Hotel sustainability in Menorca: 10 concrete measures by Sagitario Hotels

Solar energy, responsible water management, ISO 14001 certification, green areas, local produce and environmental improvements that help care for Menorca even while on holiday.

Hotel sustainability in Menorca is built through many different decisions: how energy is generated and used, how water is managed, what happens to waste, which products reach the kitchen, and how green areas are designed and maintained.

At Sagitario Hotels, we work progressively across all these areas, with measures adapted to each property. Not every initiative is the same in every hotel, which is why we believe that talking about sustainability also means clearly explaining where and how each measure is being implemented.

These are ten concrete measures that form part of our commitment to more responsible tourism in Menorca.

1. Solar energy to generate part of our own power

One of the most visible measures can be found at Gran Sagitario, where a solar panel system has been installed as part of the Balearic Islands Energy Transition Investment Plan (PITEIB), funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.

The installation produces renewable energy for self-consumption and helps us move towards an energy model that is less dependent on conventional sources.

On an island like Menorca, where preserving the landscape is inseparable from its appeal, incorporating renewable energy into hotel operations is one way of progressively reducing their impact. You can find more information on the Sagitario Hotels energy efficiency page.

2. Improving efficiency also means consuming less

Producing renewable energy is only part of the work. Another important step is reducing losses and making better use of the energy already available.

Gran Sagitario, Sagitario Menorca Mar, Sagitario Princesa Playa and Sagitario Playa have implemented energy efficiency and circular economy projects that include, among other measures, air curtains in selected common areas and automated access through automatic doors.

These technical improvements may go unnoticed during a stay, but they help reduce heat exchange and climate-control losses. Hotel sustainability is not always found in what guests can see: much of it lies in the way the facilities operate.

3. Three hotels with ISO 14001 environmental certification

Sustainability also requires systems that make it possible to set objectives, assess results and continue improving.

Sagitario Princesa Playa, Gran Sagitario and Petit Sagitario currently hold ISO 14001 environmental certification. This international standard certifies the implementation of an environmental management system designed to identify and manage the impacts associated with hotel activity.

The three properties also work with circularity plans that structure initiatives in areas such as energy, water, waste and team involvement. Rather than being a one-off action, certification involves ongoing monitoring and continuous improvement. More information is available in the Sagitario Hotels environmental certifications section.

4. Smart irrigation across 17,799 m² of gardens

Water is one of the resources that requires particular attention on a Mediterranean island.

Five Sagitario Hotels properties currently manage 17,799 m² of landscaped areas using smart irrigation systems: Sagitario Princesa Playa, Gran Sagitario, Petit Sagitario, Sagitario Menorca Mar and Sagitario Playa.

Sagitario Princesa Playa has the largest area, with 11,974 m², followed by Sagitario Menorca Mar with 2,600 m², Gran Sagitario with 2,275 m², Sagitario Playa with 600 m² and Petit Sagitario with 350 m².

The aim is not to give up the gardens that form part of the holiday experience, but to manage them in a way that is better adapted to Menorca's conditions and water availability.

5. Giving water another use before discarding it

Reducing consumption is important, but so is finding new uses for certain water flows.

Sagitario Princesa Playa and Sagitario Menorca Mar use reverse osmosis reject water for irrigation, while at Gran Sagitario it is reused in toilet cisterns. Sagitario Princesa Playa also uses pool backwash water for irrigation, while Gran Sagitario and Petit Sagitario have greywater reuse systems.

In addition, all five properties included in these water-management initiatives have dual-flush toilets and flow-control devices on taps and showers. Gran Sagitario and Petit Sagitario also use sectorised meters that allow water consumption to be monitored by area.

6. Green areas adapted to Menorca's landscape and climate

A Mediterranean garden does not have to consume large amounts of water to be enjoyable.

Through the BGreenMenorca 2024 programme, initiatives related to sustainable green areas and water efficiency were implemented at Gran Sagitario, Petit Sagitario, Sagitario Menorca Mar, Sagitario Princesa Playa and Sagitario Playa.

The measures include the use of native vegetation, efficient irrigation systems and the creation of spaces that are more favourable to local wildlife.

At Sagitario Princesa Playa, for example, part of the landscaping has been transformed into a dry garden using local stone and native species with very low water requirements. It is a way of bringing hotel spaces closer to Menorca's landscape rather than imposing garden models that are poorly adapted to the Mediterranean climate.

Updated information about these measures is available at Sustainable Sagitario.

7. Changing linen only when it is really needed

Guest participation can also help reduce consumption.

As part of Together We Take Care of Menorca, Sagitario Hotels gives guests the option to reduce the frequency with which certain linen, such as bed sheets, is changed.

This does not mean giving up service or comfort. It simply avoids unnecessary washing when guests feel that a change is not yet needed. A small decision repeated across many rooms can help reduce the water, energy and resources associated with laundry.

8. Waste and the circular economy in hotel management

Waste management is another area included in our environmental strategy.

The improvement projects implemented at Gran Sagitario, Sagitario Menorca Mar, Sagitario Princesa Playa and Sagitario Playa have also included infrastructure for waste management as part of energy efficiency and circular economy initiatives.

The environmental management systems and circularity plans in place at certified properties also make it possible to integrate waste into a broader process of assessment and improvement. The goal is for environmental management to form part of everyday hotel operations rather than remain an isolated action.

9. Local produce: from our farms to our hotels

The sustainability of a destination is also connected to its local economy and its ability to keep the surrounding land productive and alive.

Under the name Sagitario Llocs, the Triay-Amorós family manages five traditional Menorcan farms: Biniatzem, S'Aranjassa, Son March, Son Marquet and Son Tarí Vell.

Seasonal fruit and vegetables are grown there, livestock is raised and Mahón-Menorca PDO cheese is produced. Some of these products then reach the kitchens of Sagitario properties.

This model connects Menorca's primary sector with tourism and reduces the distance between where food is produced and where it is enjoyed. It also provides a very tangible way of telling the story of Menorca: through what is grown, produced and cooked here. Find out more on our gastronomy and Sagitario Llocs page.

10. Together We Take Care of Menorca: making everyone's role visible

Many environmental improvements depend on facilities, investment or internal procedures. Others work best when the people involved in the experience understand why they exist.

Together We Take Care of Menorca is the framework through which Sagitario Hotels brings these initiatives together and invites guests, teams and the local community to participate.

Choosing when to change linen, using water responsibly or taking an interest in local produce may seem like small decisions. Together, however, they form part of a way of travelling that is more aware of the resources a destination needs.

Sustainability should not turn a holiday into a list of obligations. The aim is precisely the opposite: to continue enjoying Menorca while introducing more responsible ways of relating to the island.

What can you do to help care for Menorca during your stay?

You do not need to completely change the way you travel. You can start with a few simple choices:

• Reuse linen when it does not yet need changing.
• Turn off the tap when you are not using the water.
• Respect natural areas and follow conservation guidance.
• Try local products and learn where they come from.
• Discover Menorca in a way that is conscious of the resources and environment around you.

It is also worth finding out more. Knowing where food comes from, why a garden uses certain plants or which measures make better use of water helps us understand that many decisions take place behind the scenes of every stay.

Sustainable tourism in Menorca: measure, explain and keep improving

There is no single measure that makes a hotel sustainable.

Hotel sustainability in Menorca means working simultaneously on energy, water, waste, purchasing, the territory and management. It also means distinguishing between initiatives that are already in place, measures that apply to specific properties and projects that continue to evolve.

At Sagitario Hotels, we want to move forward from this perspective: implementing real improvements, measuring them whenever possible and clearly explaining what we are doing and where.

In our Sustainable Sagitario section, you can find more information about environmental certifications, energy efficiency initiatives and responsible water-management measures being developed in Menorca.

Frequently asked questions about hotel sustainability in Menorca