AZ Countdown to Greenbuild Blog Series
Eco-Conscious Travel Tips for Greenbuild 2009
By Michèle Van Haecke
Arizona-Based Freelance Journalist
Choosing a home away from home while traveling is always tricky, but especially so when trying to keep environmental impact low. From rates to services to the loft of a pillow, lodging options offer an overwhelming variety of features to choose from. The same holds true when lodging goes green.
Typical eco-friendly hotel features range from tiny ones such as energy-efficient light bulbs and in-room recycling to corporate-wide energy and water conservation programs and LEED-certified buildings. As well as natural environments, local communities and economies are highly impacted by the industry. Hospitality was one of the first fields to demonstrate that going green could be highly marketable by promoting the concept of eco-tourism, not to mention the commonsense idea of using linens more than once before they’re washed. At the same time, the industry is awash in do-good value statements and green-branding gimmickry with little substance behind them.
Help Is On Its Way
Right now, there is no LEED-like ratings system for the hospitality industry. But not for long, thanks to the Tourism Sustainability Council, a project developed by travel- and environmental-related organizations working for the past year to develop Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria, sustainable standards for tourism businesses and accreditation for certification programs. Initiated by a group including Rainforest Alliance, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Foundation and United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), it was launched at the 2008 World Conservation Congress and has since grown to include more than 40 members.
The criteria development steering committee includes environmental organizations such as Rainforest Alliance and the National Geographic Center for Sustainable Destinations, plus travel-industry entities such as the American Hotel & Lodging Assn., American Society of Travel Agents, International Hotel & Restaurant Assn., Sustainable Travel International and online travel companies Expedia and Travelocity.
Travelocity and Expedia already offer “eco-friendly” designations in search results based on reputable third-party certification programs such as those by Rainforest Alliance, Energy Star and Green Key. Both have announced plans to list only Global Sustainable Tourism certified properties on their green search results beginning this month.
Green Lodging at Greenbuild
As with any product or service, final judgment of the “greenness” of a given hotel or other lodging choice is subjective. To help narrow lodging choices for Greenbuild attendees staying in the metro Phoenix area, we’ve developed a Green Trip Grid on Lodging that includes major hotel chains with green travel programs, plus some alternative properties worthy of consideration. We’ve also included distance to Greenbuild, and estimated travel times using public transportation.
You’ll find we’ve included properties that are not in the neighborhood of the Phoenix Civic Plaza, as staying within walking distance may not fit the travel plans of all. Where we’ve listed properties more than 5 miles from the conference site, we’ve tried to include only those located in pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods with good access to dining, entertainment and public transportation. To plan routes and travel time in advance, use Valley Metro’s amazingly simple Transit Trip Planner, available here http://tripplan.phoenix.gov.
Michèle Van Haecke is a freelance journalist covering sustainability, architecture, interior design and the construction industry in Arizona and the Southwest.
