Porto Carras Honored For Participation In EU Project For Sustainable Hotels (ShMILE 2)

The managing director of the Porto Carras Grand Resort, Vassilis Vasilakis (center), received the EU Ecolabel from the program director of Shmile 2 in France, Remy-Antoine Conti (left) and the president of the Halkidiki Hotel Association, Grigoris Tassios (right). Photo: Porto Carras Grand Resort

The eco-tourism complex Porto Carras Grand Resort in Halkidiki was recently honored with the EU Ecolabel, within the framework of the completion of the “ShMILE 2 project – from experimentation to dissemination of the Ecolabel in the Mediterranean.” “ShMILE 2” is an EU project for sustainable hotels.

The resort’s five-star hotel units Porto Carras Meliton and Porto Carras Sithonia have both been certified with the EU Ecolabel.

The award was received by the resort’s managing director Vassilis Vasilakis who emphasized that the primary purpose of the project was to spread awareness on environmental protection to all those involved in the tourism business and in the Halkidiki region in general, “a place of incredible natural beauty that must be protected by all means.”

For the past 14 years, Porto Carras Grand Resort has embarked on an unprecedented environmental program.

ShMILE 2 project

Photo: Porto Carras Grand Resort

The global objective of the “ShMILE 2 project” is to contribute to sustainable development and to the reduction of environmental risk in the Mediterranean Basin through the promotion of sustainable tourism. The project aims to increase public awareness of environmental issues through a wide-reaching communication campaign, to reinforce the demand for Eco-labeled tourism accommodation.

Halkidiki was the only region in Greece that participated in the “ShMILE 2” EU project for sustainable hotels.

The award ceremony was held by the Halkidiki Hotel Association and the Macedonia Tourism Institute for all of the region’s hotels that participated in the EU program.