Even Las Vegas tries to get into greener, more responsible travel

Well, when thinking about eco-tourism, the last place you want to refer to is Las Vegas right ? Giant A/C machines, enlighted desert strip 24 hours a day, huge swimming pools, 40 million tourists a year ….

Conservation. Sustainability. Green. These notions rarely come to mind when thinking about Vegas …

However, out there in Vegas, plans are underway to build more than 100 million square feet of new construction to the standards of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, program.

One of the landmark casinos is the Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino, which, in May, was designated the US largest LEED-certified building. Some LEED-inspired innovations in the Fontaineblau Resort, the Caesars Palace, the Echelon Resort and the CityCenter Complex include:

• recycling building waste by using materials left over from the Stardust resort that was imploded to make way for it, such as part of the concrete used in its fountains.

• building own energy generator and using the excess heat generated to warm the water to be used for hotel rooms and condo units as well as the dozens of shops, restaurants and other amenities planned.

•Solar panels heating both pools and water in guest rooms.

•Fontainebleau planing the “first paperless hotel room” by providing an iMac computer in each room to display information normally found in paper brochures

Good Luck Vegas !

More green travel efforts in Scotland …


More Scottish travel companies are being encouraged to go green through a new initiative encouraging responsible travel. ‘Going Green’ has been developed by the National Tourism Board ‘VisitScotland’ to motivate tourism businesses towards becoming more responsible, up to entering the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS).

The CTBS scheme has more than 800 members across Scotland from B&Bs to international hotel chains and tourist attractions. GTBS businesses have to undertake various measures (from energy, waste, water, purchasing to transport) to work more efficiently and importantly are assessed to verify how much is being achieved.

Those who successfully meet the required standard are being awarded either a Bronze, Silver or Gold award based on their level of achievement, which can then be promoted to visitors.

Jim Mather, the Scottish Minister for Tourism said: “I welcome this new practical initiative, ‘Going Green’ which gives the tourism sector the opportunity to become more sustainable. Businesses can make savings by taking simple steps such as saving energy or reducing waste and I’m confident this will result in even more businesses making a commitment to sustainability.

“Visitors are increasingly keen to reduce their impact on the environment while enjoying Scotland, and this initiative puts Scotland firmly on track in assuring them about our determination to tackle climate change.

“Climate change is a serious challenge, and Scotland has set a globally ambitious target of reducing emissions by 80% by 2050. To meet that everyone must play their part, and this initiative is another firm step in the right direction.”

For more information on the Going Green scheme visit www.Greentourism.org

Another green hotel , The Orchid in Mumbai – and it is an airport hotel

Orchid Hotel, The The Orchid is Asia’s first certified eco friendly five star hotel.

It is quite an interesting place … A rarity in Asia, this eco-friendly five-star hotel is surrounded by lush gardens next to an airport. It has a beautiful views over Mumbai from the rooftop pool and restaurant. As usual in an airport hotel, there’s a 24-hour coffee shop, a bar and nightclub and an wide selection of restaurants. Good to know, the Orchid was built using sustainable materials and designed to require minimal heating, lighting and electricity.

Visit www.orchidhotel.com for more details !

Another great responsible hotel chain: Alila Hotels and Resorts

Alila Hotels and Resorts is quite a different hotel chain. This Singapore Based group recognizes that travelers nowadays are less self-centered and willing to take part in making the world a much better place….

Alila Ubud and Alila Manggis made it to the Green Globe certification in May 2007.

So what are they doing so special … ? The list of concrete actions includes waste recycling, reduction in water and energy consumption, and community contribution by giving
employment priority to those living in the surrounding areas.
Beyond the hotel operations, both hotels are very much involved in community initiatives. Alila Ubud crafts special tours that introduce and help preserve Indonesia’s traditional textiles. Alila Manggis works closely with local dive operators to build programmes and awareness on protecting the coral reefs.

Both hotels are also active supporters of local programmes that highlight global environmental issues affecting local communities, such as a Bali initative called “Say No to Plastic”, which aims to encourage retailers and shoppers to cut their use of plastic bags.

More on Novotel and Green Globe …

After the news on Hyderabad, I further researched on Novotel and its green approach, quite remarkable I must say …
Novotel began its involvement in the Green Globe certification programme in July 2007, through an initial pilot phase, at 28 hotels in 12 countries across five continents.
The countries involved were: the United Kingdom, Switzerland, France, Brazil, the Ivory Coast, India, China, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand.
Today Novotel has six certified hotels: Novotel Sharm El Sheikh, Novotel Lyon Part Dieu, and Novotel London Tower Bridge, Novotel Shanghai Atlantis, Novotel Hyderabad and Novotel Benoa Bali.
Each hotel is assessed according to the eight performance criteria of the Green Globe certification programme.
By the end of 2008, the 28 pilot hotels in the Green Globe programme will have passed the assessment stages for their certification. Following this success, Novotel will move on to the second phase of its longterm commitment, by extending this certification process to all its hotels.

Great move, bravo !

Novotel is the 1st Green Globe Hotel in Hyderabad …and not the last green hotel of Accor !

Novotel Hyderabad , from the famous Accor Hotel Group, has just announed to have gotten the Green Globe Certified status under the global Certification programme.

There were 8 criteria looked at such as better waste management, less pollution, and energy and water consumption control.

The benchmarking period lasted for about six months, and the same process will be repeated every year as a maintenance for the criteria.

“We are indeed excited about being the first ever hotel in the city to be Green Globe certified. We chose to demonstrate our commitment to the environment by undertaking Certification – the highest level of the Green Globe programme. The successful completion of the Certification process demonstrates Novotel Hyderabad’s strong commitment to the principles of environmental sustainability. Increasingly organisations are becoming more and more conscious of eco-friendly procedures and are seeking to be associated only with like-minded partners. I am confident that the sustainable development programme at Novotel Hyderabad will offer us an unprecedented edge,”

What is more important is that, by 2010, 100% of Novotel hotels will be participating in the Green Globe environmental certification programme. Novotel has over 410 hotels in the world.

New, international and common criteria for ecotourism ?

Finally there seems to be some move towards a common, international label for eco-tourism …

Some industry heavyweights, including Sabre, UNEP, UN-WTO, CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity), IUCN, ICMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites, Rainforest Alliance, CAST (Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism), Conservation International, The International Ecotourism Society, IHRA, Federation of Tour Operators, Conde Nast Traveler, Ecotourism Kenya, Choice Hotels International, Hyatt, Instiduto de Hospitalidade, EcoTrans, VISIT, Expedia, Tourism Concern have joined forces to create and promote a new certification system.

This label would give individual weight to different areas of sustainability so that clients can make choices according to their individual preferences.

Criteria would include sustainable management systems, preservation of cultural and environmental heritage and biodiversity, fair trade and local involvement and energy and emissions management separately.

Sabre, a US based Global Distribution System, also promoting eco-tourism …

“Industry Must Work Together on Sustainability” commented sabre, one of the leading Global Distribution Service (based in the US).

Leilani Latimer, their Director of Sustainability Initiatives, explained that the global travel business must move forward to identify and implement a clear, transparent and verifiable certification system for sustainable tourism.

However she stressed that this would not be good enough. “The value to the general public of a system that is not based on outside certification is nil” She explained.

Sabre also works internally on promoting sustainability. for example they have offset programmeamongst many other sustainability initiatives.

Sabre also owns Travelocity, thus travelforgood, promoting travel as an agent for positive change. The site offers “Change Ambassadors” grants, volunteers stories, podcasts, responsible travel tips and offsets and partners with Earthwatch, GlobalAware and the American Hiking Society.

A joint initiative on responsible travel and eco-tourism in Mekong (Cambodia, Loas, Vietnam)

The three neighbour countries have in fact published the ‘Responsible’ Tourism Guide.

These three fast growing tourism destinations of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam have published a guide, a 148-page guide book, stating where and how to enjoy eco-tourism activities in the three countries.

It is quite comprehensive: more than 25 activities in each country have been profiled in ‘The Guide to Responsible Tourism in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam’.

Each activity is aiming at creating income for local people, minimizing potential negative tourism impacts, involving members of the local communities, providing meaningful experiences for tourists, helping people with physical disabilities, conserving natural and cultural heritage, and building respect between visitors and hosts.

“The various recommended activities in the book show the best side of tourism,” expressed Arjun Thapan, the GM of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). ADB sponsored the publication through its Mekong Tourism Development Project.

It is good to see such as initiative helping local eco-hotels, green hotels, eco tours. In fact,international tourism arrivals year-to-date are growing at a rate of more than 13% into Cambodia, 8% into Vietnam and 4% into Laos. So there is a need for sustainability…

A green hotel in Singapore – Siloso Beach Resort in Sentosa

Interesting to see that you can be a high-end, profitable, classy and also green hotel …

The Siloso Beach Resort of Sentosa Island (the resort of Singapore) has quite a number of unique features:

– the resort was built in a former jungle area – but 600 trees were preserved at the time of construction

– only spring water is used for the pool -it is even leading to a pond with fishes – certinaly a good water then !

– the hot water coming out of the a/c system is used for the showers in the guests bathrooms

– there is grass planted on the roof of the 2nd and 3 rd floor of the main building – that’s clearly refreshing the rooms and induces less air/com.

– and finally , they are using old wooden train rails for their terrasses !