Strategies
Hotel GSH is the result of a building project that involved renovating Hotel Ryttergården and constructing a new building that now provides the setting for meetings and conferences. The new building is fan-shaped and connects the original main buildings of Hotel Ryttergården in an elegant way.
The strategy was – and remains – to demonstrate approaches to construction that can inspire others in the building industry to consider the materials they use, including the use of certified materials and documented environmental performance, such as CO₂ measurements. The buildings have been designed according to a number of different parameters, incorporating a holistic approach to design. They are based on the principles of Active House and inspired by the circular concept of the Cradle to Cradle philosophy. The buildings are certified according to the recognised DGNB system, achieving a Silver rating.
Both the buildings and the surrounding landscape illustrate recent developments in holistic architecture, demonstrating that consideration for our surroundings is about more than achieving an environmental certification. The buildings and landscape have therefore been designed to work closely together. The first phase of Green Solution House can be described as sustainable, as third-party verification was carried out, including life-cycle assessments of the materials used.
Materials filter
When selecting materials and products for Hotel GSH, they must meet a number of specific requirements. These include recognised certifications and environmental labels, potential for recycling, social responsibility, resource use, material health and energy consumption during production, to name just a few.
To gather the necessary knowledge about product components, installation options and production methods, manufacturers and suppliers are involved in the building process. If a product contains harmful substances or its production has a negative environmental impact, we look for an alternative manufacturer.
As a result, we have many solutions that are designed for disassembly, are Cradle to Cradle certified or have a positive impact that extends beyond their primary function.
Exploring circular solutions
At Hotel GSH, we make a point of continuously developing and reassessing the solutions we choose. We test, trial and retest the products and initiatives we use to find the most effective and up-to-date solutions available.
We focus on sharing knowledge so that our experiences can inspire others. Our mission is to explore circular solutions where a product can be reused, either in whole or in part, when it reaches the end of its useful life with us.
Since Hotel GSH was established in 2015, we have expanded our hotel operations and now run three hotels. Wherever possible, we apply the experience gained at Hotel GSH at Fredensborg Badehotel and Griffen Spahotel. Our goal is to operate all three hotels with consideration for the world around us.
Redefining profit
We imagine a society in which we all contribute to a shared goal and where everyone can benefit from the results. Naturally, we need a healthy bottom line to enable continuous development and help ensure an attractive workplace.
We want to expand and redefine the concept of profit, with our earnings reinvested for the benefit of the Bornholm community.
Green Key
All three Bornholm Hotels properties are Green Key certified. Green Key is an international environmental certification awarded to tourism businesses that make a particular effort to reduce their environmental impact.
To achieve certification, we must meet strict environmental criteria and undergo a comprehensive approval process followed by regular monitoring.
Comfort and consideration without air conditioning
At Bornholm Hotels, including Griffen Spahotel, Fredensborg Badehotel and Hotel GSH, we make conscious choices about how we operate our hotels. One of these choices is to operate without air conditioning.
Instead, our rooms are equipped with fans to help you sleep comfortably at night without air conditioning. This gives you the opportunity to adjust the temperature to your own preference while avoiding the need for air conditioning.
Certifications and Standards
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- Hotel GSH has been renovated and built based on the principles of Active House and Cradle to Cradle, and is DGNB certified with a Silver rating.
- Hotel GSH, Fredensborg Badehotel and Griffen Spahotel all hold the Silver Organic Cuisine Label.
• • Hotel GSH, Fredensborg Badehotel and Griffen Spahotel are all Green Key certified.
The buildings at Hotel GSH are certified with silver according to the DGNB criteria
Both Hotel GSH, Griffen Spahotel and Fredensborg Badehotel have the Green Key and are certified with the Organic Cuisine Label in silver
Hotel GSH is inspired by the Cradle-2-Cradle principles
Environmental policy
Environmental Policy for Bornholm Hotels – updated September 2026
Bornholm Hotels is the collective name for our three hotels:
Griffen Spahotel is a hotel with a well-equipped wellness area, 138 rooms, a lunch café and an à la carte restaurant open in the evening. The restaurant has a classic steakhouse concept. We also host private events. Our guests are primarily group travellers and individual guests.
Fredensborg Badehotel is a modern seaside hotel with an à la carte restaurant open for lunch during the high season and for dinner. The restaurant has a French bistro concept, serving traditional French dishes. The hotel has 72 rooms and is primarily visited by holidaymakers.
Hotel GSH is a hotel with conference facilities, primarily serving business guests. GSH has received several national and international awards for its approach to sustainability. The hotel has 59 rooms, and the à la carte restaurant is primarily open to staying guests.
All three hotels are Green Key certified. All three hotels hold the Silver Organic Cuisine Label.
Bornholm Hotels is a company committed to promoting tourism on Bornholm and supporting the local community. Our focus areas are:
Environmental sustainability
We build and operate our hotels with consideration for their surroundings. When renovating or initiating new projects, we use certified materials wherever possible. This also applies to the details. When purchasing materials, interior furnishings and other products, we choose solutions that have the lowest possible environmental impact. However, aesthetics and price are also important considerations, particularly when purchasing interior furnishings.
When constructing new buildings, such as the new accommodation wing at Hotel GSH, we take a holistic and experimental approach. The wing was built using a solid timber construction method that was pioneering at the time, allowing the project to serve as inspiration for others.
The building is part of Realdania's Voluntary Sustainability Class project. The new building also experiments with reusing shower water for toilet flushing.
In general, Hotel GSH serves as a testing ground for new approaches to construction, where we explore and test new solutions. Those that prove meaningful are subsequently implemented at Griffen Spahotel and Fredensborg Badehotel.
GSH has received the national Building of the Year award in both 2016 and 2022. The Guardian selected GSH as one of its 10 of the best eco-friendly places to stay in Europe.
Where possible, purchased products should be manufactured with consideration for the environment and, wherever possible, carry relevant certifications. This also reflects Bornholm Hotels' commitment to social responsibility as a purchaser.
All three hotels are operated with consideration for their surroundings in a broad sense. As mentioned above, all three hotels are Green Key certified. Wherever possible, we use renewable energy solutions and minimise energy and water consumption.
In 2022, we introduced a new digital management system for the maintenance teams' daily tasks at the hotels. This provides a better overview of tasks while reducing our use of paper. At the same time, our housekeeping staff can report faults and maintenance issues in guest rooms to the maintenance teams via an iPad.
Griffen Spahotel has a new roof and new insulation, and a solar panel system has been installed to cover the hotel's and spa's electricity consumption.
Health and wellbeing
Bornholm Hotels offers guests peace and quiet, a comfortable indoor climate and close access to nature. Our food is based on Bornholm-produced and organic products. Guests have easy access to forests and beaches near all three hotels, and complimentary bicycles are available so guests can explore the island.
At Griffen Spahotel, the spa provides guests with opportunities to relax both indoors and outdoors.
At Fredensborg Badehotel, guests can swim in the Baltic Sea from the hotel's private bathing jetty or in the outdoor swimming pool. The pool uses recovered heat. The pipework is protected against frost using surplus heat from the ventilation system.
Hotel GSH has a spa and sauna area on the rooftop terrace of the new accommodation wing, with complimentary access for staying guests.
Social sustainability
Social sustainability is about inclusiveness within the company and in our relationship with the wider community. This includes a focus on a healthy working environment, employee development, involving employees with reduced working capacity or disabilities, and creating an inclusive workplace across age, ethnicity and gender.
We work continuously with Social Capital, both in our everyday work and through shared social days and training programmes.
Every year, Bornholm Hotels measures employee satisfaction, and the 2026 results are significantly above the industry average. The survey is conducted by an external partner to ensure anonymity. The survey is carried out by Asnæs & Vangstrup.
As a new initiative, we also conducted an additional survey during the high season, when we have the most employees and are at our busiest. The results of this survey were actually even more positive than those of the annual survey conducted in the first quarter.
Bornholm Hotels deliberately operates without an employee handbook. Instead, we have a few basic principles:
- We all work according to the principle of freedom with responsibility. We expect both employees and managers to show respect for colleagues and guests, and everyone is expected to use common sense. Wherever possible, individuals should resolve conflicts themselves when they arise, whether with a guest or a colleague. If this is not possible, they should seek help from a colleague or manager.
- Bornholm Hotels is a non-smoking workplace, and we offer smoking cessation courses when needed. Alcohol and drugs are not permitted during working hours, nor is anyone permitted to come to work under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
These are very few rules for a large workplace. That is because we trust one another.
It is actually quite simple: be a decent person, respect our few rules, respect your colleagues and take good care of our guests. That creates a good workplace for all of us – and gives our guests a reason to come back.
Financial responsibility
Bornholm Hotels must maintain sound financial operations in order to preserve and develop an attractive workplace for the benefit of our employees, the Carl Edvard Mogensen Foundation (owner) and the surrounding community.
This means that the operation of our three hotels must generate a surplus that can both meet our financial obligations and ensure the company's continued development.
