At Mercure Katowice Centrum, Green Steps Shape the City and the Future

Mercure is dedicated to empowering communities. From green actions to charity, discover how this commitment became a passion project for staff at Mercure Katowice Centrum.

Striving towards eco-conscious hospitality is born from true necessity, and paying lip service to the idea is no longer enough. Hotels need to take real, innovative steps towards greener practices that match the mindset of their customers and contribute to global sustainability ambitions. There's no finer example than Mercure Katowice Centrum when it comes to real-world actions. This beacon of green luminosity in southern Poland incorporates sustainability into every element of operations, from technology like rainwater irrigation to creative upcycling of mining materials. Alongside the hi-tech ingenuity, this is a human operation. Staff at the hotel have embraced this vital project with enthusiasm and open-mindedness. Ever wondered what it takes to make Mercure Katowice Centrum such an inspiring local asset? Sustainability is only one of the ways that staff contribute to progress in the city. Our dedicated team also passionately supports local charities, reflecting our ongoing commitment to giving back to the community.

A hotel is just one small part of its surrounding locality, so it’s crucial that any hotel works in partnership with local people and benefits them too. Green actions are among the most important ways to make a positive impact in the area. Beyond the simple but vital responsibility of maintaining a clean environment, a hotel should lead by example. It should be a symbol of sustainable progress for the entire community. Both a leader and a team player. This sense of responsibility leads to other positive contributions, like invaluable charity work and joyous cultural interaction. Real actions leading to genuine positivity. It's what guests expect, and it's what hotel staff members want too. After all, many of them come from the local community and have ties going back generations.

At Mercure Katowice Centrum, you’ll notice our commitment to sustainability the moment you arrive—from our green walls to the upcycled materials throughout the hotel. But the best is still to come. Stand and admire for a moment the 18-metre-high green wall on the hotel exterior. With over 7,000 plants and flowers, you could also call it a vast vertical garden. It could even be called an ecological work of art. Beyond just looking good, it lowers ambient temperature on hot days, produces oxygen and absorbs carbon dioxide. It utilises rainwater irrigation powered by solar panels. As you get to know us, you'll discover that Mercure Katowice Centrum actually has two green walls, the other being smaller but no less impressive.

Solar-powered irrigation is only one example of our eco-friendly passion projects that have contributed to LEED platinum certification and recognition from the Polish Green Building Association. While you may not notice the advanced in-building energy distribution as a guest, the brilliant use of upcycled materials is more likely to catch your eye. Look out for lampshades made from cork or wall décor fashioned from recycled bottles, as well as furniture in your room crafted from former mining materials. Don't miss the most striking symbol of the hotel's green commitments: the mural by local artist Mona Tusz, created for the 2018 climate summit, COP24, which took place in our beloved Katowice.

All of these thoughtful innovations create an environment that inspires guests and staff members to do even more for their community. Employees enthusiastically take up charity work within the city, representing their hotel. We're proud to say that staff started a campaign to recover leftover soap and shampoo at Mercure Katowice Centrum, to be donated to a shelter for homeless women and children in Katowice. Vouchers are donated to the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity, and our team also visits local animal shelters to help out. Lending a hand with tasks like dog walking benefits all concerned, including those on four legs. Our way of marking International Earth Day? Help out with cleaning more polluted areas of the city. It’s crucial to note that our employees enthusiastically volunteer for extra activities like these because of their dedication to their community, going above and beyond.

So, as a treasured guest, how will you experience community ties during your stay? Along with admiring the mural, upcycled creativity and the stunning green wall, local epicurean marvels can be found on your plate. Treat your palate to krupniok, a traditional sausage from our region of Silesia that's been granted Protected Geographical Indication certification from the European Union. Tuck into a rich beef roulade with Silesian dumplings, and sample cured meats at breakfast from Silesian cold cuts. After a day exploring the city, settle down with a glass from the Giesche winery or a refreshing beer from the Dziedzice brewery, which uses traditional brewing methods that go back centuries. If you’re in the mood for something sweet, sample chocolate from Słodka Manufaktura Leona, a local family confectioner since 1917, whose products are gifts for guests. You can also buy their confectionery in the hotel shop.

When sit down to eat at our restaurant, you’ll be dining alongside local people who visit purely for the cooking, even when they’re not staying guests. The unique regional dishes and freshly sourced ingredients are part of their identity. Guests and local diners also feel the warmth of regional identity when they hear hotel staff speaking the local language, or when they come across the figurine of little Razja at the hotel. Razja is a Bebok, a creature from Silesian demonology. Did you know we have a Bebok trail across the city? Track them all down and get stamps when you discover one of the little creatures. These are the ways in which communities grow stronger: appreciating their shared past and identity, as well as taking daily steps towards a more sustainable future. At Mercure Katowice Centrum, our dynamic team is working on it day by day and looking ahead with new ideas too.