A resort set to open in 2022 will offer guests up to 50% off the price of a stay for watching their water intake, electricity use and food choices
By K. Sophie Will
LONDON, Oct 17 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Can't afford to travel? Guests who go green at a new Finnish resort could reap a steep discount by curbing their emissions, preserving both their budget and the environment.
Arctic Blue Resort, set to open in 2022, is offering guests up to 50% off of the total price of a stay for watching their water intake, electricity use and food choices. Planting a tree in the nearby forest would knock another 5% off the tab.
The resort is the brainchild of Finnish distillery Arctic Blue Group, which conceived of the nature-oriented resort as it aimed to fight climate change.
"All about experiencing nature - we want you to go out and be involved in it," marketing and communication strategist Simone Bocedi told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
While prices have yet to be determined, Bocedi said the resort "should be accessible to everyone," with every bit guests do to be more sustainable will lower their bill while also aiding the fight against climate change.
"We want the resort to be a place of true tranquility and thus encourage our guests to be more present in the moment and embrace digital detox," vice president and co-founder of Arctic Brands Group Mikko Spoof said in a statement.
Sustainable features include its own water treatment system and renewable energy resources, with food locally sourced and seasonal. Activities will also be geared toward the time of year as well as the surrounding landscape.
The property will be located in Kontiolahti, an eastern Finland municipality about 450 kms from the Finnish capital city Helsinki. Kontiolahti has a rich ecosystem boasting lush forests and waterfront scenes.
"With Arctic Blue Resort we want to lead an example by putting emphasis on environmental responsibility and by creating solutions to minimize the negative impact of tourism," Kontiolahti Mayor Jere Penttilä said in the statement.
Arctic Brand Group founded the hotel to bring awareness to sustainability after the bilberry crops they use to make their signature gin were found to be dwindling, as global warming lessens frost the bilberries need to thrive.
"We wanted to raise awareness about how you could or should live more sustainably," said Bocedi.
(Editing by Chris Michaud. Please credit Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's and LGBT+ rights, human trafficking, property rights, and climate change. Visit www.trust.org)
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