The Director of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility of Sani/Ikos Group participated in the panel “The role of ESG and purpose” of the Delphi International Institution.
The role of tourism in promoting the sustainable agenda and the opportunities offered by the ESG (Environment, Society, Governance) platform for Greece, as well as the entire Mediterranean region, to play a leading role in the development of sustainable tourism and economy, was discussed by the Director of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility of Sani/IkosGroup , Eleni Andreadis, who participated in the panel “The role of ESG and purpose” of the 8th Delphi Economic Forum held on 26-29 April under the auspices of the A.E. of the President of the Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou.
“The challenges and pressures in the Mediterranean region will be great for tourism. Through a long-term sustainability strategy, we can protect and enhance our rich tourism product – our climate, biodiversity, coastline, history and culture”, said Ms. Andreadis, noting that “the tools offered by the State, the EU Green Deal, the regulatory framework of the EU and the country, as well as the universal demand of all parties for sustainability performance, give us the opportunity to create a sustainable tourism product, even to get ahead as a country in terms of competition.”
All partners “investors, regulators, visitors, visitors, workers, local communities” are raising the bar in terms of environmental performance, inclusiveness, well-being, transparency of tourism businesses “and are asking for evidence of this”, said Eleni Andreadi. “Young workers want to work for companies that are not just responsible, but that are good for the environment, for society. Visitors – at 75% according to a recent study by booking.com – prefer sustainable tourism products and don’t want to pay more for it, they demand it instead of the brand they choose. But investors also seem to be willing to invest more in cases of better ESG risk management.”
Asked about the areas on which hotel businesses are asked to focus on in terms of sustainability, Eleni Andreadi mentioned energy efficiency, carbon emissions, water saving, waste reduction and especially food waste. “The Sani/Ikos Group has set ambitious targets in all these areas. Through its Sani Green and Ikos Green sustainability programmes, it has taken initiatives and developed advanced technological systems to achieve carbon neutrality in hotels by 2030, and by the end of 2024, zero plastic waste and zero landfill waste (triple zero). Our sustainability strategy is implemented with defined policies and measurable targets with more than 100 indicators (KPIs) based on the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, the processes are audited annually by external auditors and the results are published in the annual ESG sustainability report in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards, which reflects the integrated sustainability dimension of the Group”, Eleni Andreadi stressed in closing.
Eleni Andreadi – Biography
Eleni Andreadi is the Director of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility of the Sani/Ikos Group, which owns Sani Resort and Ikos Resorts. He is a graduate of Harvard University, where he specialized in environmental policy and media and has worked as a strategic and environmental consultant in Greece, England, Germany and America. He is a member of the Greek Council of Personalities for the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN SDSN).
About the Group Sani/Ikos
Sani/Ikos Group is an innovative, dynamically developing hotel group, with luxury complexes in unique seaside destinations of the Mediterranean. Through its Sani Resort and Ikos Resorts brands, it develops and operates over 3,450 rooms and suites in 12 privately owned hotel complexes in Greece and Spain, which are among the world’s top luxury resorts. The Group has secured new investment projects with a capacity of almost 1,000 rooms, suites and villas for the expansion of the Ikos brand in Greece (Crete) and Portugal (Algarve), scheduled to open in 2025, while new destinations are in the pipeline. Sani/Ikos Group’s aim is to continue the development of the Sani Resort and Ikos Resorts brands in Greece and abroad, offering unparalleled hospitality to its guests and creating growth prospects for its people, significant benefits for the ecosystems surrounding its hotels and value for its shareholders. A pioneer in sustainable tourism, the Group has developed an ambitious strategic sustainability plan (ESG) and is a member of the UN Global Compact. More information: https://www.saniikos.com/
