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YACHATS,
Oregon—The revolution is here, and it’s green. But get
packing—this movement is on vacation as travelers
increasingly demand green lodging options.
Words
like “global warming” and “sustainable”—once just
techno-jargon—are now in the mainstream as the
environmental movement takes new shape and a sharper
focus.
We’re
reducing carbon footprints. Decreasing chemicals.
Increasing organics. We’re protecting the earth’s
natural resources and saving the planet. And not just on
home turf, but with suitcases and hiking shoes as we
travel the globe.
What
does green really mean? In short, going “green” means to
change everyday habits as a way to preserve the earth
for future generations.
In the
lodging industry, green practices have been slow but
increasing.
Several
years ago, scores of hotels implemented on-demand towel
and sheet laundering as a way to reduce water and energy
consumption. A TripAdvisor.com survey recently reported
that nearly 80 percent of worldwide travelers willingly
take part in such programs.
And it’s
a good thing as hotels are large consumers of resources.
Studies show that average hotels use over 200 gallons of
water per day, per room. And the hospitality industry
spends $3.7 billion a year on energy.
Those
numbers add up quickly, making recycle-the-sheets
programs a meager but noble start.
Travelers don’t want to leave their sustainable
practices at home, notes Glenn Hasek, editor of Green
Lodging News, an online newsletter dedicated to greening
the hospitality industry.
“People
recycle at home,” he says. “They use compact fluorescent
bulbs, and they expect to see the same on the road. In
fact, they are disappointed if they don’t.”
Studies
show that travelers are eager to go green, and are
willing to pay more to do so. The TripAdvisor survey
reports that nearly 70 percent of travelers believe
environment-friendly measures in lodging are making a
difference. Over 30 percent said they would pay more to
stay at an environment-friendly hotel.
Lisa
Gray, founder of http://www.GreenVacationHub.com, agrees
with the survey results. GreenVacationHub.com is a
global guide that links travelers with accommodations
that emphasize good health and green practices. At the
Hub, travelers can conduct detailed searches to find
accommodations to fit specific needs—from luxury
smoke-free hotels to remote ecotourist destinations.
Created
earlier this year, the Hub is experiencing rapid growth
with more than 200 comprehensive, international listings
of green accommodations. Hotels span the globe and a
variety of green practices—from a straw-bale house in
Montana to intimate bed and breakfasts in New Zealand,
and eco-tourism destinations in Nicaragua and Costa
Rica.
Lodging
providers conduct a self-evaluation covering six
environmental areas: energy efficiency, water
efficiency, recycling, air quality, food and
fragrance-free. Accommodations are both remote and
urban, spare and luxurious, mom and pop, and corporate.
For example, Kimpton Hotels, a collection of upscale
boutique hotels, recently listed 40 of its EarthCare
sites on GreenVacationHub.
Gray is
thrilled to see the breadth of Hub members.
“We
encourage places that are transforming to more
earth-friendly actions,” she explains. “We want to
reward accommodations for making efforts toward
sustainable practices.”
And as
surveys indicate, rewards—for travelers, hoteliers and
the planet—come in all shades of green. (Bloomberg) |
