Hoteliers who produce their own honey. Restaurants that process regional products. Start-ups that revive traditions. Event providers who promote social projects. Leisure facilities that generate their own electricity. sustainability in the northern German city of Celle has many facets - and can be experienced by visitors. More and more businesses, shops, hotels and restaurants are discovering the value of sustainable tourism. For this reason, the northern German half-timbered town has once again been certified as a sustainable destination. 

celletourismus.de

This is how sustainable tourism works

Harmonising the environment, the economy and social issues: The historic residential town on the southern edge of the Lüneburg Heath committed itself to this goal around ten years ago. Since 2017, Celle has been certified as a sustainable destination by TourCert - as the first city in northern Germany. "Celle was and is a pioneer in terms of sustainable tourism," emphasises Klaus Lohmann, Managing Director of Celle Tourismus und Marketing GmbH (CTM), and adds: "The re-certification at the end of last year underlines that sustainability is lived and developed in our town and covers all areas of the tourism infrastructure. Our more than two million guests from all over the world can see, taste and experience this." 

There are plenty of examples of this: for example, the Congress Union Celle, the city's largest conference and event centre, uses seasonal and regional products in its restaurants. The centre also uses photovoltaics, promotes social projects, supports a neighbouring daycare centre, the Celle food bank and the railway station mission.

Hotels are committed to the environment

The Ringhotel Celler Tor, a traditional family business with 600 years of history, creates flowering meadows, thus creating a habitat for insects and producing its own honey. The Hotel Blumlage on the other hand, lives inclusion in everyday life. People with and without disabilities have been working together here as a matter of course for many years.

The rest also pulls along

The Celle Badeland covers its electricity requirements with a combined heat and power plant. The Celle public utility company supplies only 100 percent green electricity. And entrepreneur Dörte Hirschfeld from the "Alte Provisor", the former council pharmacy in the heart of the old town, is breathing new life into a tradition: She produces the herbal liqueur, which is known far beyond the city limits, according to an original recipe that is more than 100 years old and sells it in refillable bottles in a historic ambience.  

Sustainability becomes a competitive factor

Currently, around 20 Celle companies, tourist businesses and institutions are involved in the initiative "Celle - excellent sustainability", which is supported by CTM. They have committed themselves to continuously expanding their performance in terms of environmental protection, working conditions, customer relations and fair business relations. "As a result, sustainability in Celle is as diverse and varied - as the city itself", Lohmann is pleased about the many initiatives, projects and campaigns. The special thing: "Many companies are committed far beyond the legally required level and thus make Celle a sustainable and attractive destination."