I have completed three articles on green lodging certification programs so far—one on the Audubon International Green Lodging Program, another on the Green Key Global Eco-Rating Program, and another on the Green Seal Standard for Lodging Properties, GS-33. This week be sure to look for the fourth in my series of articles—this time focusing on TripAdvisor’s GreenLeaders program.
For those of you not familiar with GreenLeaders, it was launched on Earth Day earlier this year. The program considers a property’s holistic approach to green practices and ranks them based on four levels of participation—Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum. The more green practices a hotel has in place, the higher its TripAdvisor GreenLeaders level. Accommodations that do not meet the requirements for TripAdvisor GreenLeaders, but do have the seven minimum green practices in place, are awarded TripAdvisor GreenPartner status.
I have already posted quite a few articles about TripAdvisor’s program. Be sure to search for them using “TripAdvisor” in the “search” box on the Green Lodging News website.
Just 5 Percent Have Reached Platinum Level
I recently spoke with Jenny Rushmore, director of responsible travel at TripAdvisor, and she told me there are now approximately 2,100 green rated properties on TripAdvisor, up from around 1,000 in April. About 25 percent of those are GreenPartners. Twenty-five percent have reached the GreenLeaders Bronze level, 25 percent the Silver level, 20 percent the Gold level, and just 5 percent Platinum.
The states with the most properties in the TripAdvisor program: California, Florida, New York. The top cities: New York City, San Francisco, Chicago. The city with the highest percentage of its TripAdvisor hotels in the green ratings program: Boston, followed by Cleveland, Chicago, Philadelphia.
Jenny told me the program is growing very rapidly and her team is fielding questions from hoteliers looking to improve their properties’ rating level.
Any hotel or B&B on TripAdvisor is eligible to participate in the program. Be sure to watch Green Lodging News in the coming week for more data updates from TripAdvisor, including the number of times travelers have searched for green hotels on TripAdvisor since the program was launched.
Who is Your Sustainability Champion?
Green Lodging News is always looking to profile sustainability champions in our Personnel Profile section. If you would like to nominate someone for this section of Green Lodging News, contact me at (216) 848-1406, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
Looking for Guest Columnists
Every two weeks Green Lodging News posts a new guest column on its website. (Click here for examples.) The guest column also appears in the weekly e-newsletter. Green Lodging News is currently in need of industry experts to contribute occasional guest columns. Experts may include consultants, architects, designers, suppliers and those who own or operate green lodging establishments. Columns may be articles that take a stance on a particular subject or be strictly educational in nature. Columnists benefit by having their photo included along with a one paragraph description of their company. Interested in writing a column? Contact Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor, at (216) 848-1406, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
Planning Advertising for 2013/2014?
Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for advertising spots for 2013 and 2014. Many excellent spots are available on the website and in the weekly e-mail newsletter. Many Green Supplier Spotlight dates are also available. Interested in receiving a 2013 or 2014 media kit? Be sure to contact me as soon as possible at (216) 848-1406, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com. Media kits can also be accessed by clicking here. Thank you to all of those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.
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As always, I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
