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 Good Earthkeeping program provides tools and resources to help hoteliers improve energy and financial performance. The campaign, which is a partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program, enables hoteliers to create a comprehensive approach to energy management that assesses current energy performance, sets goals and tracks savings. A Sustainability Committee is also part of AH&LA.
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.
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.
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 Meeting Industry Council
Portland, Ore.
The Green Meeting Industry Council is dedicated to improving meeting management practices by promoting environmentally responsible strategies through the collaborative efforts of meeting industry stakeholders.
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.
International Tourism Partnership
London, England
The International Tourism Partnership (ITP) brings together the world’s leading international hotel companies to provide an authority on environmental and social responsibility in the industry. With a powerful membership and tight focus on the long-term sustainability of the hotel industry—ITP has a collective reach of more than 23,500 properties, more than 3.4 million rooms and more than 1.5 million employees in more than 100 countries worldwide.
iStayGreen.org
Peoria, Ariz.
At the social networking site iStayGreen.org, users can create their own profiles, interact with other users, interact with property management, review and rate properties, and plan and reserve their online travel.
Japan Ecolodge Assn.
Kyoto, Japan
The Japan Ecolodge Assn., based in Kyoto, Japan, strives to promote sustainable and low-impact tourism throughout Japan. It offers educational materials in English and Japanese to its members.
Leonardo Academy
Madison, Wisc.
The Leonardo Academy is a nonprofit organization that promotes sustainability and helps organizations reduce the environmental impact of their buildings, products and operations. Leonardo Academy helps those interested in acquiring offsets for emissions and certifies the level of offsets achieved.
National Association of Hotel & Lodging Engineers
NAHLE is an organization for chief engineers, directors of engineering, and other engineering, maintenance and hotel staff. The organization’s publication frequently focuses on energy and water management.
The Network of the Hospitality Industry
Shawano, Wisc.
The Network of the Hospitality Industry has a Sustainability Committee with the following mission: “Leading the hospitality industry in promoting education, inter-cooperation, and endorsed policies for environmentally responsible practices, construction methods, materials and environments.”
NYC WasteMatch
New York City
Hotels looking to dispose of unwanted materials in New York City can use the services of NYC WasteMatch to find a nonprofit that can reuse/recycle their materials. NYC WasteMatch is a free service created and funded by the NYC Department of Sanitation’s Bureau of Waste Prevention, Reuse & Recycling.
RezHub.com
Orlando, Fla.
RezHub.com is an online travel agency that focuses on providing the best green hotel information for its traveling customers. RezHub.com is committed to helping travelers find sustainable travel options.
Rues Hotel Selection EcoFriendly Hotels Worldwide
Citrus Springs, Fla.
Rues Hotel Selection EcoFriendly Hotels Worldwide, a referral hotel group, was launched in Bolivia in 1994. It is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the development of independent—small and midsize—ecofriendly hotel and tourism businesses around the globe.
Sustainable Buildings Industry Council
Washington, D.C.
The Sustainable Buildings Industry Council’s mission is to advance the design, affordability, energy performance and environmental soundness of America’s buildings.
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.
Top Canadian Hotels
Peachland, B.C.
This website is dedicated to providing travelers with a comprehensive collection of Canadian “green hotel“ accommodation and travel information. The Canadian owned and operated site also includes a Green Travel Blog.
Are you aware of a certification program that should be included on this list? If so, contact Glenn Hasek ateditor@greenlodgingnews.com.
