Hi Readers,

Following up from the previous blog post, here are some useful tips on how you can judge whether a hotel is green or not.

#1: Check for Green Labels

Starting from the most straight forward method, try to spot for Green Labels on the hotel’s official website or publications. These Green Labels are often awarded by independent third party organization and thus, have already evaluated the hotels subjectively, saving you the trouble. Some examples of Green Labels include: Green Key, Green Globe and EarthCheck, which is a partner of greenty.com.

Source: Google images

#2: Look out for green practices

In some cases in which hotels might not display their Green Labels distinctly and publicly, it is best if you look out for environmentally friendly policies that are implented by the hotel. Here are some examples:

Recycling bins

These bins are usually placed at the hotel lobbies and facilities sites like the swimming pool. Do try to spot them the next time you visit a hotel!

No-smoking policy
To ensure high air quality for all its guests, some hotels would impose a no-smoking policy on its premises.
Linen reuse option

Do not be surprised or offended if you happen to see such signs in your room. Some hotels place such signs in their guest rooms to encourage guests to indicate whether they would like their linens and towels to be washed daily. The primary purpose of such practices is to conserve water through reduced laundry.

Bulk Soap and amenities
These bulk dispensers play a huge part in saving the environment by reducing the amount of individual packaging materials required. Many of you might not also realise the wastage of soaps and shampoos involved if these products were distributed in individual packaging; unused products would have to be eventually thrown away after every guests’ stay.
Organic food
Organic food may generally refer to food that are produced without using chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which are mainly harmful to the natural environment due to contamination of ground water. Some hotels have actually taken steps to grow their own vegetables and fruits in an eco garden, to ensure that ingredients used in the hotel’s restaurants are fresh and thus provide healthy benefits for its guests.

#3 Incorporation of hotel design and eco-friendliness

Feel free to contact the management of the hotel to enquire on the degree in which eco-friendly designs have been integrated into the construction of the property.
Some hotels have attempted to do so by using green roofs which acts as a natural heat insulator and reduces room temperature within the building.
Nowadays, it is also a common practice for hotels to install equipment that generates alternative sources of energy and water such as solar panels to create heat and water treatment systems that treat collected rain water.

#4 Involvement with staff and the local community

There is no point in designing the hotel to be environmentally friendly if the staff does not execute the green policies. Thus, it is the hotel’s responsibility to train its staff on being green as they are the ones who will be managing the operations of the hotel. The employees of the hotel can also uphold the “green values” by encouraging guests to conserve water and energy.
Being green could also mean giving back to the local community of the area that the hotel is situated at. The hotel can do this by supporting local food produce, as well as highlighting the local art and culture to its guests. It can also help the needy through charity drives.
Lastly, hotels may opt to be involved in conservation projects, to protect the natural surroundings of the place. This is especially so for hotels and resorts that have beaches or tropical jungles located in proximity to its premises. Examples of conservation projects include beach clean ups and restoring of homes for the fauna and flora.

Hopefully, this post helps to clarify any confusion of what a Green Hotel really is.

Here’s the links of hotels that greenty.com has rated this week; do feel free to browse through them as we continue to introduce and rate more green hotels daily.

Reserva Ecologica Pachijal
Napo Wildlife Center
Piedra Blanca Ecolodge
La Selva Jungle Lodge
Hotel Patio Andaluz
Kapawi Ecolodge
Sonaisali Island Resort
Maritim Hotel Berlin
Creativhotel Luise
Maritim Hotel Dresden
Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten
Radisson Blu Hotel Berlin
The Regent Berlin
Maritim Hotel Frankfurt
25hours Hotel Frankfurt By Levi’s
Barcelo Cologne City Center
Maritim Hotel Köln
Steigenberger Parkhotel Düsseldorf
Novotel Hong Kong Century
Novotel Hong Kong Citygate
Novotel Shanghai Atlantis
Hotel Alexandra
Sankt Helene Holiday Resort
Maritim Bonn
InterContinental Berchtesgaden Resort
InterContinental Berlin
InterContinental Düsseldorf
InterContinental Frankfurt
InterContinental Hamburg
Flamboyant Hotel & Villas
Le Parc aux Orchidees
Eco Hotel Uxlabil Atitlan
Novotel Hyderabad Airport
Udayana Lodge
Novotel Bali Nusa Dua Hotel & Residences
Novotel Bandung
Novotel Bogor Golf Resort and Convention Center
Novotel Lombok
Novotel Semarang
Novotel Solo
Novotel Yogyakarta
Locanda della Valle Nuova
Novotel Milano Malpensa Airport
Novotel Milano Nord Ca Granda
Novotel Venezia Mestre Castellana
Viva Wyndham Maya
Viva Wyndham Azteca
Hotel en Ixtapa
Barcelo Huatulco Beach
Barcelo Tucancun Beach
La Puertecita Boutique Hotel
Novotel Mexico Santa Fe
Scandic Sanadome
Novotel Hamilton Tainui
Novotel Queenstown Lakeside
Hotel Novotel Auckland Ellerslie
Novotel Capital Wellington
Novotel Rotorua Lakeside


Signing off,
Michelle

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