PHOENIX—Many hotels and resorts now tout their environmentally friendly practices to lure eco-conscious travelers. It can be hard for consumers to tell if a hotel is truly eco-friendly or just employing sneaky PR tactics. iStayGreen’s social network will create accountability, forcing properties to own up to whether they’re truly green or greenwashing. iStayGreen.org lists more than 95,000 lodging properties worldwide with just under 3,000 currently Green Leaf Rated (their proprietary green rating system).
“Our members separate fact from hype,” says Richard Varner, founder of iStayGreen.org. “We’ve created a social network structure, much like Facebook, where our members can rally together to support the cause of environmental sustainability. Our users provide in-depth hotel reviews, but unlike TripAdvisor and other similar review sites, our members review and rate the property’s eco-friendliness. Our membership will create tremendous social pressure, forcing hoteliers to be transparent and environmentally responsible.”
Green hotels are hard to find too. With no internationally recognized standard for what green is, the traveler is left having to sort it out for themselves. With iStayGreen’s rapidly growing searchable directory of almost 3,000 Green Leaf Rated Properties, it’s easy for anyone to quickly locate and compare green lodging worldwide. To earn a Green Leaf Rating, hotels must complete a thorough self-audit and are then rated based on their eco-initiatives.
According to a recent study, 43 million U.S. travelers say they’re concerned about the environment, but how do they make a difference?
“We see these 43 million travelers as the basis for a grassroots effort that can and will change the way people travel and interact with the travel industry,” Varner says. “They’re already concerned; all they need is a platform to make their voice heard, a way to put pressure on the travel industry to be transparent and green-up! That’s why iStayGreen.org was created.”
Go to iStayGreen.org.
