At Hotel REC Barcelona, we care about the wellbeing of our guests and visitors, but also about that of our surroundings. Day by day, we work to help minimize our environmental impact by promoting energy efficiency and offering services aligned with its protection.

We hold the Biosphere Sustainable Lifestyle certified seal, which reflects our commitment to Biosphere Tourism Sustainability, promoted by Turisme de Barcelona, the Cambra de Comerç, and the Ajuntament de Barcelona. We also are part of Barcelona+Sostenible, a network of more than 1,000 organizations committed to environmental, social and economic sustainability, through which we collectively build a city that is responsible toward people and the environment. This commitment is aligned with the 17 Goals of Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change through the Global Sustainable Tourism Charter +20.

To reduce environmental impact and energy overconsumption at Hotel REC Barcelona, these are some of our measures: we promote a paperless philosophy and inform our guests through the room Smart TV; we strive to raise awareness among our guests about the responsible use of energy resources such as water and the voluntary towel change; to prevent food and snack waste, we have 14 vending machines distributed throughout the hotel’s common areas. In the rooms, the air-conditioning systems switch off automatically when the guest leaves the room or when the windows are opened.

Our hotel is a newly built Smart building (2018) that has contributed to improving the neighborhood’s accessibility with the opening of the passage and the creation of a public square. Designed by the architectural firm Alfredo Arribas, the selection of state-of-the-art materials prioritized not only technical features, but also the production and environmental certificates that verify the raw materials, always choosing the options that best benefit ecology.

A building in which respect for the environment has been a priority from the outset. Outside, façades with concrete slats reduce solar radiation and high-performance windows ensure the best thermal and acoustic insulation and airtightness. Inside, vertical gardens in the lobby enhance the hotel’s distinctive design; the conservation and sustainability of the city’s biodiversity were prioritized, preserving the nests of the species that lived there through the installation of new nests on shared walls. The hotel also promotes selective waste collection and spaces such as REC Lounge, which has a green roof -with plants, native Mediterranean flora and an efficient automatic irrigation system that takes care of its upkeep and that of the hotel’s other greenery- improving energy efficiency by acting as insulation against heat overall.

In our facilities, we prioritize maximum energy efficiency with an A certification label, the highest for energy efficiency and CO2 emissions, thanks to the use of renewable energies such as aerothermal systems and photovoltaic panels; the addition of the high-efficiency UTA system (Air Treatment Unit), which enables optimal ventilation through heat recovery and the reuse of the cold air generated to cool common areas; and low-consumption LED lighting. All of this is managed through the BMS program (Building Management Sistem), which makes it possible to reduce, parameterize and monitor all energy and thermal comfort needs across every floor of the hotel.

Hotel REC Barcelona, aware of the history and culture of the city, preserves in the lobby remains of the old Rec Comtal canal, an economic engine of industrial Barcelona in the 19th century. In the same spirit, it collaborates with local artists who have expressed their creativity in every corner of the hotel to promote responsibility and Km 0 culture. Examples include the bold unisex street wear work uniforms designed by the iconic Barcelona designer Josep Abril; or the recycled glasses made by the artisans 40 Plumas.