GreenSign Community Circle

Last Thursday, the second GreenSign Community Circle took place at the DHA in Cologne. Around 50 hoteliers, restaurateurs and industry partners made an open and substantial exchange possible – on equal terms and with real appreciation. For this, we want to thank you and everyone involved.

A key highlight was the Expert Talk: "Future Hospitality: How Social Sustainability Makes Employers Successful". Andrea Feidner-Beyer (MHP Hotel AG), Wolfgang Greiner (Althoff Collection), Susanne Lawall (Breidenbacher Hof Düsseldorf) and Christian Schmidt (SAND Collection) discussed current approaches and challenges, moderated by Anja Eigen (DHA).

The central consensus: it’s people that make the difference – not just processes or benefits. Employee retention is built on relationships, genuine appreciation and honest support. "You Matter" was cited as a living example of an effective corporate culture. The discussion made it clear: appreciation means listening, taking people seriously and fostering personal development – not just giving praise. Employees want to be recognized as individuals, not treated as "resources."

The atmosphere was marked by focused attention and lively participation. Many would have liked to continue the roundtable—and the discussions were indeed carried on in personal conversations afterwards. Time and again, participants emphasized: corporate culture becomes visible, especially in challenging times. Appreciation is not just a cultural issue, but also a real economic factor for employers and teams striving for lasting success.

Thank you to everyone who shaped this evening with openness and expertise.

On 23 February 2026, people interested in sustainability met at the Waldhotel Stuttgart to the GreenSign Community Circle to discuss authentic sustainability in hotel operations. One key learning was that sustainability is more than just marketing - it must be an intrinsic attitude in day-to-day operations.

The Waldhotel Stuttgart lives this approach by understanding sustainability as a joint task that actively involves all employees. Important aspects of this are sensitising the team and continuous change. The discussion also showed how important the interplay of clear structures and creative innovation is. Jens Zellentin from the Le Méridien Stuttgart emphasised: "Do good and talk about it - but with sensitivity." Sustainability should be made visible without imposing, but rather involving both guests and employees through transparency and comprehensible added value.

Another important point was the importance of certifications that create comparability and credibility. The practice-orientated GreenSign certification concept, which provides a sound basis for sustainable measures, was particularly emphasised. The GreenSign Community Circle in Stuttgart showed once again that successful sustainability in hotel operations is created through attitude, structured processes and the active involvement of all those involved and is effectively communicated to the outside world through transparent communication and credible certifications.