Sustainability Report
Sunwing Makrigialos Beach 2025
Presentation of Hotel Facilities
Hotel Facilities and Property Overview
Sunwing Makrigialos Beach is located in the peaceful seaside village of Makrigialos, on the north-eastern coast of Crete. Established in 1984, the resort covers approximately 10,453 m² and offers a relaxing holiday environment ideal for families and couples.
The property consists of four accommodation buildings—Apollon, Pallas Athena, Aphrodite, and Hera—with a total of 132 guestrooms and apartments set within beautifully landscaped gardens connected by pedestrian pathways. The basement areas include essential back-of-house facilities such as storage, laundry, technical rooms, staff areas, and administration offices.
The Apollon building located the Reception and lobby area, along with a Mini Market, with big variety of brands and local products and Lollo and Bernie Shop with selection boutique. You can reach in ground floor also, Lollo and Bernie Club for Kid's activities and Teen Lounge for the teenager's cozy time with big variety of team activities.
The resort features outdoor swimming pools, children’s pools, direct access to the sandy beach of Makrigialos, spacious sun terraces, and extensive outdoor relaxation areas. Dining facilities offer international cuisine and traditional Cretan specialities, complemented by bars serving drinks and snacks throughout the day.
Guests can enjoy a range of sports and leisure activities, including a multi-purpose sports court, beach volleyball, table tennis, fitness facilities, and daily entertainment programmes.
The landscaped gardens, featuring Mediterranean vegetation, colourful flowers, palm trees, and a traditional Cretan herb garden, create a peaceful and authentic island atmosphere and the traditional Herb garden with big veriety of Cretan herbs. Complimentary Wi-Fi, on-site parking, and accessible routes to public areas ensure a comfortable stay for all visitors.
Combining comfortable accommodation, family-friendly facilities, and genuine Cretan hospitality, Sunwing Makrigialos Beach provides an ideal seaside retreat for memorable holidays in Crete.
Guests, Staff and Environmental Policy
OBC Crete and Sunwing Makrigialos Beach welcome approximately 18,000 guests during the summer season, supported by a team of 172 employees during the operational period (April–October).
The majority of our guests come from Nordic countries, while our employees are mainly local residents, supported by a small number of Nordic team members responsible for specialised services such as Shows, Spa & Wellness, Fitness activities, and the Lollo & Bernie Club.
Our commitment is based on a clear and comprehensive sustainability policy focused on responsible operations, including:
- Reducing energy and water consumption through efficient management practices and responsible use of resources.
- Promoting the reuse and recycling of materials wherever practical and reducing waste generation.
- Encouraging the development and integration of sustainable technologies, including renewable energy solutions where applicable.
- Monitoring and evaluating our environmental performance on a regular basis to identify opportunities for improvement.
- Providing the necessary resources to achieve our sustainability objectives, along with continuous training for employees on environmental protection, social responsibility, and health & safety matters.
- Communicating our policies, practices, and sustainability initiatives to employees, guests, suppliers, partners, and the wider community.
Through these commitments, OBC Crete and Sunwing Makrigialos Beach aim to provide high-quality guest experiences while operating responsibly and contributing to the protection of Crete’s natural environment.
Energy Use
At Sunwing Makrigialos Beach, we are committed to reducing our environmental impact through responsible energy management while maintaining high-quality guest services. Energy efficiency is a core part of our sustainability strategy, supported by modern technologies, regular monitoring, operational improvements, and staff awareness.
The hotel monitors energy performance through measurable indicators, including total energy consumption and energy use per guest night.
Measures Taken
- 100% LED lighting throughout the property.
- 100% certified renewable electricity supply.
- Installation of photovoltaic panels to increase renewable energy use.
- Gradual replacement of equipment with high-efficiency models.
- Regular energy audits and continuous monitoring of energy consumption.
- Building Management System (BMS) for efficient control of high-energy equipment.
- Timers and photocells to optimise outdoor lighting.
- Individual room thermostats and automatic controls to reduce energy use in unoccupied rooms.
- Heat recovery systems for improved hot water efficiency.
- Energy-efficient pool systems, including modern generators and crystal filtration technology.
- Heated swimming pools
Energy Performance Monitoring and Targets
Energy consumption is continuously monitored through measurable indicators to evaluate performance and identify improvement opportunities. Energy consumption per guest night provides a more accurate measure of efficiency by taking occupancy levels into account.
To achieve our 2026–2027 targets, we will:
- Optimise energy-consuming equipment.
- Increase the use of renewable energy.
- Strengthen energy monitoring and operational controls.
- Invest in energy-efficient technologies.
- Continue employee awareness and training.
Commitment to Continuous Improvement
Sunwing Makrigialos Beach are committed to reducing energy consumption, improving efficiency, and protecting Crete’s natural environment through sustainable technologies, responsible practices, and ongoing performance monitoring, while maintaining high standards of guest comfort and service quality.
Water Use
Sunwing Makrigialos Beach, responsible water management is a key part of our sustainability strategy. We are committed to reducing water consumption, improving efficiency, and protecting Crete’s valuable water resources while maintaining high standards of guest comfort.
Measures Taken
- Water-saving aerators on taps and showers.
- Water-efficient toilets (maximum 6 litres per flush).
- Regular inspections and preventive maintenance to minimise leaks.
- Weekly monitoring of guest room water use and daily monitoring of pool water meters.
- Automated night-time irrigation and use of low-water Mediterranean plants.
Targets 2026-2027: Maintain fresh water intensity below 200 ltr/BN, optimize irrigation based on weather data, maintain water-saving equipment and promote employee and guest awareness.
To further improve water efficiency, we will continue monitoring consumption, optimise irrigation, maintain water-saving equipment, promote employee and guest awareness, and explore additional sustainable solutions.
Waste
Environmental awareness and social responsibility are increasingly important values for our guests. Implementing sustainable practices is a necessity, and also an opportunity to differentiate ourselves from the competition and attract an increasingly demanding clientele. In this context, recycling plays a fundamental role as a strategy to reduce our environmental impact. Through proper waste management, we can minimize waste, decrease the consumption of natural resources, and contribute to the fight against climate change.
Measures Taken
- Sensitizethe guests to separate waste. Recycling stations are placed strategically around the resort areas, and in most of the rooms.
- Reduce food waste by 5%.
- Join the TO GOOD TO GO platform
- We introduced the purchase of biodegradable bags to replace the plastic bags used in our spa, restaurants, etc.
- Elimination of plastic bottles in bars , restaurants and guest rooms
- Monthly monitoring of garbage collection
- New labels to raise guest awareness in apartments and restaurants.
- Use of bulk products
- Contract with authorized agents
- Ongoing staff training
Continuous Improvement
Our objectives are to further improve recycling performance, reduce general waste, minimise single-use plastics, strengthen food waste prevention, and increase employee and guest awareness.
Sunwing Makrigialos Beach remain committed to protecting Crete’s natural resources and promoting responsible and sustainable tourism while maintaining high standards of guest comfort and service quality.
Labour & Human Rights
Sunwing Makrigialos Beach, we are committed to providing a safe, respectful, and inclusive workplace where human rights are protected and all employees are treated with dignity and fairness. We operate in accordance with national labour legislation, collective agreements, and internationally recognised human rights principles.
Our Commitments
- Provide fair employment conditions and equal opportunities for all employees.
- Maintain a safe and healthy working environment.
- Promote diversity, inclusion, and respect, free from discrimination or harassment.
- Support employee wellbeing, teamwork, and open communication.
- Invest in employee training, professional development, and health & safety awareness.
- Support local employment and work with responsible local suppliers and partners.
The hotel monitors workforce composition, gender balance, local employment, and diversity as part of its sustainability and social responsibility program.
Continuous Improvement
Our objectives are to:
- Maintain a safe and inclusive workplace.
- Strengthen local employment and community support.
- Provide ongoing employee training and development.
- Enhance employee engagement and communication.
- Promote diversity, equal opportunities, and respect for human rights.
- Ensure continuous compliance with labour legislation and ethical employment practices.
Sunwing Makrigialos Beach remain committed to creating a workplace where employees feel respected, supported, and empowered while contributing positively to the local community and sustainable tourism in Crete.
Code of Conduct and Ethics
NLTG´s supplier code of Ethics and Conduct sets out the minimum standards of busi - ness behaviour expected of Suppliers, who must have processes in place to moni - tor and maintain these standards, including within their own supply chains. Suppliers must comply with child protection laws, including United Nations Conven - tion on the Rights of the Child and the international Labour Organization Convention Numbers 138 and 182. Suppliers must also comply with local laws regarding the mini mum age of employees and all legal requirements for the work of authorised young workers, particularly those relating to hours, wages and safe working conditions. NLTG Supplier Code of Conduct
COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES (EVENTS AND DONATIONS)
- Save the children
- World Animal Protection: We protect all kind of animals that we have near by, as a babies or adults animals like puppy's and baby cats . There is a cooperation with local animal friendly assosiation that collect there, all stray animals and offer them a standard living enviromment. We also protect sea turtle. For some year and on, sea turtle has found beach along the hotel a perfect place to born their's eggs. As soon as, we found out that see turtle has left the eggs there, we mark and protect the point, sea turte nest area, and path way to the sea, avoiting to place any items near by. During incubation time we are avointing lighting the place in evening time. When the babies come up, we help them with their's furure trip in the sea. We cooperate with local assosiation Sitia loggerhead sea turtle protection volunteers.
CONTACT US:
Director of Operations/Resort Manager: Nikos Tsambanakis
nikos.tsambanakis@sunwing.net
Sustainability Manager: Mina Zahariou
mina.zahariou@sunwing.net
Address: Makrigialos, Crete Greece 72055.
Phone: 00302843064300
“Αν επιθυμείτε να λάβετε αντίγραφο της αναφοράς
μας Βιωσιμότητας στα Ελληνικά, μπορείτε να μας το
ζητήσετε ηλεκτρονικά στο: makrigialos@sunwing.net
Θα χαρούμε να σας εξυπηρετήσουμε!”
