CAGLIARI, SARDINIA—Forte Village in Sardinia, Italy announced they have recently been awarded the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) certification.
The honor certifies that the resort complies with the highest social and environmental standards available, including the areas of restaurant, management of wellness, pool, and tennis areas. The notable achievement is a demonstration of the sustainability efforts and initiatives Forte Village has put in place over the last few years.
Forte Village prioritizes environmental preservation and sustainable practices, focusing on a philosophy that revolves around living in harmony with nature, supporting the local economy and culture, and maximizing economic and social benefits.
To ensure sustainable development, they have implemented various initiatives to reduce the property’s environmental impact. The property follows the highest hotel standards and constantly monitors the quality system to activate all the necessary actions in environmental matters and sustainability in general, obtaining the relevant certifications.
Biodiversity & Animal Welfare
The resort boasts a 120+ acre park with an extensive array of plant species and a diligent team of gardeners works throughout the year to protect the natural surroundings, benefiting the entire community. The resort employs an integrated and biologically based system to control pests and diseases in the green areas and collaborates with a veterinarian to certify the well-being of its non-native fauna residing within the park.
The Kids Club at Forte Village offers dedicated programs aimed at educating the younger generation about the significance of adopting a sustainable environmental approach.
Partnership with Ogyre: Mission to Clean the Ocean
Forte Village, in partnership with Ogyre, recently achieved a very special goal: the collection of 2,200 pounds of waste from the sea. Forte Village is dedicated to continuously decreasing the amount of waste produced and has implemented measures to ensure that all waste is properly separated and recycled across food and operational departments, the correct disposal of special waste, the use of recycled and biocompatible materials whenever possible, and organic waste composting.
Energy Saving
The 8,600 sq ft congress center is fully powered by a photovoltaic system, which also serves to help power Hotel Il Castello and Borgo, Palme, and Bougainville hotels utilize solar panels to generate hot water. To promote energy efficiency, lighting in the gardens, grounds, and internal public areas is controlled by timing mechanisms and features LED lighting. To minimize environmental impact, cars are prohibited within the resort. Instead, guests are transported by battery-powered golf carts, and bicycles are provided for both guests and staff. Moreover, the guest parking area is equipped with two electric car charging stations.
Water Consumption
Forte Village prioritizes water conservation. A total of 28,250 cubic feet of “grey water” produced daily is purified and used to irrigate 120+ acres of gardens. In just three days, the water saved could fill an Olympic-size pool. A rainwater harvesting system with a 580 sq ft dam, stores 12,474,623 cubic feet for irrigation—equivalent to 141 Olympic-size pools.
Carbon Footprint
In order to compensate for CO2 produced with transfers from and to Cagliari airport in 2022 (estimated to 47.540 kg), Forte Village partnered with the local DMC FA Travel to plant 1,000 trees by 2023. The first stage saw the planting of 200 trees on April 23, 2023: it involved several employees from both companies who actively planted a selection of Carob, wild olive, wild pear, and almond in the local area.
Food & Beverage
The majority of produce is sourced locally, ensuring freshness and high quality. Additionally, they maintain an on-site vegetable garden to provide guests with a constant supply of fresh produce.
Architecture
Forte Village features eight four and five-star hotels, over 40 suites, and 13 villas. These accommodations were constructed or restored by local architects, emphasizing the use of natural materials that reflect Sardinian tradition. For example, Acquaforte Thalasso & Spa underwent a recent renovation, with a focus on minimizing human impact by utilizing natural materials like wood, granite, travertine, and “Biancone di Orosei,” a light beige marble sourced from a local Sardinian quarry.
Sustainable Education & Culture
Forte Village champions sustainable education and culture with its 5-star Hotel Management Business School. It raises awareness of Sardinian culture, local festivals, and heritage on a global scale. The resort sponsors an annual triathlon that helps shed light on local towns and their rich history. In collaboration with Palazzo Doglio, they successfully fundraised for a state-of-the-art mammogram machine, benefiting the city’s Oncological Hospital, and supporting its crucial role in cancer care for the entire island.
Community & Local Economy
Restaurants and staff canteen prioritize local food sourcing. Around 90 percent of staff reside within a 30-mile radius. They invest in staff selection, professional growth, and foster trust through training, evaluations, and incentives. Forte Village supports aspiring students with scholarships and a high-end hotel industry master’s program. They partner with the Itennis Foundation, offering underprivileged children top-level tennis training.
Set against the stunning backdrop of the Santa Margherita di Pula Mountain range and located just 25 miles from Cagliari, Forte Village boasts eight elegant five- and four-star hotels which offer more than 700 rooms, as well as 40 suites and 13 private villas which range in size from 2- to 4-bedrooms and boast 24-hour private butler service. Guests can enjoy more than 21 restaurants and 18 bars, including Michelin-starred dining and regional Italian cuisine, as well as the Forte Village Gourmet Cooking Academy and Celebrity Chef evenings held during the months of July and August. Newly renovated for the most lavish guest experience, the 7,000-square-meter Acquaforte Thalasso & Spa provides personalized treatments and programs run by a world-renowned, in-house spa & wellness team.
The six seawater thalasso pools and 30 treatment rooms have been newly revamped and upgraded, further enhanced by a new ‘tisaneria,’ a beautifully relaxing herbal tea bar, changing rooms and refurbished gym.
Forte Village offers over 20 sports academies run on site throughout the summer months with expert training by acclaimed coaches. In addition to the rowing, climbing and tennis academies, there are an endless number of activities for guests to enjoy, along with a variety of sports facilities, charming boutiques to shop at, multiple public and private swimming pools, and evening entertainment to end a long day of fun.
Villa del Parco, the seafront Suites, and the Villas are members of Leading Hotels of the World collection and Hotel Castello is part of the Virtuoso® exclusive portfolio of luxury travel partners. Forte Village was the focus of a high-level research project published by Harvard Business School.
