Albena : The All Inclusive in Albena Resort becomes "green"

At the end of the 2023 summer season, Albena Resort confirms the high demand for All Inclusive and Ultra All Inclusive offers, with guests preferring them for their convenience and security. However, the management has observed more than 20% food waste on an annual basis, which, despite its processing into biogas, brings negative consequences for the environment. This is why Albena has announced its new Green All Inclusive, with which it wants to deepen its contribution to the sustainable development of the Bulgarian tourism product.

So what exactly does Green All Inclusive mean? "It means that we are focusing even more on environmental protection in our all-inclusive offer. For example, we have committed ourselves to the 17 sustainability goals of the United Nations and, for the most part, act accordingly," explains Dimitar Stanev, Deputy Director Business Development at Albena. This includes, for example, that more than 60 percent of the food that is served at the seaside resort is now grown in the gardens and fields of Albena. The Black Angus meat is all from Albena, and there is wine made from the resort's own grapes, as well as juice made from Albena apples, pears and cherries. Green-All-Inclusive thus means that more than half of the complete daily catering is regional. This is also the case with the Green-Luxury-Ultra-Inclusive, which includes not only the meals and some drinks, but also many extra services. Both inclusive offers also include participation in the Albena entertainment program with shows, animation, and a choice of more than 40 sports at the resort.

Green electricity, clean air and electric buses included

"Green" also means that Albena produces more than 50 percent of the energy it needs on site: On the one hand, this is done in solar thermal plants for water heating, and on the other hand, via biogas from the food waste of the restaurants. The healing water used in the hotels, restaurants and swimming pools is mineral-rich and comes from the resort's own springs. Also included are the pure, oxygen-rich air due to the adjacent Baltata Nature Reserve and the cleanliness of the beach, which has been awarded the blue flag for decades for this. Finally, the use of electric buses is another criterion for the Green All Inclusive and contributes to the implementation of the international sustainability goals.

"With the Green All Inclusive concept, we want our guests to see our commitment in this area. Because in Albena they can enjoy a carefree sustainable vacation," says Stanev. And since environmental protection is not a one-time thing, but a process, 1 euro per overnight stay at the seaside resort goes to further eco-projects. "We stand for sustainable food consumption and avoid waste, recycle waste in our biogas plant and thus close the circle of the farm to fork strategy." This is rewarded by more than 260,000 guests a year," concludes the Deputy Director.