Villa Cosy Hotel & Spa has become the first hotel in Saint Tropez to earn the internationally recognised Green Key certification, a distinction announced on 22 July 2026 that follows the property’s recent Destination of Excellence label from Atout France. The five-star boutique hotel, located near Place des Lices, has spent several years embedding environmental and social responsibility into its day-to-day operations rather than treating sustainability as a side project. Its 25 rooms and suites, private vineyard and Sothys Spa sit alongside initiatives ranging from a fully electric vehicle fleet to weekly food waste composting. Owner and Managing Director Frédéric Saveuse points to the milestone as recognition of a collective effort rather than a finishing line.
A Certification Years In The Making
The Green Key label and the Destination of Excellence recognition together reflect what the hotel describes as a long-standing philosophy: hospitality that combines exceptional service with environmental responsibility, human values and a genuine connection to the local community. Rather than being introduced as a single sustainability programme, the changes at Villa Cosy have accumulated gradually through continuous review, investment and innovation across the guest experience.
That incremental approach has touched nearly every part of the operation, from eco-conscious guest amenities and responsibly sourced materials to improved resource management and ongoing staff training, all while maintaining the comfort expected of a five-star retreat.
Waste, Wine And Resources
Recycling stations now feature throughout the property, and a partnership with Les Alchimistes sees food waste collected weekly and turned into compost, supporting a circular approach to waste management. The hotel’s onsite vineyard has also achieved organic certification, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable wine production and biodiversity alongside its guest offering.
Guest-facing changes have followed the same logic. Cotton pads, shaving kits, tissues and toilet paper have all been replaced with certified recycled or recyclable alternatives, while guest information cards, brochures and printed materials now use responsibly sourced paper. The hotel’s transition to a fully electric vehicle fleet extends the same reasoning to daily operations and emissions.
People Behind The Milestone
Villa Cosy’s leadership frames the certification as the product of staff commitment rather than a single management decision. Open year-round, the hotel relies primarily on permanent employees, an approach intended to support sustainable employment, strengthen the local economy and preserve expertise built up over time. It also allows the property to offer longer-term contracts to seasonal staff, which the hotel says builds team cohesion and supports service consistency for guests.
Frédéric Saveuse, Owner and Managing Director of Villa Cosy Hotel & Spa, said:
“We are especially proud of our teams. Their daily dedication has enabled Villa Cosy to evolve with consistency and purpose. Becoming the first hotel in St Tropez to receive the Green Key certification is an important milestone, but it is not an end in itself. It encourages us to continue moving forward and reinforces our belief that a luxury hotel can deliver an exceptional guest experience while continuously reducing its environmental impact.”
What Comes Next For Villa Cosy
Following its Destination of Excellence recognition and now its Green Key certification, Villa Cosy Hotel & Spa positions itself as an example of how elevated guest experience and environmental protection can develop together rather than in competition. The hotel points to ongoing support for the local community and the people running the property day to day as central to that vision, alongside the continued reduction of its environmental footprint. For a hotel operating in a destination as closely watched as Saint Tropez, the certification signals a broader expectation among luxury properties that discreet, personalised service and credible sustainability credentials are no longer separate pursuits.
