Green Stays: a small gesture for the planet
Green Stays: a small gesture for the planet
Hotel Blog
What if a simple card hung on your room door changed everything? With the Green Stays program, you choose to forgo daily housekeeping, and in return a tree is planted. A gesture that seems trivial, but whose environmental impact is far from insignificant. An overview of this initiative put in place at the Van der Valk Paris CDG Airport hotel…
The Green Stays concept is based on a simple but powerful idea: inviting guests to spend one night, or several, without housekeeping in their room by hanging a green sign on the door. This choice avoids the use of water, electricity and cleaning products associated with daily cleaning. In exchange, the hotel commits to planting a tree through the European platform greenstays.eu.
A small gesture for a big impact
Since its launch, the programme has brought together several dozen partner hotels, which together have enabled the planting of thousands of trees in various regions of the world. Some Van der Valk group establishments already have more than 5,000 trees planted, proof that a multitude of small individual decisions can generate an impressive collective result.
Beyond the numbers, Green Stays embodies a new way of traveling. By opting into this initiative, each guest becomes an agent of change: less water waste, lower energy consumption, fewer chemicals released into the environment. And in return, a tree is planted to offset it. Imagine: if 100 travelers choose to skip housekeeping for just one night, several thousand liters of water would be saved and 100 trees would be planted!
This approach naturally finds its place in the spirit of the Van der Valk House where hospitality is not limited to comfort and elegance but takes on a responsible dimension. Staying in a hotel is also an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the future of the planet.
Other initiatives in the hospitality industry
Green Stays is not an isolated initiative: the entire hotel sector is moving toward more sustainable practices. Many chains already encourage their guests to reuse their towels and sheets, in order to reduce the water and energy footprint. Others invest in smart energy management systems, which automatically adjust the air conditioning and lighting. Some establishments have adopted Zero-waste buffets, redistributing surplus food, or even removing plastic bottles in favor of filtered water fountains Miniature welcome products are also gradually disappearing, replaced by refillable dispensers.
These initiatives reflect a shared commitment: to transform the hotel experience into a more respectful one, where comfort goes hand in hand with responsibility and where every guest becomes a partner in change.
What actions should you take as a traveler?
As hotels increase their efforts, everyone can do their part. Here are some simple actions that make a difference during a stay:
Reuse towels and sheets Instead of systematically making them change.
Turn off lights, heating, or air conditioning. Upon leaving the room.
Opt for a reusable water bottle. Reusable rather than disposable plastic bottles.
Getting around on foot, by bike, or via shared shuttles. when possible.
Reduce food waste by only taking from the buffet what one is sure to consume.
So many small gestures that, combined with the initiatives put in place by the hotels, help reduce the carbon footprint of travel and make the stay part of a more sustainable approach. By choosing the Hotel Van der Valk Paris CDG Airport, you have the opportunity to enjoy an experience that combines comfort, hospitality and a concrete commitment to the planet.