Over the last few years, the historic capital of Austria has seen a sudden spurt of green hotels and their numbers are increasing every year owing to a similar surge in the number of aware travellers from around the world who make it a point to stay in such places, officials said.
The many hoteliers of the city - one of the country's nine federal states with a population of around 1.8 million and known for its captivating architecture, rich culture and diverse cuisine - are leaving no stone unturned to earn the bragging rights for going green.
And the tariffs are just around 5-10 percent more compared to a conventional hotel.
Some of the innovative techniques used include water pipes running through ceilings and floors of the hotel rooms so that when hot water passes through, the room automatically becomes warm and there is no need for electric heaters.
Some hotels also provide electronic scooters and bikes to guests to explore the city and thereby reduce their dependence on petrol guzzling cabs.
The Best Western Premier was completely renovated in 2013 and thus made it the first among the few hotels in the city to fulfill the European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation (ECARF)-standards for allergy friendly hotels.
The original edifice built in 1989 now focusses specially on serving organic food. The hotel has also received the Austrian eco-label for its eco-friendly and sustainable concept.
And taking the preference for organic products to the next level is Hotel Daniel Vienna which not only has a vineyard but also a bee keeping facility inside the hotel complex in the heart of the city.
Apples, tomatoes, cucumbers, pumpkins and herbs of every kind which are used to make home-made herbal oil are grown in the front lawn of the hotel while the hotel's roof is used for bee-keeping.
So, if you are headed abroad for a vacation this summer, be sure to include Vienna in your itinerary and contribute your bit towards the environment.
