July 2000 - The Sol Meliá operated hotels Sol Cala D�Or (Majorca), Sol Élite Gavilanes (Menorca) and Sol Pinet Playa (Ibiza) have become the first three hotels in the Balearic Islands to obtain the European Community regulated EMAS certification (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) for environmental management. The award is another sign of the success of the commitment shown by Sol Meliá to environmental preservation through the implementation of its Environmental Protection Manual. The EMAS scheme forms part of the Ecotur Programme developed by the Balearic Islands Government to promote sustainable tourism. 

At the end of 1998, the Balearic Islands Government provided support grants for the implementation of the programme in 30 test hotels, including several Sol Meliá hotels. The hotel company contracted the environmental consultants Randa Group to advise hotels in setting up their Environmental Management System, with special emphasis on initial diagnosis, the development of a programme, awareness and training of personnel and the creation of an �Environmental Declaration�, amongst other things. 

Environmental Management Systems involve new management methods allowing parallel increases in management performance and environmental protection, while also improving the hotel�s image before guests, suppliers and public and private institutions. Hotels are able to increase their competitiveness through such means as the rationalisation of the use of resources (energy, water, toxic substances...), the reduction of waste products and their separation.

In 1995 Sol Meliá published its first Environmental Protection Manual aimed at improving the �environmental friendliness� of company hotels. Since then it has been gradually implemented throughout the company. Sol Meliá hotels have received a number of national and international awards in this respect � the Sol Élite Falcó (Menorca) became the first hotel to earn the ISO 14001 certification, while the Meliá Bali (Indonesia) received the �Green Global Award� for the second consecutive year -, and continue to work towards obtaining official certification of their efforts. Another five hotels are currently implementing the EMAS programme � the Meliá Barcelona, Meliá Confort Apolo, Meliá Gran Sitges, Meliá Confort Girona and Sol Pelícanos-Ocas. 
 

Sol Meliá currently operates more than 260 hotels in 27 countries, 27 of which are in the Balearic Islands: 20 in Majorca, 4 in Menorca and 3 in Ibiza.