An exhibitor at The Hospitality Show in Miami Beach that caught my attention this past week was the Surfrider Foundation. In case you are not familiar with the organization, it is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s ocean, waves, and beaches, for all people, through a powerful activist network.
Highlighted at the show was the Surfrider Foundation’s Ocean Friendly Hotels program. In case you are not familiar with it—there are currently 46 properties participating—the program provides recognition to hotels that commit to eliminating single-use plastic. There are seven mandatory criteria:
1. No plastic bottles or bags used onsite.
2. No expanded polystyrene use (aka Styrofoam).
3. No mini toiletry bottles.
4. Restaurants onsite are Ocean Friendly Restaurants.
5. Water refill stations are available.
6. Proper recycling practices are followed.
7. Foodware and accessories in rooms are reusable or made from naturally occurring materials and are not packaged in plastic.
Program participants must choose three additional initiatives from the nine suggested by the Surfrider Foundation. A few examples: no single-use coffee or tea pods, minimal outdoor light pollution, and onsite gift shops sell reef-friendly sunscreen.
Hotel Benefits
- Marketing collateral including signage and table tents.
- Use of Ocean Friendly Hotels logos for websites and other hotel marketing materials.
- Hotel listed on Surfrider national and chapter websites.
- Hotel included in national map on Surfrider national website.
- Launch parties with your nearest Surfrider chapter.
Access to national vendor discounts on sustainable restaurant and to-go products.
Tax-deductible donation opportunity.
Association with a nationally recognized nonprofit with thousands of members and supporters.
Keep returning to Green Lodging News as I accumulate more information on the Ocean Friendly Hotels program—its cost, whether or not it is a self-certifying program, etc.
