The Ani Plaza Hotel in Yerevan is the first hotel in Armenia to participate in the certificate program

YEREVAN (ARKA)—Hotels in Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic are invited to participate in the Green Hotels Certificate environmental project, Arman Nalbandyan, coordinator of the Eurasia Charity’s international environmental programs said on Wednesday.

Nalbandyan said that this is the first such project to be held in Armenia. According to him, the Green Hotels Certificate has special importance among a huge number of environmental projects.

Citing data from the World Tourism Organization, Nalbandyan said some 70% of US and 90% of European tourists prefer hotels that contribute to the protection of the environment.

Nalbandyan said certificates in Armenia are being awarded by the Eurasia Charity. Ani Plaza is the first Armenian hotel to have joined the project, according to him.

International experts have developed a number of criteria that the hotels must meet to qualify for the certificate, including efficient use of energy and water, waste management, and use of organic materials.

Executive director of the Eurasia Charity, Lucy Arakelyan, added that they have already sent letters with samples of the certificate and proposals to join the project to hotels in Armenia and Karabakh.

The Eurasia Charity began its operations in 1997 and assists in the ecological, economic and social development in Armenia. It also supports animal protection, promotion of humanism and democracy in Armenia, and the consolidation of cooperation between structures and business spheres in Armenia, Russia and other countries.