HORSHAM, PA.—Green Key Global, the exclusive provider of the Green Key Eco-Rating Program (“Green Key”), and Travelocity have partnered to recognize green hotels and resorts. Travelocity, the online travel website, will include Green Key members in its Green Hotel Directory; likewise, those hotels will also be tagged with an “Eco Friendly Hotel” symbol within Travelocity’s hotel shopping path.
Green Key, the first program of its kind to rank, certify and audit hotels and resorts based on their commitment to sustainable “green” operations, is a joint venture between LRA Worldwide, Inc. and the Hotel Association of Canada. Green Key has been in operation in Canada for more than 10 years; it launched in the United States in September of 2009. Currently, Green Key has more than 1,200 member hotels throughout the United States and Canada.
“We are very excited to include Green Key as one of the official certification programs for our Green Hotel Directory, as the program is highly respected within the sustainable travel community,” said Alison Presley, Manager of Travelocity’s Travel for Good program. “A hotel’s environmental practices are an area of interest to our customers, so recognizing Green Key membership on our site provides more value to the consumer.”
Consumers Look for Green Practices
A recent study by the U.S. Travel Association and Ypartnership indicated that nearly 60 percent of consumers consider a hotel’s environmental practices when making a booking decision, and a smaller subset of that group is willing to pay a premium for eco-friendly lodging options. In addition, the same study indicated that less than one-third of the respondents believe it is easy to learn about the environmental initiatives of travel and hospitality companies; the partnership between Travelocity and Green Key is designed to make this information more readily accessible to consumers while they are shopping for accommodations.
The Green Key evaluation itself is a comprehensive 140-question audit that is self-administered by the staff at the participating property. The audit covers many operational areas and sustainable practices.
Upon completion, the answers are tabulated and the property is awarded a ranking of one to five keys and a corresponding display plaque. The property also receives a comprehensive report that includes recommendations, best practices and potential areas for improvement and savings. Unlike other programs of this nature, Green Key includes random, on-site verification of audit results, mitigating the risk of score inflation.
“We are always looking for outlets to recognize Green Key members and their sustainability efforts,” explained Zach Conen, vice president of sales and marketing for Green Key Global. “Travelocity fits the bill perfectly, as they have been on the leading edge of providing information on responsible, sustainable tourism to the consumer.”
Go to Travelocity and Green Key.
