Green Travel - Sustainable Lodging Choices

According to the Eco Hotels and Lodge Collection website , of the more than 2,500 properties around the world claiming to be green, the EHLC estimates that “no more than 5% of these Properties fully deliver on all the required criteria, while another 15% are in the process of attaining truly Sustainable Tourism status.” This information speaks to the need for universal certification programs run by reputable independent third-parties who review sustainability claims for accuracy. Such programs should not only provide legitimate certification but educate consumers on what initiatives to look for and why they are important. These certifications, rather than organizations and listings to which businesses gain membership simply by paying a fee to join or be included, are what we should demand and look for.

The Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria was created in an effort to create a guideline defining sustainable tourism by addressing four key issues. Effective sustainability criteria address building and infrastructure, client and employee education, and consider environmental and social justice issues. Criteria which maximize social and economic benefits for the local community consider local businesses, fair trade and wage initiatives. Criteria which serve to enhance and protect cultural heritage encourage a code of behavior which protecting historically sensitive sites and artifacts, respecting the rights of indigenous people and educating visitors on importance of these sites, artifacts and rights. Lastly, criteria which maximize benefits to the environment focus on conserving resources, reducing pollution, and conserving biodiversity and ecosystems. This list of criteria offers steps to help businesses in the tourism industry become more sustainable, helps consumers and travel agents find these businesses, and helps countries dependent upon tourism to create sustainable tourism requirements.

The non-profit Sustainable Travel International has developed a comprehensive program in line with these criteria called the Sustainable Tourism Eco-Certification Program (STEP) for use by businesses in the tourism industry. As with many certification programs that show the public that eco-claims have been reviewed and legitimized by independent third-party organizations, programs that certify sustainable tourism can be expensive. Understanding the importance of meaningful industry standards, STI strives to make their self-assistance tools and program affordable for all so that anyone who wishes to participate while helping to drive the industry as a whole forward, can do so. One group who has embraced this program is Vail Resorts, which considers helping the surrounding community, preserving the environment, outstanding guest experiences and a successful company in which employees thrive, all part of sustainability. Energy and fuel conservation, elimination of water bottles, composting and recycling, organic and local food are among the steps they’ve implemented to green their operations. A visit to the Vail Resorts corporate website will offer you more information about their efforts. A visit to the user friendly Vail Resorts echo site will do the same.

Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants is another corporation looking to make a difference. They implemented their mandatory EarthCare program at all of their hotels and restaurants in 2005, with initiatives that include waste reduction initiatives in their business locations and corporate offices, water and energy conservation, green building and interior design, non-toxic cleaning and body care products and even preferred hybrid parking. A visit to the Kimpton Business Practices and Products page will reveal an impressive list of initiatives that ensure Kimpton serves the eco-conscious guest while never skimping on luxury and service. Their responsible practices along with environmental organization partnerships and pursuit of respected green certifications including Green Seal and Energy Star all help them serve as a model for others in the industry.

You’ll see choosing sustainable lodging does not mean you need to sacrifice comfort or quality here in the States. It also doesn’t require that you trek into the recesses of a jungle to a location with few amenities including running water or air conditioning if you’ve chosen to enjoy some exotic far away places. The Rainforest Alliance is one environmental organization that promotes sustainable tourism. By offering information, resources and lodging options for travelers visiting Latin America and the Caribbean through its Eco-Index Sustainable Tourism website and by working to train lodges and tour operators while educating travelers, the Rainforest Alliance is helping to make environmentally responsible practices desirable in that area of the world.

A number of states have Green Lodging Certification programs, sometimes run by the DEP or state travel bureau and often self-regulated, which may look at water and energy conservation, waste reduction, indoor air quality, reduction of hazardous chemicals, sustainable landscaping and other initiatives. California, as is often the case, is a leader in creating one of the more thorough programs, which involves a field survey after an initial application is submitted. You can visit this link to learn the green business practices they suggest for California lodging, read the application and field survey, and see several useful links they’ve compiled to help hotels become more sustainable. We can hope that other states working to promote eco-tourism will follow their lead and create a believable program that inspires confidence and effects real change, rather than serving to lure travelers with misleading claims and to generate dollars for the certifying organization.
The number of self-regulated programs are either government run or private. Interested businesses complete a questionnaire about their practices and initiatives, for which they are awarded “points” and earn certification after submitting their paperwork. Some states with certification programs claim to conduct surprise visits to random properties, but this avenue of certification does not earn the greatest in confidence marks and will more than likely not be acceptable to the eco-savvy traveler. Some programs, such as California’s mentioned above, or the Green Key Eco-Rating Program, include on-site inspections to verify claims as part of the process. Recommendations may be made by inspectors for additional improvements, but businesses are usually not required to follow these recommendations in order to become certified as long as they’ve met the minimum requirements for certification.

There are a number places you can find green lodging directories. AAA has an Eco-Program in which they identify AAA approved lodging that has also been certified green to some degree by a government or private program. They do not provide certifications, but do require businesses to fill out their eco-verification form. Expedia has a list of green hotels as well. Looking under the details for each property, you will see a “Green/Sustainable Property” category for the listing which details what program they have been certified by. Travelocity has teamed up with a number of certification programs to create its Green Hotel directory for lodging in the United States and around the world, details on the listings as to how individual locations were certified are difficult, if not impossible, to find. On BnBscape you’ll find a list of bed and breakfasts taking steps in the right direction. Even campgrounds are getting on board. A visit to Go Camping America and a search for “green friendly”will reveal a list of campgrounds that have been listed by Plan It Green, a program created by the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds, for which campgrounds should have at least 9 of 18 sustainability initiatives in place or sign a Plan It Green Pledge. Criteria include tankless water heaters, water saving devices, on-site composting, grey water use, water timers and several other truly sustainable actions. Since the program’s inception, over 100 parks have signed up. The ARVC has teamed up with Woodall’s as well and parks in the Plan It Green program will receive designation in the 2011 campground guides and on the website.
What’s an eco-conscious traveler to do with all of this information? Use it in combination with asking the right questions to make a good green choice. When looking at potential lodging, review amenities, policies and environmental statements for values that are in line with your own. Look for businesses that practice energy and water conservation, those with waste reduction and recycling programs in place, and those which have invested in renewable energy and grey water reuse systems. Locally owned and corporate hotels alike would benefit from green building and landscape methodologies which save money and resources while protecting the local landscape with sensitive building placement, minimal land disturbance and preservation of biodiversity and local species. Does the property offer organic food and beverage choices, grow their own food or support local agriculture by purchasing from local farmers? Do they create healthy spaces with the use of environmentally friendly and natural furnishings and non-toxic cleaning products and by minimizing or eliminating the use of toxic chemicals and pesticides? Do they support responsible eco-tourism, give back to the local community and employ fair labor practices? All of these are things to consider when choosing sustainable lodging. Hopefully armed with a little information, you can make an informed decision you can feel good about. By supporting the green lodging movement, you will let it be known that today’s travelers want to make better choices, for a better world. In doing so, we are protecting the very planet we long to explore and discover. Happy Trails!