'Responsible Hotels' Featured on New Travel Site

If one were to put together a collection of green, socially responsible hotels, you could not find a much better name than "Responsible Hotels of the World." That is the name of a collection of 40 hotels now found at http://www.responsiblehotelsoftheworld.com/. The site, launched last month by those running travel website http://www.responsibletravel.com/, also includes a dedicated travel agency division to book the hotels.

According to the Responsible Hotels site, all hotels within the collection have been carefully screened for their commitment to responsible tourism. Some of the criteria required for inclusion include the following: evidence of an initiative to reduce waste and a company policy that requests waste management be practiced by suppliers; evidence that the company policy requests destination suppliers to employ local people wherever possible; and evidence that travelers are provided with relevant suggestions to minimize damage to the environment, wildlife and marine ecosystems. Click here to read additional criteria.

Hotels currently listed can be found in the Caribbean, South East Asia, the Indian Ocean, Central America and East Africa. Featured properties include: Banyan Tree Phuket, Thailand; Beachcomber Royal Palm, Mauritius; and Chumbe Island Coral Park, Tanzania. No U.S. properties are currently included. Be sure to check out this new site.