LOS ANGELES, California – Until recently Kassel, regarded as the capital of the German Fairy Tale Route, was renowned for being the city where the Brothers Grimm lived and wrote most of their fairy tales. Then in 2013 the Bergpark Wilhelmshรถhe the largest hillside park in Europe was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in official recognition of the cityโs inherent historical and cultural significance.
The Bergpark Wilhelmshรถhe is home to magnificent water structures from the Baroque and Romantic periods, where spectacular water displays cascade down 350 meters from a towering 11.5 meter high statue of Hercules. The park is also a nature retreat covering 240 hectares with over 600 different tree species.
The creation of this ensemble of gardens and water features including waterfalls, geysers and fountains along with monumental architectural began in 1689 and was completed in the 19th century. Powered by hydro-pneumatic devices โ a combination of water and air pressure – the site remains an artistic and technical tribute to the European ruling classโs dedication to garden art.
Other notable sights in and around Bergpark Wilhelmshรถhe include the Castle Wilhelm Height (Schloss Wilhelmshรถhe), Lรถwenburg Castle (Lions Castle), and Ballhaus (the Ballroom at William Height Mountain Park).
Best Western Plus Hotel Kassel City is a four-star superior property in the heart of the city of Kassel and in September was once again re-certified by Green Globe.
Jรผrgen Peter Waindok, General Manager at Best Western Plus Hotel Kassel City said, “Green is not just a trend in our hotel but a permanent strategy. Our sustained success was the significant reduction of waste and the fulfillment of many other standards of Green Globe resulting in an outstanding score of 95%.”
The Hotel Kassel City aims to use 100% natural energy, like the famous water fountains of Bergpark Wilhelmshรถhe, to reduce its carbon footprint. This is achieved by using a local electricity provider, รkostrom (sustainable energy) that operates renewable energy generation facilities that include the utilization of hydropower, solar and wind energy.
Environmentally friendly initiatives include the use of Eco-label detergents for cleaning purposes and there has been a complete changeover to recycled paper for printing. Also, color printing is now limited with the hotel encouraging the production of black and white copies instead.
In its restaurants, Best Western Plus Hotel Kassel City prefers serving Fair Trade coffee, tea and cocoa as part of the hotelโs social responsibility practices. In addition, regional specialties and local products are available for purchase to promote the local community.
Mr. Waindok added, โWe are supported by the RIMC hotel operations company headquartered in Hamburg, Germany. For our hotel, we only use partners and suppliers committed to sustainability and environmental awareness.”
About Green Globe Certification
Green Globe is the worldwide sustainability system based on internationally-accepted criteria for sustainable operation and management of travel and tourism businesses. Operating under a worldwide license, Green Globe is based in California, USA, and is represented in over 83 countries. Green Globe is an Affiliate Member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Green Globe is also a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). For information, please visit www.greenglobe.com
Green Globe is a member of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) .
WHAT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS ARTICLE:
- Best Western Plus Hotel Kassel City is a four-star superior property in the heart of the city of Kassel and in September was once again re-certified by Green Globe.
- Our sustained success was the significant reduction of waste and the fulfillment of many other standards of Green Globe resulting in an outstanding score of 95%.
- Then in 2013 the Bergpark Wilhelmshรถhe the largest hillside park in Europe was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in official recognition of the city's inherent historical and cultural significance.
