Throughout the world, hoteliers are joining organizations with environment-related interests to share ideas, learn, network and market their hotels. Below are some of the organizations that offer these types of opportunities. If you are aware of an organization that should be included below, write to:: greenlodgingnews@gmail.com. To access lists of green lodging certification programs, click here.
Allstays
Kingman, Ariz.
This website includes a list of green hotels and resorts around the world.
American Hotel & Lodging Assn.
Washington, D.C.
The American Hotel & Lodging Assn. is the United States’ leading industry advocacy and membership organization. AH&LA’s Responsible Stay program is an effort to coalesce the U.S. lodging industry around efforts in the areas of energy conservation, water conservation, waste reduction, and responsible sourcing.
American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute
Orlando, Fla.
The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute offers myriad resources—including books and videos—for hotel owners and operators interested in reducing energy costs and improving the hotel environment.
American Institute of Architects
Washington, D.C.
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has been the leading professional membership association for licensed architects, emerging professionals, and allied partners since 1857.
American Society of Interior Designers
Washington, D.C.
The American Society of Interior Designers is the leading organization for interior design professionals.
Beyond Green produces an e-directory of the world’s most sustainable hotels. The organization’s purpose: To demonstrate sustainable tourism leadership through actions and impact that also delivers a wonderful guest experience.
Booking.com is a founding member of Travalyst, a not-for-profit organisation made up of leading travel companies working together to make travel a catalyst for good in the world. We work in partnership with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council to find a collective solution to making travel more sustainable. We’re also a signatory of the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, created by the UNWTO, UNEP and Ellen MacArthur Foundation with the aim to end global plastic pollution in tourism.
Building Owners & Managers Assn.
Washington, D.C.
The Building Owners & Managers Assn. (BOMA) offers an energy efficiency program that was developed by BOMA in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star office. A six-course series provides information, strategies, technologies, how-to guides and resources needed to reduce energy and costs.
Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism
San Juan, P.R.
The Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism, a subsidiary of the Caribbean Hotel Assn., undertakes collaborative environmental activities within the hotel and tourism sector, promotes the effective management of natural resources and provides access to expertise in sustainable tourism practices.
Carpet America Recovery Effort
An all voluntary industry-wide effort to keep carpet from going to the landfills and divert it into either other industries for reuse, or recycle it back to carpet in a cradle-to-cradle process.
Carpet & Rug Institute
Dalton, Ga.
CRI works with its member companies, allies in the field, independent testing laboratories and government agencies to continually improve its best practices in product improvement, environmental responsibility and customer care.
European Hotel Managers Assn.
Rome, Italy
The EHMA includes hotel managers operating first-class and luxury hotels who are concerned with safeguarding the ethical foundation of their profession. The organization’s Web site includes numerous articles pertaining to environmental management systems.
Events Industry Council
Washington, D.C.
The Events Industry Council’s more than 30 member organizations represent over 103,500 individuals and 19,500 firms and properties involved in the events industry. The Events Industry Council’s vision is to be the global champion for event professionals and event industry excellence. It promotes high standards and professionalism in the events industry with the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) program and signature program activities. The four signature programs—Sustainability and Social Impact, Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX), Knowledge and Leadership—represent the key initiatives, assets, services and products for the Events Industry Council.
Green Hotels Assn.
Houston, Texas
Hotels in this organization include hoteliers interested in instituting programs that save water, energy, and reduce solid waste. Members benefit by receiving a publication called “Guidelines and Ideas” that includes information on how to save money while being environmentally friendly at the same time.
Green Mechanical Council
Neenah, Wisc.
The Green Mechanical Council’s (GreenMech) mission is to educate contractors, field technicians, and industry leaders about creating and maintaining environmentally sound residential and commercial mechanical systems.
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities
Toronto, Ontario
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities’s mission is to increase the awareness of the economic, social and environmental benefits of green roof infrastructure across North America and rapidly advance the development of the market for green roof products and services.
GSN Planet is a nonprofit trade association that provides education, resources and gatherings for the spa and wellness industry. By creating a vital community and inspiring spa and wellness companies to take action, it is creating a more sustainable future with its members.
International Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education
Richmond, Va.
Members of I-CHRIE can participate in an environmental studies special interest group.
International Ecotourism Society
Washington, D.C.
The International Ecotourism Society promotes responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people. The website includes links to local ecotourism organizations.
International Facility Management Assn.
Houston
The International Facility Management Assn. is a proponent of sustainable building and safe work practices, including providing a high-quality indoor air environment.
As a veteran-and-women-owned public benefit corporation, Kind Traveler’s mission is to empower a new generation of travelers into a financial force that betters the health and wellbeing of individuals, animals, and the environment in communities around the world. Bookings with exclusive rates made through the site benefit local charities.
NEWH
Shawano, Wisc.
NEWH is the international community connecting the hospitality industry, providing scholarships, education, leadership development, recognition of excellence, and business development opportunities. It’s about Scholarship, Education, and Business Networking. NEWH holds Green Voice events and a Green Voice design competition.
Sustainable Events Network
Vero Beach, FL
The Sustainable Events Network, Florida & Caribbean (SENFC) is the sustainability resource for individuals, associations, corporations, event planners and event venues in Florida and the Caribbean. SENFC initiatives include food rescue, materials re-purposing, energy and water conservation, education, CSR and sustainability best practices. The SENFC actively engages in our region to promote sustainability and provide education for venues, suppliers, planners and individuals wanting to be advocates of sustainability. Call (954) 778-3228.
Sustainable Furnishings Council
Chapel Hill, N.C.
The Sustainable Furnishings Council is a non-profit balanced coalition of industry players founded at High Point, NC in October 2006 to promote sustainable practices among manufacturers, retailers, and consumers alike.
Sustainable Hospitality Alliance
England
The Sustainable Hospitality Alliance drives collaborative action to enable the hospitality industry to address key challenges affecting the planet, people and places around the world. Its mission is to accelerate the path to net positive hospitality through strategic industry leadership, collaborative action, harmonization of metrics and regenerative solutions.
Sustainable Restaurant Association
The Sustainable Restaurant Association (The SRA) was founded in 2008 by Simon Heppner, Giles Gibbons, Mark Sainsbury and Henry Dimbleby, with a vision of creating a clear intersection between the sustainable food movement and the hospitality industry. Initially known as the Food Made Good Rating, the Food Made Good Sustainability Standard was launched in 2010. Since then, it has been used to assess and certify the sustainability of more than 15,000 sites globally. In 2023, a new and improved version of the Food Made Good Standard was launched.
Sustainable Travel and Transportation Network
STTN’s ultimate goal is to identify and connect Sustainable companies and their customers within the travel and transportation marketplace. STTN invites the “world” of travel, tourism, and transportation to join in committing to sustainability and taking the actions necessary to help reduce the causes of climate change and to help remedy the inequities of our society by developing more sustainable and accessible operations and services.
Are you aware of an organization or program that should be included on this list? If so, contact Glenn Hasek at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
