Airbnb and European Historic Houses launch Sustainable Heritage Award

Airbnb is proud to announce its partnership with European Historic Houses (EHH) to present the inaugural European Sustainable Heritage Award. This prestigious award will celebrate and reward owners of heritage properties who have undertaken sustainable renovations in 2023. The initiative is part of Airbnb’s ongoing commitment to support and promote the preservation of Europe’s cultural, architectural, and natural heritage, as outlined in our recent pledge under the EU’s Tourism Transition Pathway.

Airbnb and European Historic Houses unveiled the European Sustainable Heritage Award during the EHH Owners’ Circle Congress in Prague, Czech Republic, on October 20th. EHH members had gathered to discuss the theme of ‘Reducing the carbon footprint of heritage,’ making this event the perfect backdrop for the award and calling on applicants who successfully completed heritage renovations up until October 2023.

Once applications are reviewed by a panel selected by Airbnb and EHH, the European Sustainable Heritage Award will be bestowed upon three deserving winners in February 2024, recognizing their exceptional efforts in sustainable heritage renovations. The prize distribution is as follows:

• €20,000 for the grand prize winner.
• €10,000 each for the other two finalists.

Applications will be considered from across the member organisations of EHH, and the winning projects will be those which achieve measurable impacts across sustainability-related criteria (e.g. energy, waste and water management, biodiversity), while also making efforts to ensure accessibility to their properties for tourists, thus supporting Europe’s heritage travel sector.

Georgina Browes, Head of EU Policy at Airbnb, emphasized the company’s commitment to supporting sustainable renovations to all by stating:

“At Airbnb, we believe in the power of travel to connect people with unique experiences and cultures. Our partnership with European Historic Houses to introduce the European Sustainable Heritage Award reflects our dedication to supporting historic homeowners of every kind in Europe, while encouraging a sustainable and eco-friendly future. We are excited to celebrate and reward the pioneering efforts of property owners who are making a positive impact on the environment through their heritage renovations.“

Alfonso Pallavicini, Executive President of European Historic Houses, stated ”Preserving our heritage is not just about conserving the past, it’s about creating a sustainable future. The European Sustainable Heritage Award, in cooperation with Airbnb, celebrates the vital role of private owners in safeguarding our cultural legacy while promoting sustainable practices. We are proud to recognize their dedicated efforts in restoring and maintaining historic properties, setting an example for responsible conservation across Europe.”

Applications for the European Sustainable Heritage Award are open now, and the judging process will commence in early 2024. The winners will be announced in February 2024, culminating in a special event to honour their dedication to sustainability and heritage preservation. For more information about the European Sustainable Heritage Award, including details on how to apply and the official judging criteria, please visit this link.