Since December 2012, the Hotel Belle-Vue is the first hotel in Marseille to have earned the Green Key label — the oldest European certification for sustainable tourism. Fourteen years later, in 2026, this label is renewed annually by a fully committed team. Here's what this means in practical terms for your stay on the Old Port.
Green Key: the first eco-certification for tourism
The Green Key label was created in 1994 in Denmark. Now present in over 70 countries and managed in France by the FEE ( Foundation for Environmental Education ), it certifies tourist accommodations based on more than 100 strict criteria covering water, energy, waste, amenities, food, customer awareness, and involvement in the local community. Certification is annual: everything must be re-validated each year.
The first certified hotel in Marseille — December 2012
When the owner, Yona Étienne, decided in 2012 to apply for the label, the Hotel Belle-Vue becomes the the first hotel in Marseille to obtain the Green KeyThe certification was awarded with the jury's congratulations — the approach going far beyond the specifications. At the time, sustainable development in city-center hotels was still an exception; in Marseille, the idea was almost pioneering.
"It's the small, everyday actions that count: sorting, insulation, lighting, monitoring consumption. It's a comprehensive ecological approach, stemming initially from a personal conviction."
Yona Étienne, owner of the Hotel Belle-Vue
14 years of renewal, without ever giving up
Obtaining a label is one thing. Keeping it for 14 consecutive years Another is... Every year, a Green Key audit verifies that practices are maintained, that new (and increasingly demanding) criteria are met, and that staff awareness remains active. The Hotel Belle-Vue has never missed a renewal since 2012.
The commitment has even expanded: in 2024, the La Caravelle bar-restaurant also obtained Écotable certification , which measures the ecological impact of the restaurant (local sourcing, waste management, seasonality). The commitments of the hotel and the restaurant reinforce each other.
What this actually changes in your room
Certifications are all well and good, but what matters is the translation on a daily basis. At the Hotel Belle-VueSustainable practices are visible from the moment you arrive:
- No plastic miniatures In bathrooms: refillable dispensers of eco-friendly liquid soap replace individual packaging (saving several thousand small bottles per year)
- Linen changed upon request and not automatically every day (follows the customer's wishes, saves water and detergent)
- Local and fair trade breakfast at La Caravelle: dairy products Marseille DairyFair trade coffee, freshly squeezed orange juice, pastries from a baker in the Panier district
- LED lighting throughout 100% of the hotel and presence sensors in the circulation areas
- Recycling in the room and in the kitchen partnership with a local organic waste recovery sector
- Discreet awareness-raising No moralizing cardboard boxes in the rooms, but a welcome booklet explaining the commitment to guests who request it.
A sustainable hotel in the heart of the Old Port — the rare equation
The vast majority of eco-friendly hotels are located in the countryside, in the mountains, or on the rural coast. Marseille itselfOn the Old Port, in a restored 19th-century building, combining sustainable commitment and urban hospitality is more complex. This is precisely what makes the Hotel's approach so challenging. Belle-Vue Interesting: to show that responsible tourism is not reserved for isolated ecolodges.
To delve deeper, read our detailed CSR approach , our guide to sustainable tourism in Marseille and the article that retraces our latest Green Key renewal.
FAQ — Green Key Hotel in Marseille
What differentiates a Green Key hotel from a classic hotel?
The commitment is verified against more than 100 criteria and audited annually by an independent organization. A hotel without the label can claim to be "eco-friendly" on its website without any proof. The Green Key label prevents greenwashing through its stringent specifications.
How many Green Key hotels will there be in Marseille in 2026?
Around ten, compared to just one in 2012 — the Hotel Belle-VueThe progress is recent and the movement is accelerating, particularly since the Marseille 2030 initiative.
Does it cost more to stay in a Green Key hotel?
No. At the Hotel Belle-VueOur rates remain aligned with the Old Port market. Our environmental commitment translates into operational savings (water, energy) which we do not pass on to customers as additional costs.
Does the label also cover the La Caravelle restaurant?
Indirectly, yes: the Green Key label includes the food served to guests. And since 2024, La Caravelle has had its own Écotable certification , which is in addition to the hotel's certification.
How can I verify that a hotel is truly a Green Key certified hotel?
The official website laclefverte.org lists all certified establishments in France and abroad. Verification in two clicks.
Book your responsible stay in the Old Port
Choose a Hotel Belle-VueThis means supporting an ecological commitment of 14 consecutive years in the heart of Marseille. Book your room facing the Old Port and include your stay in a tourism that respects the Mediterranean, the Calanques, and local artisans.
