Eco hotel

An eco hotel, or a green hotel, is an environmentally sustainable hotel or accommodation that has made
important environmental improvements to its structure in order to minimize its impact on the natural
environment. The basic definition of an eco-friendly hotel is an environmentally responsible lodging that
follows the practices of green living. These hotels have to be certified green by an independent third-
party or by the state they are located in. Traditionally, these hotels were mostly presented as Eco Lodges
because of their location, often in jungles, and their design inspired by the use of traditional building
methods applied by skilled local craftsmen in areas, such as Costa Rica and Indonesia.

These improvements can include non-toxic housekeeping practices, the use of renewable energy, organic
soaps, energy-efficient light fixtures, and recycling programs. It is beneficial for these hotels to get
certain certifications in order to be environmentally compliant. One beneficial certification specifically
for hotels is the LEED certification. A LEED-certified hotel provides benefits to the environment through
energy efficient practices. An eco hotel should follow a set of best practices in order to do their part to
benefit the environment. Some of these best practices include serving local organic food in restaurants,
reusing linens when a guest is staying for more than one night, and incorporating in-room recycling and
composting programs. Hotels that have these certifications and best practices[1] can attract
environmentally conscious travelers and stand out from other hotels.

Contents
Criteria
Characteristics
Definition
Ecolabeling of hotels in Europe
Ecolabeling of hotels in South America
See also
References
External links

Criteria
An eco hotel must usually meet the following criteria:

Dependence on the natural environment

Ecological sustainability
Proven contribution to conservation
Provision of environmental training programs
Incorporation of cultural considerations
Provision of an economic return to the local community
Characteristics
Green hotels follow strict green guidelines to ensure that their guests are staying in a safe, non-toxic and
energy-efficient accommodation. Here are some basic characteristics of a green hotel:

Housekeeping uses non-toxic cleaning agents and laundry detergent

100% organic cotton sheets, towels and mattresses
Non-smoking environment
Renewable energy sources like solar or wind energy
Bulk organic soap and amenities instead of individual packages to reduce waste
Guest room and hotel lobby recycling bins
Towel and sheet re-use (guests can tell housekeeping to leave these slightly used items to
reduce water consumption)
Energy-efficient lighting
On-site transportation with green vehicles
Serve organic and local-grown food
Non-disposable dishes
Offers a fresh-air exchange system
Greywater recycling, which is the reuse of kitchen, bath and laundry water for garden and
landscaping
Newspaper recycling program

Definition
Ecology is a very strong trend, either convictions or a fashion, caring for the earth has become an ideal of
many. As a result, eco-hotels have become an increasingly popular alternative in the tourism industry, the
increase in demand has led therefore to a large range of hotels with planet friendly options for all
requirements.

According to the Royal Spanish Academy, one of the interpretations of the term ecology includes
"defense and protection of nature and environment" From what we understand, to be green what is
sought is to defend and protect everything natural. around us. contact with nature is something almost
inherent to the holiday, providing an opportunity to carry out environmental.

An ecological hotel is one that is fully integrated into the environment without damaging the
environment, contributing in some way to progress and improvement of the local community and
sustainable growth of the tourism industry.

The term has been used on a more regular basis as new websites devoted to the subject become more
prominent and hotel owners become more interested in protecting the areas their guests have come to
visit.

New properties are being built from sustainable resources–tropical hardwoods, local stone–and designed
to better blend in with their environment. In addition, they are also being run on eco-friendly principles,
such as serving organic or locally grown food or using natural cooling as opposed to air conditioning.

Ecolabels are labeling systems that show the environmental impact of good and services within regions
around the world.
Ecolabeling of hotels in Europe
The EU Ecolabel is an official sign of the environmental quality of services and goods in the European
Union (EU) that is both certified by an independent organization and valid throughout the many member
States of the European Union.

Any tourism accommodation operator in the EU - from a large hotel chain to a small farmhouse has been
able to apply for the European Eco-label since 2003. The operators must meet strict minimum standards
with regard to environmental performance and health standards. These should include the use of
renewable energy sources, an overall reduction in energy and water consumption, measures to reduce
waste, environmental policy setting and the provision of non-smoking areas.

The first eco-labelled hotel in the European Union was the Sunwing Resort Kallithea, located in Rhodes,
Greece in 2003 and the first eco-labelled hotel on the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) was the
Hotel Jardim Atlântico on the Portuguese island of Madeira.

Ecolabeling of hotels in South America

In Argentina, the Tourism Hotels Association (AHT) has created an annual award, Hoteles Más Verdes
(Greener Hotel).[2] The prize – a monetary award and peer-recognition – goes the best eco-hotels in the
country, both operating and under construction.

In 2014, the city of Buenos Aires has presented a new labeling system for hotels and hostels, Ecosello.[3]
With three levels of certification (Committed, Advanced, and Excellence), the new label aims at
developing eco-consciousness among tourism operators in Buenos Aires

See also
Ecotourism

References
1. Enz, Cathy (1999). "Best Hotel Environmental Practices" (https://scholarship.sha.cornell.ed
u/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1453&context=articles). Best Hotel Environmental Practices:
1–8.
2. Hoteles más Verdes (http://www.hotelesmasverdes.com.ar), "Greener Hotels" Contest in
South America.
3. Ecosello Buenos Aires (http://www.buenosaires.gob.ar/noticias/se-presento-el-ecosello-par
a-hoteles-y-hostels).

External links
Hotels Struggle to Find the Right Eco-Message (https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/03/busin
ess/03road.html), New York Times
The Ultimate Green Hotel (http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/the-ultimate-green-hotel
-august-2006/), Travel & Leisure

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This page was last edited on 20 November 2018, at 19:38 (UTC).

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