AliKats launches new sustainability rewards and initiatives to entice guests to be more eco-aware this winter
Ready for the up-coming ski season, AliKats has launched a new sustainability strategy, and within that, a new sustainability reward and further initiatives for guests staying at its bespoke catered and self-catered chalets in Morzine, France, this winter.
Founded more than 10 years ago, AliKats now has 12 high-end chalets in its portfolio. Each chalet is powered by electricity from 100% renewable energy, and Al and Kat have worked with all the owners to install heating systems based on renewable energy, such as air source heat pumps.
Over the last few years, AliKats has implement several key practices, including creating a permaculture garden, starting an electric-roasting coffee facility, investing in two electric vehicles for use around the resort, reducing the amount of meat served, and implementing a bokashi composting system.
The permaculture garden was designed to make the most of the unique mountain climate and resources particular to the region, and now comprises chickens, setting up an annual vegetable garden, and planting fruit and nut trees. The food waste from the chalets feeds the chickens, which in turn provides nutrients for the soil used to grow food, which in turn feeds AliKats’ guests – a complete cycle. This, and the bokashi composting system, meant AliKats achieved zero food waste last year!
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says that by 2030 we need to cut global carbon emissions to at least 55% below what they were in 2017 to keep the planet within 1.5 degrees of warming. In response, AliKats has produced a new sustainability strategy detailing a four-part Climate Action Plan designed to help reduce carbon emissions and waste associated with its holidays. This plan focuses on four main areas: Measure, Reduce, Remove, and Communicate.
AliKats will continue to:
- Measure its carbon and waste emissions
- search for new ways to Reduce these figures while creating long term positive benefits for the environment and local community
- Remove CO2 production and waste from the company and supply chain where possible, and work with credible climate organisations and projects such as Foundation GoodPlanet and Nu Cycle
- and Communicate and collaborate with others to organise a unified response to the climate crises and propel positive change.
Within this, AliKats has launched incentive packages to help guests reduce the impact of their holiday and reward those who choose sustainable travel and holiday options; guests can receive up to 20% off the cost of their accommodation (date depending) when they book one of AliKats’ chalets exclusively, travel by train, opt out of hot tubs, and eat a plant-based diet for the week.
NEW: Save up to 20% off accommodation, with AliKats Mountain Holidays
Guests staying with AliKats can save up to 20% off their accommodation when they choose to ski greener this winter. To save money, visitors must book an AliKats chalet exclusively for the week, travel by train, opt out of the hot tub, and eat a plant-based diet. AliKats has homed in on these three criteria due to its pledge to reduce the carbon footprint of food and travel, decrease the electricity needed to keep the hot tub water at 37.5 degrees centigrade, and stop water waste – especially following the drought in France. Save 20% when staying at a self-catered chalet w/c 14/15 January 2023, or w/c 21/22 January 2023. Save 15% when staying at a self-catered chalet w/c 11/12 March 2023, or w/c 18/19 March 2023. And save 10% when staying at a catered or self-catered chalet between 10 December 2022 and 22 April 2023. This offer is for new bookings made before 31 December 2022. For groups staying in self-catered chalets, a booking of AliKats’ five-day vegetarian menu package is required to qualify for the offer. AliKats will also ask to see train tickets as proof of travel.
A week’s stay, from 14 January 2023, at new Chalet Riviere, costs from €7,752 total (was €9,690 total – saving 20%) for up to 13 people sharing the chalet on a self-catered basis when the guests all choose to ski greener.
AliKats: www.alikats.eu
NEW: Save up to €200 when opting out of the hot tub
On average, a hot tub uses 1,500 litres of water and 200 kWh of electricity to keep the water at 37.5 degrees centigrade for a week in the winter. To put this into perspective, this is around half the amount of water three people are estimated to use during a week in a British household, and almost the same electricity usage as a three-bedroom household over a whole month in the UK (estimated at 250 kWh). Therefore, in line with its 2022/23 Climate Action Plan, AliKats gives guests the opportunity to opt out of their hot tub during an autumn, winter, and spring holiday. Those who do decide to opt out will see €200 subtracted from their balance of a week-long holiday booking, or €100 taken away for a weekend stay. This initiative will be valid until 24 June 2023. In addition, AliKats will now charge guests an additional €100 for an extra mid-week water change, which can be avoided by showering before entering the hot tub (ensuring sunscreen and hair products have been washed off) plus keeping all breakable objects, such as glass, away from the Jacuzzi.
AliKats: www.alikats.eu
NEW: Contribute to GoodPlanet Foundation to help fund carbon-reduction projects
It is predicted that transport to any ski resort will account for at least half the emissions caused by a holiday overall. Although train or road travel does significantly help, AliKats understands that taking a plane is often most convenient, timely, and cost effective method of getting to the mountains. Al and Kat are always looking at ways to reduce CO2/CO2e, and when this isn’t possible, they now work with GoodPlanet Foundation so guests can contribute money to the charity that will be invested in carbon-reduction projects. Together, they have calculated a contribution of €9 pp is about right (based on the average carbon emissions of a return flight from the UK to Geneva, plus a return shared minibus transfer). This will be added to the cost of the holiday when booking but can be amended for those who have chosen to travel by more sustainable sources, have already offset their travel emissions by other means, will be travelling further and therefore would like to pay more, or would rather not pay it.
AliKats: www.alikats.eu
