Business Transformation for Sustainability Award 2023

ARTIEM Hotels: the transformative power of mindful eating

"We cannot achieve happiness if we do not take care of our environment, and to do so we must first take care of ourselves"

— Willy Diaz, Director of Sales and Operations at ARTIEM Hotels

The only way to experience authentic growth is through sustainable development. The origin of ARTIEM Hotels could well serve as an example. Founded in 1974, this family-owned company has cultivated and promoted values such as passion, leadership, innovation and self-improvement over four generations, inspiring people to be happy. From the charming island of Menorca, the award-winning project in the category of Business Transformation for Sustainability travelled to receive its recognition at the latest edition of the Travelling for Happiness Awards.

This award seeks to highlight those companies or organizations that have developed innovative, economically viable, competitive business projects with a recognized impact on environmental improvement at a national level. 'Conscious Eating' meets all the requirements. More than a gastronomic model, it is a declaration of principles, a cutting-edge project in the hotel sector that seeks to redefine the relationship between food and its impact on the world. Inspired by the Planetary Health Diet, this initiative aims to make every dish not only delicious, but also healthy and sustainable.

Innovation and food awareness

That we are what we eat is undeniable, a truth that they preach in the company. Their commitment is focused on choosing local foods, full of flavor and with a positive impact on the planet. The proposal materialises in the preparation of dishes with seasonal and local products, thus contributing to the reduction of pollution, greater care for the environment and direct support for local producers.

ARTIEM Hotels director of sales and operations, Willy Díaz, shares a very interesting reflection: "We cannot achieve happiness if we do not take care of our environment, and to do so we must first take care of ourselves. Food is the basis of self-care. It is not simply a matter of considering what we put into our body, but of understanding the journey that food has taken to reach us.

Being a leading company due to its innovative and inspiring model, focused on people's happiness and commitment to sustainable prosperity, is key for ARTIEM Hotels. The company aims to make its gastronomic offer 100% healthy and sustainable by 2026. This commitment not only causes a health benefit for those who enjoy their dishes, but also contributes to maintaining agricultural activity, preserving local traditions and cultures, as well as addressing several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as Health and Well-being, and Responsible Production and Consumption.

Willy Díaz highlights the achievements and challenges of the project, pointing out that they have managed to turn a tourist gastronomic initiative into a comprehensive proposal that encompasses the entire company. In addition, it has served as a tool to engage both customers and employees in daily decision-making focused on health and sustainability. "Hotels can become disseminators of practices that help you improve, causing a brutal impact," he stresses.

ARTIEM Hotels has a gastronomic model inspired by the Planetary Health Diet. Photo: Artiem Hotels

The challenges for sustainability

Adjusting the gastronomic offer to the season and geography reduces food waste and the associated economic losses. Using local products reduces CO2 emissions from freight transport. The challenges for sustainability in the tourism sector, especially in the food sector, are numerous, but they have the potential to generate significant improvements in people's day-to-day lives.

ARTIEM Hotels commitment goes beyond rhetoric and is materialized in an action plan designed to transform the way we conceive food in the hotel sector, involving customers as direct agents of change. Every menu choice becomes an opportunity to contribute to a healthier and more sustainable world.

'Conscious Eating' has not only transformed the customer experience, but has also had an impact on the employees themselves, who have adopted practices and learning related to food consumption that have an impact on their daily lives in terms of both health and spending. Discovering new eating habits while contributing to changing the world has become the perfect plan.

With 'Conscious Eating', ARTIEM seeks to redefine the relationship between food and its impact on the world. Photo: Artiem Hotels