Finding a hotel that’s truly eco-conscious isn’t quite so simple as you might have thought.
Here are five reliable ways you can lighten your carbon footprint while travelling around the world.
Choose a carbon-neutral hotel
The zero-emissions movement is building gradually and there are a variety of places on offer, from the roving Olakira Camp in the Serengeti to Kong Arthur in Copenhagen, part of Arthur Hotels, which was the first hotel group in the world to go carbon-neutral.
Kong Arthur owner and CEO Kirsten Brøchner sees to it that the hotel’s impact extends far beyond its walls – to Africa, in fact, where the hotel works on a well-building project – in the hopes of setting a new ‘green hotel’ norm, as well as following the standard guidelines for certified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), such as using low energy light bulbs, locally-sourced menus, recycling, linen reuse programmes and a fleet of bicycles.
Book a hotel that welcomes car-free travellers
Hotels are making it easier for guests to ditch the car by offering bicycles, complimentary shuttle services and public transport. Hyatt Regency properties around the world, including Sarasota, Perth, Kathmandu and Sharm El Sheikh, offer free shuttles to the airport and around town so you can forget about shelling out money for something that’s becoming increasingly unnecessary on vacation. Among the crusaders of the new two-wheeled trend in travel, Fairmont, Kimpton and Lungarno Collection are inspiring guests to experience how a car-free itinerary can lead to great off-the-beaten-path adventures – be it pedalling up the slopes of Mount Kenya on Fairmont Kenya Safari Club’s BMW Cruise bicycles, exploring San Francisco Bay with Kimpton’s PUBLIC bikes, or taking Hotel Lungarno’s city cruisers and discovering under-the-radar neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Florence.
Be mindful of a hotel’s menu
These days, there is no reason why a hotel restaurant can’t have its own garden to source herbs and organic produce for a seasonal menu. If it isn't immediately clear from website photos, there should at least be some mention of local and fresh ingredients. Aside from lower carbon emissions and less food waste, a farm-to-table approach means tastier food and an enlightening culinary adventure.
Get engaged with a hotel that values the local community
Seek out hotels that give guests the opportunity to get hands-on in the community. ‘Authentic travel is one of the biggest trends in travel and is no longer a niche option,’ says Sasha Chisholm, head of marketing at Responsible Travel, a platform for tour operators and accommodation owners committed to sustainability. ‘We know that authentic travel is only possible when local people and places are treated with respect and have proven the link between authentic and responsible tourism.’
Eco-voluntourism doesn’t have to be very time-consuming. In between surfing and yoga, consider planting trees with the Harmony Hotel to prevent beach erosion on Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula or building a new coral garden in the Maldives through Taj Exotica’s reef rehabilitation program. If you’d rather unwind than work, opt for hotels that make it a no-brainer to do something good simply by booking a room at a place like The N/a’an ku sê Lodge, where all profits support its wildlife sanctuary and environmental conservation foundation in Namibia.
Get back to nature with an adventure concierge
A rise in responsible tourism and a growing outdoor recreation industry means there is now an abundance of outfitters offering eco-conscious travellers a trip to the great outdoors. But a guided expedition isn’t always cheap or doable over a long weekend. A hotel that doubles as a base camp for adventure and encourages guests to reconnect with the natural world is typically one that can be trusted to take care of the environment. Situated near a Unesco World Heritage site, draped by the northern lights, Iceland’s new sustainable Ion Luxury Adventure Hotel is a perfect launch pad for exploration; you can go diving in Pingvellir National Park, whitewater rafting in Hvítá River and glacier walking. In Arizona, Amara Resort & Spa encourages guests to get lost in the red rocks of Sedona on 100 trails, and the Hike House offers history and geology talks, overnight packages, and complimentary hiking clinics. Guests of Nicaragua’s Jicaro Island EcoLodge can enjoy birdwatching in a forest canopy, kayaking around the islands or trekking up Mombacho volcano. Jicaro also happens to oversee vital local projects on education and sustainable food and water filtration systems.
Title Image Credit: Hotel Kong Arthur, spa senses1 (Image Cropped)