Many hotels are not just a roof over your head. They make a promise for a special stay experience. For the guest, aspects such as comfort and atmosphere are of particular relevance. Managers, in turn, pay particular attention to operating and maintenance costs. The scheme for hotel buildings therefore places particular emphasis on precisely these aspects as well as on the quality of the location. A DGNB Certification of a hotel can accordingly increase the attractiveness for visitors and shape the image as a "sustainable hotel". In addition, the certification process offers the possibility to harmonise ecological, economic and social requirements already during the planning phase.
For hotels, the current DGNB Systems for New Construction of Buildings and Buildings In Use apply. The current DGNB Systems "New Construction of Building, Version 2020 International" and "Renovation of Buildings, Version 2022 International" apply to international projects. Exceptions are projects that have already been pre-certified with a previous market version. These projects may also be registered for the certificate in the same version.
- Contribution to climate action through reduced emissions of greenhouse gases over the entire life cycle
- High comfort
- Increased well-being
- Increased attractiveness for employees
- Increased productivity and performance of employees
- Low vacancy risk
- High building flexibility due to e.g. easier adaptations in case of changes (operating processes; personnel)
- Lower costs for conversions
- Lower operating and maintenance costs
- Advantages when selling real estate
The certificate is aimed at anyone who wants to plan and construct a hotel building. This can be project development offices, investors, companies in the tourism and real estate industry and others. For those who want to purchase or rent a hotel property for use, the DGNB Certificate serves as independently verified proof of the holistic quality of the building.
- Holistic consideration of all relevant sustainability requirements
- Transparent and independent quality award and assurance during planning, construction and operation
- Transparency with regard to ressource efficency and emissions
- Communication of the project to the public and increase of acceptance
- International applicability and comparability
- Reduced effort for DGNB Certification of Buildings due to the creditability of documentation from district certification
- Basis for sale in sustainable real estate funds
- Certification as an option for sustainable investments
- Contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- High value stability
- Higher return on investment
- High degree of future security through reduction of cost-intensive risks
- Unique selling point compared to competitors
This certificate is available for all buildings that offer a comprehensive range of the central services of a hotel, such as reception, kitchen, restaurant, bar, fitness and wellness facilities, rental of meeting rooms, etc. The special requirements of the industry must also be taken into account for hotel properties. Therefore, in addition to ecology and economy, the scheme also attaches great importance to comfort aspects in particular. Furthermore, the respective star category is also taken into account. Another important aspect is the operating and maintenance costs, which are primarily determined in the preliminary and design planning of a property.
The scheme is specifically designed for hotel buildings. This includes all buildings that have the central service offer of a hotel. These include accommodation services, catering services, logistics, administration, ancillary services such as telephone/fax, internet connection, television, laundry cleaning, fitness and wellness services, rental of conference rooms, etc.
Depending on the purpose of stay, a distinction can be made between health resorts and wellness hotels (spas), holiday and sports hotels, and business, congress and seminar hotels.
Hotel establishments that do not offer the entire spectrum of the central service offer of a hotel cannot be evaluated as hotel industry. In addition, this scheme focuses on individual buildings.
Selected DGNB certified projects
Hotel Buildings
Hotel Buildings
Available criteria sets in English
Project registration
To register a project, clients must first hire a DGNB Auditor. This auditor can then register the project. Auditors also accompany the entire process and take over the verification and submission to the DGNB. They are active worldwide and specialise in certain schemes.
The current DGNB Systems "New Construction of Buildings, Version 2018" and "Buildings In Use, Version 2020" apply to hotels. The current DGNB Systems "New Construction of Building, Version 2020 International" and "Renovation of Buildings, Version 2022 International" apply to international projects.
Your contact
Andrea Schwitalla
Senior Consultant Multiple Certification
- Phone: +49-711-722322-85
- Email: a.schwitalla@dgnb.de