We continue our series featuring Bukovel hotels that have received the Green Key certification for the second consecutive year.
This time, we speak with Oksana Soltan, General Manager of TWINS and Chalet Velvet, about environmental responsibility, the Green Key programme, and how sustainability is shaping the way her team works every day.
— Ms Oksana, what does sustainable development mean to you personally in the hospitality industry?
For me, sustainability is not a passing trend – it is a responsibility. It is about creating more than a successful hotel or an attractive property. It means making a positive contribution to nature, supporting the local community, and caring for the people you work alongside every day.
In hospitality, sustainability is about balancing guest comfort with environmental responsibility, using resources thoughtfully, and encouraging more conscious everyday choices.
— What sustainability initiatives have been introduced at TWINS, and which are you most proud of?
We've been implementing environmental initiatives step by step, making them part of our everyday operations. Today, these include:
- investing in renewable energy, including solar panels;
- comprehensive waste sorting;
- replacing single-use plastic bottles;
- installing refillable bathroom dispensers;
- reducing water and electricity consumption through automated technologies;
- encouraging guests to participate in green initiatives, including towel reuse and natural room ventilation instead of air conditioning whenever possible;
- prioritising products from local suppliers.
What I'm most proud of is our team. These changes have become part of their daily mindset rather than simply another workplace requirement.
— How have these sustainability principles changed the way your team works?
The biggest transformation has happened in people's mindset.
Today, our colleagues understand not only what they are doing, but why it matters. Saving energy, sorting waste correctly, or encouraging guests to reuse towels are no longer routine tasks – they are meaningful actions with a real environmental impact.
Regular training sessions and team discussions have helped build a workplace culture based on responsibility, awareness, and shared values.
— What does receiving Green Key certification represent for your hotel?
Green Key is much more than an award. It is independent recognition that our efforts meet internationally recognised environmental standards.
Preparing for certification required months of work. We reviewed our operational processes, updated internal policies, introduced new environmental practices, and completed audits, interviews, and inspections.
It was a demanding process, but one that strengthened our team and confirmed that we are moving in the right direction.
— Have your guests noticed these initiatives?
Definitely. Many guests actively recognise and appreciate the changes we have introduced. Some mention the use of glass water bottles instead of plastic, while others are curious about our energy-saving systems and sustainability practices.
Increasingly, travellers choose TWINS because environmental responsibility has become an important part of their travel decisions. Guests value openness, authenticity, and a genuine commitment to sustainable hospitality.
— What comes next for TWINS?
We see sustainability as a continuous journey rather than a finished project. Our next steps include introducing an organic waste composting system and continuing to expand our environmental initiatives across the hotel. In the long term, we hope our experience can inspire other hotels in Bukovel – and throughout Ukraine – to follow a similar path.
Because meaningful change begins with everyday decisions, and we believe there is always another step forward.