Paradores promotes sustainable MICE in Spain
Tools to measure emissions and responsible practices leave their mark on the new corporate-tourism offering
Paradores promotes a new way of understanding corporate events with initiatives aimed at reducing their environmental impact and strengthening their social contribution to destinations. Integrated into the 2025–2028 Sustainability Plan, this proposal combines tools to measure emissions; responsible practices in mobility, accommodation, and catering; and experiences linked to the local environment, aiming to ensure that meetings, conferences, and conventions generate shared value in business tourism. Today, meetings tourism is advancing toward models in which a positive impact on the destination forms part of the value of each gathering. Amid this context, the company aims to integrate sustainability into the planning of congresses, conventions, and business meetings held at its network of establishments. This initiative is reflected in concrete practices that enable companies to reduce the environmental footprint of their events, without compromising on the quality of the experience. These include digital invites, accreditations, and programs to reduce paper use, as well as transport planning with sustainable mobility criteria. As such, the chain promotes the use of trains, public transport, shared vehicles, or electric mobility, providing information about available routes and charging points.
Local gastronomy and destination-related experiences
Catering forms another pillar of this proposal. In events held at Paradores, local and seasonal products always take center stage, with menus that reflect the culinary tradition of the region and include vegetarian or vegan options adapted to attendees’ preferences.
The organization of cocktail receptions and gastronomic events also aims to reduce food waste through formats in which each preparation is presented in reusable or biodegradable containers. Finally, the experience is rounded off with activities that connect all participants to the surroundings: cultural visits, nature tours, or activities linked to historical and artistic heritage allow these corporate gatherings to take on an inspiring and experiential dimension.
Measuring impact for improvement
One of the key elements of the initiative is the carbon-footprint calculator made available to organizing companies. This tool allows them to analyze the environmental impact of each event, based on data such as attendees' travel, number of overnight stays, or catering services used. The result is a personalized report that makes it possible to identify areas for improvement and steer these gatherings toward more environmentally efficient organizational models. Companies also have the option to offset the emissions generated through official CO₂ absorption projects registered in the Carbon Footprint Registry of the Spanish Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO).
Responsible tourism with nearly a century of history
A firm commitment to sustainable events forms part of the responsible tourism vision that Paradores has been building since its foundation in 1928. The chain has consolidated a model that combines the protection of historical and artistic heritage, local economic development, and service excellence. Within the realm of business tourism, this vision translates into events capable of generating benefits for companies, attendees, and destinations. Conferences and conventions held at Paradores become experiences blending work, inspiration, and commitment to the environment. A way of understanding MICE tourism, in which—beyond professional results—each event leaves a positive impact on the surrounding area.