La Residencia, a Belmond Hotel, Deià: Celebrating 40 Years of Luxury and Sustainability in the Heart of Mallorca
Jul 23, 2024
- By
Anne-Sophie Castro
sustainability 2030
La Residencia, a Belmond Hotel, Deià: Celebrating 40 Years of Luxury and Sustainability in the Heart of Mallorca
Jul 23, 2024
- By
Anne-Sophie Castro
The iconic luxury hotel, La Residencia, a Belmond Hotel, located in the artistic enclave of Deià, celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. To mark this milestone, View Mallorca spoke with two key figures driving sustainability at the hotel: Hanna Bornebusch and Diego Zamuner. Bornebusch, Director of Communications, has been with La Residencia, part of the prestigious Belmond hotel chain, for 7 years. During her time at the hotel, she has been a driving force in creating the "Green Team," a group dedicated to promoting sustainable practices within the property. Zamuner, an economist by training, has built an international career in the research and development of major sustainable projects. Two years ago, Diego joined Belmond, combining his two great passions: gastronomy and sustainability. He started as a volunteer in the Green Team and, since April, has held the position of Sustainability Coordinator at La Residencia. The hotel is dedicated to building a more sustainable future by integrating innovative and collaborative practices. This not only preserves the unique environment of the island of Mallorca but also raises the standards of luxury hospitality, reflecting the essence of the Mediterranean.
ASC
Where does La Residencia currently stand in terms of sustainability?
HB & DT

In our case, Belmond and LVMH (the group to which Belmond belongs) support sustainability, allowing us to undertake ambitious projects and finance initiatives. Our hotel is on the path to sustainability, working on all aspects, from environmental care to community and cultural and social issues. Today – although we still have quite a long way to go and there is constant room for improvement – we can say that our hotel is on its way to sustainability.

Photo courtesy of Belmond La Residencia
Photo courtesy of Belmond La Residencia
ASC
When was the Green Team created at La Residencia, and how does it operate?
HB & DT

The Green Team was formed almost 6 years ago. All Belmond hotels worldwide are now obliged to have one. We started with 4 people to manage waste recycling and have monthly meetings to plan changes and advancements by department. Now we have 6 permanent executive team members plus a few volunteers from our staff, as well as a training program called "The Art of Sustainability" to raise awareness and train staff in sustainable practices.

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What have you achieved so far with the Green Team?
HB & DT

So far, we have implemented various initiatives to promote sustainability in our establishment from recycling paper to setting up our own beehives to chlorine-free pools. Among some of the other initiatives we have implemented are: collaborating with Son Moragues to create reusable ceramic containers made from ashes, manufactured in Valldemossa. These containers hold natural products from Viti Vinci, which we use in the hotel's bathrooms (shower gel, shampoo, etc.); Using local products in the kitchen. We use approximately 80% local products from Spain in our kitchens, with 50% coming from Mallorca and 30% from the mainland; Olive Tree Adoption, where guests can pay an annual fee to adopt an olive tree, get a plaque with their name, and receive a bottle of our oil. This program helps regenerate our olive grove and its ecosystem; We installed three CleanWave filtered water fountains in the hotel, one at each pool and another at the entrance; the development of a waste management and composting  project to avoid food waste, and the use of electric cars to transport people locally. 

Photo courtesy of Belmond La Residencia
Photo courtesy of Belmond La Residencia
Our goal is to continue improving in all aspects of sustainability. We have plans for a substantial renovation in 2027 that will allow us to implement more projects. Our dream is for the hotel to be 100% sustainable in 6 years.
Photo courtesy of Belmond La Residencia
ASC
What is your vision for 2030?
HB & DT

Our goal is to continue improving in all aspects of sustainability. We have plans for a substantial renovation in 2027 that will allow us to implement more projects. Our dream is for the hotel to be 100% sustainable in 6 years.

ASC
Can you tell us about the EarthCheck certification?
HB & DT

We started working on the EarthCheck Certification last year, the largest certification based on scientific criteria for sustainability, especially focused on the hospitality and tourism sector. This program results from a collaboration between various Australian universities, which developed a theoretical framework and a series of assessments to apply in hotels in different countries. To obtain this certification, we conduct an annual audit. Our auditor, who is Spanish, collaborates with EarthCheck and handles hundreds of indicators distributed in 10 specific control areas. Additionally, we now prepare quarterly reports on energy consumption, water, waste management, among others.

With EarthCheck, we have achieved Silver certification. EarthCheck not only supports us in the environmental plan but also in the social aspect, establishing an integral system for planning each project.

ASC
What can you tell us about La Residencia's circularity plan?
HB & DT

We prioritise reducing consumption and recycling waste, especially in the food sector. We are implementing more precise and automated systems to better manage our resources.

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What is the current priority?
HB & DT

Waste and water management are our main concerns. We have made significant progress, but there is still much to do, especially working with local suppliers to improve our ecosystem. 

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HB & DT
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HB & DT
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HB & DT