More and more news and information is popping up regarding low cost travel,
both low in cost to your pocket and more importantly, the environment. The travel and hospitality industry is changing the way they practice business and this is fantastic news for all you Low Cost Travellers. Keep up the high demands to ensure companies continue complying and reducing their carbon emissions. Here are some of the things resorts, in particular are doing in order to further improve the environment.
Ecotourism is ‘in’, travelers do not want their precious holidays to create a giant carbon footprint that harms the environment, but rather that they are at least carbon neutral. And the hoteliers are responding.
Going green is not just a good idea for impressing guests and supporting the environment, but energy-saving practices also often benefit the bottom line. For now, some resorts use it as their “unique selling propositions”.
In Hawaii, an increasing number of hotels and resorts now use recycled water and computer-monitored ‘fertigation’ (irrigation with doses of organic fertilizer). Another attractive feature they provide is beach-site, solar-powered bathrooms.
Nominated for the World’s Leading Green Resort and located in Bahia, Salvador, Brazil is the beautiful and luxurious Tivoli Eco-resort Praia do Forte. Boasting five stars, this idyllic resort features simple architecture in harmony with the spectacular scenery and the impressive biodiversity of the area. Guests enjoy colorful gardens and natural pools as well as “a culinary journey through exotic flavors”.
Founded after British environmentalist/businessman, Jan Telensky happened upon a pipe gushing hot water near Slovakia’s High Tatras Mountains, AquaCity was named the World’s Leading Green Resort in both 2008 and 2009. AquaCity uses available geothermal energy to heat and power its extensive facilities.
Guests minimize their carbon footprint while at the same time enjoying the highest standards of service at affordable prices. AquaCity has earned a global reputation for its pioneering approach to green tourism. Since it opened, it has welcomed over 2 million travelers and now daily saves more than 27 tons of carbon from entering the atmosphere.
In the February issue of its in-flight, Qantas announced its “Awards for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism”. Among its state award winners are the Crowne Plaza Alice Springs, Australia. The hotel identified 30 actions it could take to become more eco-friendly. Among them are replacing light bulbs, reducing water and gas usage, and installation of a system that reduces in-room air-conditioning use by 25 to 40 per cent.
Expect the “green movement” to gain momentum, as every industry will look for ways to go green, while saving energy (and money) and attracting both talent and customers.
Source: Joyce Gioia, The Herman Group of Companies
