From Circular Hospitality to Happy Employees – SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA

Jun 16, 2025 | sustainable hotels

We at ChargeHolidays are an absolute fan of Schwarzwald Panorama – a hotel that has understood how important and urgent a sustainable transformation in the hospitality sector is. Darlene Schwabroch, Development Sustainable Awareness & Assistance CEO gives us insights into the measures taken and their motivation behind. 
Do you also want to contribute to a sustainable future and become a responsible traveler? Get some ideas what you can do in today’s article. 

What does sustainable travel mean to you? 

Sustainable travel to us describes a form of travel in which neither people nor planet are harmed, and instead they coincide in harmony. It also means taking responsibility for one’s actions, both as traveler and as touristic service or accommodation provider. The term ‘sustainable’ has changed quite profoundly over the years, and from a customer’s point of view, sustainable luxury now stands for having space, time, peace and calmth, but also being offered an outstanding and very personalized service.

 


Can you share one or two unique features of SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA that sets it apart in the hospitality industry? 
 

Most definitely! Our biggest distinguishing feature is our innovation related to circular hospitality: As one of the first hotels in Germany, we have renovated our guest rooms in the most eco-friendly manner possible by choosing furniture and materials that are 100% circular, meaning fully recyclable or biodegradable. The chosen products are not only manufactured locally, with low carbon emissions and no disturbance of natural soil or water systems, but will also be taken back by the manufacturer after a number of years, reassuring that all materials will return to their original cycle in order to be turned into new items instead of thrown away at the end of their life cycle. This way we have been able to save tremendous amounts of natural resources and also avoided any waste occurring throughout the next renovation phase. The so-called CIRCULAR LIVING rooms represent three local themes and have turned out to not only be sustainable but also beautiful guest rooms with distinctive features and interior.

SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA has established many more sustainable measures than we can feature in this article. Reach out to [email protected] for any further questions.

Why is sustainability a significant concern for your hotel?  

From the start, our CEO has put a significant focus on a sustainable and resource-efficient hotel management. Our building is surrounded by the beautiful black forest, showing us the nature we all need to protect so urgently right outside our windows. Therefore we aim not to be a disturbing foreign substance inside the otherwise nearly untouched nature, but instead wish to function in harmony with the surrounding ecosystems and all its inhabitants.

How do you think that the field of tourism will change within the next few years?

That all very much depends on the global political and societal developments. I personally believe that future travel will be more cost-intensive for all parties involved and therefore establish an even higher degree of luxury. Assuming that regulations concerning sustainable matters (i.e. EU Green Deal) will persist, it can only be assumed that ‘sustainability’ as such will not be a marketing factor any longer but instead will become a normality taken for granted by leisure and business guests alike. 

I am also certain that throughout the next years, the field of tourism will be broadly transformed by digitalization and AI tools, making it more connected, more inclusive and more advanced in terms of speed and quality. Finally, I strongly hope that the tourism sector and especially the hospitality sector will sincerely do its best to turn around its poor reputation when it comes to employer branding to ensure enough motivated, skilled and driven talents to run operations smoothly in the future.

What initiatives have you implemented to promote sustainability? 

Promoting our sustainable measures and thereby raising awareness for eco-friendliness goes two ways, inside and out. In order to best involve our staff we have hired a full-time CSR manager, established a so-called ecoboard with monthly changing information material on sustainability, provide regular trainings on waste separation or the importance of organic foods & beverages and much more. External promotion reaching our guests and partners happens through hotel brochures, our social media channels and simply offering a sustainable product as a whole which can be experienced by anybody.

 “Since humankind loves safe routinary standards and change is generally dreaded throughout most operative operations, it takes patience, motivated staff and the right argumentation to get everybody on board. “

Do you undertake any measures to enhance socially sustainable practices. If so, could you please elaborate? 

When it comes to corporate social responsibility, we have implanted a number of measures aiming to make all of our colleagues feel welcome and appreciated at all times. These measures range from flexible working hours, a resilience trainer on the premises, above average pay, free use of all hotel facilities including spa and fitness, christmas bonus, vacation bonus, corporate health management and many more.
Concerning external social responsibility, we strive to support our neighboring communities as much as possible by purchasing produce from local farmers and bakeries, donating lost and found items and supporting local action days like the black forest clean up days. To further this process, we have recently started documenting and analyzing our ‘economy for the common good’ (in German: Gemeinwohlbilanzierung).

What are the challenges in transitioning towards more sustainable operations and what kind of assistance would be beneficial? 

I’d say there are two key factors in any transitioning phase: finances and human resources (not in order ;-)). Both need to be available, suitable and resilient enough to withstand any challenges and obstacles that might occur within a transitioning phase. When it comes to more sustainable operations, these often go in hand with new structures and change of patterns or routines. Since humankind loves safe routinary standards and change is generally dreaded throughout most operative operations, it takes patience, motivated staff and the right argumentation to get everybody on board. 

“When on the restaurant premises, we showcase the carbon footprint of each dish on the menu, trying to bring attention to the different levels of climate-friendliness of the food our guests consume – giving YOU the knowledge needed to make an informed, sustainable choice of food!”

If I were to book a stay at your hotel, what would be your eco-friendly expectations from me?

There are a few things we aim to raise our guest’s awareness on, for example the transportation with which they get to us. Travelling by train is the most eco-friendly way, but we also offer charging stations for electronic vehicles and even favor this method through free parking. When on the restaurant premises, we showcase the carbon footprint of each dish on the menu, trying to bring attention to the different levels of climate-friendliness of the food our guests consume – giving YOU the knowledge needed to make an informed, sustainable choice of food!

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As a final question: What is the must-go local place guests at your hotel have to see during their stay?

Seeing that our hotel is surrounded by the most beautiful landscapes of the black forest, we always recommend our guests a visit to the ‘Falkenstein’. It is a rock formation which provides a grant view over Bad Herrenalb, just a short hike from the hotel, suitable for all ages and straight through the forest. With a bit of attention and luck, one might even spot a twin-tree or two on the way.

 

Lilith Diringer

This interview was conducted by Lilith. Our CEO is eager to learn everything about sustainable travel and share deep insights with you. Her vision is to make people as well as nature profit from travelling. She wishes you a great trip wherever the next booking takes you and is happy to share details and insights on request: [email protected]