supporting local producers and protecting local cusoms and nature. All wine is sourced locally. It offers its own homegrown olive oil and features a shop filled with locally produced goods. Experiences such as cooking classes, olive-picking sessions and regular talks from an NGO connect guests to the locale. There is a major focus on managing waste, investing in solar energy and recycling. The judges felt this was an exemplary example of what a resort can achieve to immerse itself and its guests in nature and to communicate Responsible Tourism well to guests.

MANAGING WASTE RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AWARD

The judges were looking for proven practical examples of how our sector can reduce waste and particularly where it can be used to create value in the community or be sequestered, providing use or commercial value.

SILVER: Liberty Fabay, Turkey

Liberty Fabay is a five-star resort in Fethiye, Muğla Province, Turkey. In 2024 it achieved a year-on-year reduction of 5.97 tons of paper, 10.05 tons of glass, 1.2 tons of metal, and 10.73 tons of plastic. It also plans to produce animal feed from organic waste in cooperation with the local community.  The judges applauded Liberty Fabay’s clear metrics and thorough processes to reduce waste.

SILVER: Skiathos Palace, Greece

Skiathos Palace in Greece has a comprehensive waste management programme, and the judges commended its work with its supply chain to reduce waste. More than 70% of procured beverages come in returnable glass bottles, and more than 80% of the beer served is draft, reducing single-use packaging waste, and it has eliminated single-use plastics.  Skiathos Palace has also refurbished, rather than replaced existing furniture in the main hotel lounge, using skilled local craftsmen.

ONE-TO-WATCH: Swatchloop

Swatchloop, tackles one of tourism’s often-overlooked waste streams: hotel-generated textile waste. In partnership with a coastal holiday resort, it has implemented a fully traceable, circular system for managing used towels, bed linens, and uniforms. These items, previously discarded or incinerated, are now digitally classified, measured, and transformed into new products via both recycling and upcycling pathways.The intiative recovered 4,082 kg of textile waste, 79% was recycled and the remainder upcycled by women-led enterprises, embedding social impact into the material transformation process.

The judges felt this was a very innovative service and were keen to highlight it as a one-to-watch business and to hear more from Swatchloop in the future.

LOCAL SOURCING AND CREATING SHARED VALUE RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AWARD

The judges were looking for businesses that have local purchasing practices in place and are actively working to create and promote local businesses and sole traders through their own supply chain and encouraging visitors to buy locally produced crafts and souvenirs.

GOLD: Delphina hotels and resorts, Sardinia

Delphina hotels and resorts is a family-owned business which operates twelve hotels, six spas and villas in Sardinia. It runs a “Genuine Local Food Oriented^®” initiative, which focuses on promoting healthy, sustainable, and local cuisine by using ingredients sourced directly from Sardinian producers, particularly those within a 0-kilometre radius, and prioritising seasonal availability. In 2024, 76% of the hotel F&B purchases were sourced from 128 suppliers based in Sardinia.

In addition, the Selezione Delphina , is a curated collection of food and wine products, as well as natural cosmetics and handicrafts for guests. The idea for the collection came from a eureka moment between the president and owner Francesco Muntoni  who also runs a small organic farm, his brother Marco and CEO who farms goats and their friend and master chef  Francesco Giua. Between them they decided to combine their knowledge of organic farming and small producers and to join forces to unveil their “secret” lists of local manufacturers

The judges were impressed with the way the local sourcing stories were shared with guests to connect them to suppliers. Even more than the quality of the products, Delfina hotels and resorts said they are interested in sharing detail of the people behind their suppliers, their stories, the choices they have made and the desire to be guardians of a tradition without sacrificing innovation.

SILVER: Emotional Sicily, Italy

Emotional Sicily was born out of a deep discomfort with the dominant tourism model in Sicily, one that often reduces the island to a series of clichés, commodifies its culture, and bypasses the local communities who are its true custodians. Instead, Emotional Sicily provides guests with deep engagement with local communities, cultural heritage, and ethical sourcing. It has built an extended network of over 150 carefully selected local providers- artisans, guides, chefs, farmers, shipwrights, artists with whom it co-creates unique, meaningful travel experiences across Sicily. The focus is not only on delivering exceptional services to travellers, but on creating shared value for the territory.

The judges felt this was an inspiring and replicable place model which treats all partners with respect and is not just about their own business, but in lifting up everyone involved. The judges applauded Emotional Sicily’s philosophy that “Responsible Tourism is not a checklist but a mindset and a cultural responsibility” and hope to see similar models develop in the future.

ONE-TO-WATCH: Six Senses Ibiza, Spain

Six Senses Ibiza is a wellness and sustainability-driven resort located on the north coast of Ibiza. Ibiza is full of culture, tradition, and biodiversity. But the island faces increasing pressure from tourism and globalisation. Six Senses recognised a clear need to preserve local knowledge and foster dialogue between guests and the local community. Therefore after backing local initiatives for many years the company decided to create a learning centre to provide an open space for everyone in the community and guests.  It offers immersive experiences such as educational workshops, farming activities, gastronomy events, and environmental awareness programs. Two hundred fifty people participated in pilot programs in 2024, and there are plans to double this number in 2025.

 The judges felt this was a definite one-to-watch, showed an interesting community-driven approach and one that could form a model for other hotels.

PEACE UNDERSTANDING AND INCLUSIVITY RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AWARD

The judges were looking for entries which encourage cultural dialogue and understanding, breaking down barriers through responsible tourism, support communities in post-conflict or marginalised areas and champion accessibility and inclusion for all.

GOLD: MEJDI Tours, Worldwide

MEJDI Tours is a socially conscious travel company that uses tourism as a tool for peacebuilding, cultural understanding, and economic justice. It designs immersive, multi-narrative experiences led by local voices -often from opposing perspectives- to help travellers engage with the complexity, beauty, and humanity of the places they visit. Operating in over 40 countries, MEJDI partners with communities to create transformative journeys that elevate marginalised voices, foster empathy, and inspire long-term social impact. It pioneered its model in Israel and Palestine through its “dual narrative” approach—offering every group the chance to hear from both Israeli and Palestinian guides, side by side. This methodology allows travellers to explore complex histories, lived experiences, and competing narratives with openness and empathy. In one longitudinal study, 83% of MEJDI travellers reported a shift in attitudes, perceptions, or behaviours after their trip—including increased involvement in intercultural dialogue, community organising, and advocacy work.

MEJDI Tours is also the co-founder of Interact, a global nonprofit initiative that extends its Responsible Tourism mission beyond travel. INTERACT brings together diverse individuals from around the world, many from communities in conflict or deep division, to engage in virtual and in-person dialogue, storytelling, and shared learning.

The judges said peace and inclusion are in Mejdi’s very DNA, Mejdi is an inspiring and world-leading example of how tourism can contribute to building peace. The progress it has made since its pilot work in Israel and Palestine is impressive, and the tours it creates are a model that the judges hope will inspire other tour operators.

SILVER: Via Transilvanica, Romania

The Via Transilvanica (VT) is a long-distance trail that stretches approximately 1,600 km across Romania. Designed for slow, immersive, and responsible travel, it can be explored on foot, by bike, or on horseback. While most individuals traverse portions of the trail, many Romanian and international travellers have completed the entire route. VT reveals Romania in all its cultural, historical, social, and environmental depth. Along its path lie pristine natural landscapes, eight of the country’s cultural-historical regions, and several UNESCO World Heritage Sites. One of the trail’s distinctive features is its signage: every kilometre is marked by an individually carved andesite stone, making VT one of the world’s largest open-air sculpture exhibitions. VT is the latest, and perhaps most ambitious, project of the Tășuleasa Social Association (Tășu). It draws on the extensive experience our NGO has accumulated over 25 years of organising other social, cultural, environmental, educational, and sports initiatives. While multifaceted in nature, the trail is ultimately driven by a social mission – bringing visibility to more than 400 communities, most of which are rural and underserved.

The number of accommodation options along the route increased by 199 to 322 between 2023 and 2024. The judges applauded the community support, including 20,000 volunteers donating time, as well as the economic opportunities provided by VT, which are helping to reverse the decline of depopulated rural villages.

SILVER: Costa Navarino, Greece

Costa Navarino was founded by the late Captain Vassilis Constantakopoulos to give the  community of the Messinia region in southwest Peloponnese in Greece the opportunity to thrive, while protecting the natural beauty and heritage of their homeland.

It now includes luxury hotels, gastronomy venues, spas, golf courses and offers guests a wide range of experiences to engage with the region’s culture, history and nature. Since 2006, more than €11 million has been given towards infrastructure investments, while the average contribution of Costa Navarino to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Messinia is 11% (Piraeus University study 2022).  Inclusivity is an important element of the organisation’s work. Judges noted the extensive training which has been undertaken for all staff and services offered such as independent sea access and wheelchair sand cruises at some properties for guests with limited mobility. It has also put in place initiatives to support guests who are blind or deaf, or visually/hearing impaired guests, and those with autism. It also provides gender neutral facilities and provides supplies to suit people of different colours and religions, from prayer mats to hair care products for all hair types.

CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND RESILIENCE RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AWARD

The judges in this category were are looking for businesses and destinations actively contributing to the decarbonisation of tourism operations and exploring innovative ways to protect against threats to ensure business continuity.

SILVER: Barut Hemera, Turkey

Barut Hemera is a beachfront resort located in Side, Antalya. As climate change accelerates, it understands the urgency of adapting operations to reduce environmental impact while inspiring systemic change across the tourism industry. It reports it is the first and only hotel in Turkey to eliminate the use of plastic water bottles, replacing them with in-house water purification dispensers. This initiative alone prevents nearly 1 million plastic bottles from entering the environment annually.

In addition, in an area increasingly at risk of drought, wastewater is used to irrigate gardens, electricity is sourced from solar power preventing the emission of approximately 4.5 million tons of carbon dioxide a year. Food waste has been reduced by 18% a year and natural waste materials have been transformed into art installations. The judges noted the comprehensive pilot programmes undertaken to introduce initiatives such as removing plastic bottles from operations and that all investments were made from the hotel’s own resources. It is a measurable, replicable example of what is possible when responsibility is taken and put into action.

NATURE POSITIVE RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AWARD

The judges were looking for Nature positive businesses that act as guardians of biodiversity and take a regenerative approach to their operations

GOLD: Naturetrek, UK

Naturetrek is a wildlife holiday tour operator established in 1986, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2026. The specialist company offers the largest selection of group and tailored professionally organised, expert-led wildlife holidays in the world. Its extensive collection includes hundreds of tours, cruises, short breaks and day trips featuring birdwatching, mammal-watching, botanical, reptile & amphibian, and marine-life spotting and it supports multiple conservation initiatives. 

The judges felt that Naturetrek stood out on a global basis because of its long-term investment to support conservation and biodiversity. It has used its own profits to buy land reserves to protect wildlife, in Europe in Italy and Scotland. In the Naturetrek Macchietelle Reserve in Italy, for example, native fruit trees have been planted to support the Marscian Brown Bear, feral dogs have been vaccinated and neutered to avoid hybridisation with the Apenine Wolf and rewilding has also begun and waterholes and wetlands restored. 

SILVER: VisitBrabant, Netherlands

Brabant Partners is an organization dedicated to promoting the region of  Brabant in the Netherlands with a focus on culture, nature, heritage, sports, and agriculture. As nature-based tourism becomes increasingly popular, the number of visitors to natural areas has risen significantly. However, this surge in visitors has also led to negative impacts, such as traffic congestion, air and noise pollution, and parking issues, all of which undermine the quality of the visitor experience and strain the local environment.

Brabant Partners is the lead partner of a multi-year programme called MONA project (Modal shift, routing, and nudging solutions in Nature areas). This addresses the growing challenges of nature-based tourism by encouraging a shift to more sustainable transportation modes, implementing inclusive route planning, and promoting sustainable behaviours among visitors and stakeholders. Together with partners, it has launched Wandelstarter (www.wandelstarter.nl), a digital platform that provides an interactive map showing all starting points, facilities, and routes at a glance. Every displayed starting point is equipped with parking facilities, a clearly marked route of up to 10 km, and on-site route information.

The judges felt this was a strong initiative demonstrating how to reduce pressure on popular tourism routes, with clearly measurable results. It is also scalable and adaptable for other regions.

ONE-TO-WATCH: Animondial

NATOUR IMPACT (NI) is a pioneering online evaluation tool developed by ANIMONDIAL to support travel and tourism businesses identify, assess and address their nature-related risks and impacts. It aims to drive sector transformation by guiding the business community towards meeting its environmental obligations and fulfilling its commitment to halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030. 

By combining these complex assessments into one tool, NATOUR IMPACT not only reduces the huge time and cost requirement usually involved in such internal procedures – especially where there is often a lack of internal expertise on specialist topics – it also educates those going through the questions and enables businesses to transition towards Nature Positive Tourism with clarity and confidence. The judges were impressed with the comments of tour operators who have already used this service and the scale of its ambition to be the global benchmark for nature positive businesses. We look forward to hearing more as the results of this early work comes to fruition.

JUDGES

The judges of the Europe Responsible Tourism Awards sponsored by easyJet holidays were:

Professor Emeritus Harold Goodwin, managing director of the Responsible Tourism Partnership and founder of ICRT global, Danica Banjevic, tourism manager and ICRT Balkans, Martin Brackenbury, board director ICRT global, António Buscardini, founder and editor-in-chief, Travel Tomorrow, Kerry Carmichael, founder Echo, Kirsi Hyvaerinen, consultant and ICRT Balkans, Debbie Hindle chair ICRT global, Scott Lawson, senior ESG manager easyJet holidays, Vicky Smith, Earthchangers and ICRT Balkans, Caroline Warburton, Visit Scotland and director ICRT global.

All Gold winners from the Europe Responsible Tourism Awards will then go onto compete for a Global Responsible Tourism Award sponsored by Sabre which will be announced on Monday 3 November.

The Europe Responsible Tourism Award winners will be competing against gold winners from Latin America, Africa, the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Current finalists are listed here: 2025 Global Responsible Tourism Awards Finalists