“Empty plate” won the Innovation Award of Germany

The family-friendly Familotel chain with 60 members launched a competition for its member hotels to show their innovative ideas of 2018. We are proud that our hotel’s programme “Empty plate, full belly” was awarded first place on 12 November at the award ceremony.

The staff of Kolping Hotel takes actions against food waste by responsible consumer behaviour. The aim of the programme implemented jointly with the guests is to reduce food waste and to teach tomorrow's adults that a hotel buffet meal is not equal to unlimited waste. We show in a playful way how parental role model could affect children’s eating habits.

In our restaurant, we set up a special private table for kids, where we launched a stamp collection programme by involving kindergarten teachers and waiters. The idea is simple: after the meal, a stamp will be given for each empty plate. If their plates are empty every evening, they can redeem the stamps for little gifts at the end of their stay.

An external, independent jury evaluated the submitted innovative ideas and awarded the first place to Kolping Hotel. Besides winning the prize of EUR 5,000, we were truly honoured in the hours after the award ceremony. The representatives of the member hotels became so interested in the programme and the idea that everybody immediately wanted to know the details personally. In the end, the management of Familotel chain decided to introduce Kolping Hotel’s innovation “Empty plate, full belly” to every member hotel in the future. Naturally, they will indicate that the idea came from the sole Hungarian member of the chain.

The management of our hotel aims to use the money spared by this programme for food aid and charitable purposes.