CONCORD, N.H.—Visitors to New Hampshire who want to stay in a “green” property can now search and book a room via the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development’s website. According to officials, New Hampshire is the first state in New England to have a live, interactive “green” booking system enabling visitors to search and make an immediate reservation at a green lodging property in New Hampshire.
“Traveling green just got a whole lot easier in New Hampshire,” said Alice DeSouza, director of the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development. “Now when a visitor makes the choice to stay in a sustainable property, they can easily sort and search on our reservation system for properties that are eco-friendly. This is a growing trend in the industry, as more and more travelers recognize the importance of preserving our natural resources and are choosing to stay in sustainable properties. With this new capability, we’ve now made that experience possible—and very simple to do.”
Yankee Publishing, Inc., the state’s reservation agent, utilized the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association’s Sustainable Lodging program and its data to put together a complete listing of all properties in New Hampshire that are “green” (based on NHLRA standards). A new “Travel Green” icon and check box on the online reservation system automatically sorts the listings based on their sustainability initiatives.
“Providing this Travel Green option for our industry members enables them to showcase their unique efforts to protect the environment and target visitors who see that as an important factor in their travel decision-making process,” DeSouza added.
“Many hotels, B&Bs, resorts and restaurants in New Hampshire continually evaluate how their operations affect the environment and look for ways to minimize their impact,” said Michelle Veasey, manager for the NHLRA’s Sustainable Lodging Program. “Saving energy and water, reducing waste and eliminating toxic chemicals are just a few ways properties can lower their operating costs and reduce their impact on the environment. Lodging properties are certified through a scoring system, which assigns points based on green initiatives. Total points awarded determine the level of certification.”
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