City tour through Berlin in a fully electric coach ©️AlfA Travel
A milestone for lower-emission tourism: MEININGER Hotels, together with other partners, accompanied the first fully electric group trip from Copenhagen to Berlin. The pilot project was initiated and meticulously organized over nearly three years by the Danish tour operator AlfA Travel, who worked to make international study trips with electric buses possible. On February 26, 2026, 28 teachers, journalists, and industry representatives finally embarked on their low-carbon journey aboard the new electric long-distance coach from VIKINGBUS. Developed over several years and supported by a carefully planned charging infrastructure, the bus was able to complete the route without stopping to recharge, arriving in Berlin with 38 % battery remaining. The test run sets a new benchmark for international, more climate-friendly bus travel.
MEININGER Hotels as a partner for sustainable group travel
During their stay in Berlin, the group was accommodated at MEININGER Hotel Berlin Tiergarten and explored the capital by electric bus. On February 27, 2026, they also visited the Nordic Embassies. In his talk on Germany’s green transition, Danish Ambassador Thomas Østrup Møller highlighted the importance of lower-emission mobility. As host in Berlin, MEININGER Hotels emphasizes its commitment to sustainable group travel.
Silvia Gonzaga, Sustainability Manager at MEININGER Hotels, comments: “Sustainability is a key factor for many school trips and group travels when planning their journeys. This pioneering trip demonstrates that more climate-friendly group travel across borders is already possible — when hotels, tour operators, and destinations work together. We are pleased to work even more closely with our partners on solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the entire guest journey.”
“Actively promoting sustainable mobility is of great importance for our goal of qualitative and responsible hotel expansion in European cities. Supporting pioneering projects like this is therefore especially close to our hearts,” adds Ajit Menon, CEO of MEININGER Hotels.
