BEING A GREEN GUEST - your contribution....
There are many reasons for hotels to go green. And one big reason not to. For luxury hotels, the "Five Star" hotel rating system can actually work against greening. The problem starts with demand for lots of individually wrapped, overpackaged bathroom items, over use of air conditioning systems and unnecessary lighting, lack of appropriate waste recycling facilities and the misconception that luxury means wasteful use of resources.
Is this want consumers really want? Does luxury have to mean over-use of the world's resources?
As a guest, you can push accommodation providers to catch up to what consumers want. The fastest way for this to happen is to:
1. Plan Green
To find green accommodation, we recommend using the ecohotel web directory or the ecotourism Australia website for Australia's best sustainable accommodation providers
2. Tell the hotels directly
Ask your accommodation provider what their greening strategies are.
3. Tell other travellers.
After your stay, tell others about the green standards of the accommodation.
What to ask your accommodation provider..
I don't want my towels and linens changed every day.
Could you skip any individually packaged shampoo bottles, so they don't get wasted?
Do you have a room with efficient light bulbs, and windows that can open?
Are the steps you are taking to be green on your website, or in the compendium? I'd like to read them.
Come up with your own ideas or suggestions so that operators start realizing what you, as a guest, expect.
Online review sites: TripAdvisor, TravelPost, MyTravelGuide, and Travel Buddies.
Post your experiences on your blog or on social mediums: Facebook, Twitter, etc.
Let us know if you have any more ideas!
Copyright ecohotel