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Hellenic Bank Awarded Dual Environmental Certifications for Sustainability Efforts

Hellenic Bank has received dual environmental certifications this year, affirming its ongoing commitment to environmental protection and energy management.

The bank successfully completed the certification process for its Environmental Management System in line with the international ISO 14001 standard, as well as its Energy Management System under the ISO 50001 standard.

“With these two distinctions, Hellenic Bank has become the largest bank in Cyprus to achieve ISO 14001 certification, and remains the only bank in the country certified under ISO 50001 for all of its operations and activities across its buildings nationwide,” the bank said.

“These international standards, issued by the International Organisation for Standardisation, are recognised tools for effectively managing environmental impacts and for the continuous improvement of an organisation’s environmental performance.”

The announcement also mentioned that Hellenic Bank has held ISO 50001 certification since 2015, becoming the first organisation in Cyprus to receive it from the Cyprus Certification Company.

The Energy Management System provides a structured approach for the continuous improvement of energy performance, usage, and consumption.

The goal of this management approach is to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions by 45 per cent by the year 2030.

MOREOVER, the bank mentioned that the ISO 14001 certification “reinforces Hellenic Bank’s longstanding commitment to environmental protection, reducing its environmental footprint, and complying with relevant laws, regulations, and high environmental standards”.

“Hellenic Bank’s environmental strategy forms a central pillar of its corporate responsibility and is an integral part of its broader business strategy,” it added.

The dual certification now serves as a guide for adopting a holistic approach to managing environmental issues,” the announcement concluded.

Cyprus Tourism Shows Strength As Clean Monday Hotel Bookings Surge

Hotels Embrace A Bright Outlook

Recent figures point to growing momentum in hotel reservations ahead of the Clean Monday weekend, signaling renewed confidence in Cyprus’ tourism sector. Christos Angelides, Director of PASYXE, emphasized the positive trend while also underscoring the need to gradually extend the tourism season beyond traditional peak months.

Favorable Conditions And Festive Spirit

Angelides noted that bookings recorded during the past weekend reached encouraging levels, a development attributed to multiple converging factors. The return of sunny weather after prolonged rainfall, coupled with the festive aura of carnival events and children’s parades in cities such as Nicosia, Limassol, and Paphos, has motivated many to opt for short getaways. This seasonal momentum is further boosted by the strategic initiatives of local hotels, many of which are curating special menus for Clean Monday events, offering guests an enhanced stay experience by keeping them on-premise.

Positioning For The Off-Season

Despite the positive indicators, Angelides cautioned that average occupancy rates of 25%–30% highlight the need for continued innovation rather than complacency. He described the current period as part of a longer process of building winter tourism and pointed to opportunities in conferences, corporate events and niche travel segments as potential drivers of year-round demand.

Expanding Air Connectivity and Collective Ecosystem

Industry expectations are further supported by expanded air connections from established markets such as the United Kingdom and Israel, alongside increased routes from Armenia, Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia and Poland. While recovery in the German market remains gradual, broader improvements in connectivity continue to strengthen overall tourism prospects. Angelides added that sustainable year-round tourism depends on a wider ecosystem that extends beyond accommodation to include restaurants, museums, cultural venues and community events.

The Path Forward

Cyprus continues to benefit from strong competitive advantages in climate, accessibility and hospitality infrastructure. With coordinated planning across tourism stakeholders and consistent investment in diversified offerings, the sector is positioned to contribute more steadily to the national economy and support a more balanced, all-season travel model.

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