 <A Green Night’s SleepEco-friendly hotels offer a variety of ways for travelers to love the EarthIn 2003, the Tarrytown House Estate & Conference Center in New York’s Westchester County could have been the poster child for doing business with a social conscience. After decades of draining a local reservoir to keep its 26 acres of lawns healthy, management decided to dig a well on the hotel’s property, a move that saves thousands of gallons of water each year. Since then, the hotel has also replaced more than 5,000 energy-sapping light bulbs with compact fluorescents; this spring, it began buying more locally sourced foods. “We’re trying to do our part for the environment,” says Steve Sackman, regional director of sales and marketing for Destination Hotels & Resorts, which owns the Tarrytown House. “Some of the things are saving us money and some are costing us money, but we think it’s the right thing to do.” Michele Perry, a spokeswoman for TripAdvisor.com, says the big bucks hotels are spending on green initiatives may pay off in consumer interest. “Travelers are becoming more and more green conscious and want to make green decisions,” she explains. “When we surveyed consumers, 26 percent planned to be more green conscious in the next year and 34 percent said they’d be willing to even pay a premium.” Before you hand over your credit card, however, it’s important to know what green hotel options are out there. Picking a ColorTo many consumers, there are almost too many shades of what it means to be green. For instance, a hotel that uses rainwater to supply water to toilets can call itself green. So can one that gives free parking to guests who arrive in hybrid vehicles, or one that simply installs more energy-efficient light bulbs. “There is no line to be drawn on what makes a property green,” says Patty Griffin, founder and president of the Green Hotels Association. “It’s not a choice of 10 or 25 things — there are hundreds, if not thousands, of ideas hotels can implement to be green.” Some hoteliers are going so far as to introduce in-room recycling bins, low-flow showerheads, and high-efficiency toilets. “There is a huge range as far as what hotels are doing,” Perry adds, “and it’s extremely difficult to figure out if a property is green. Unless you actually see them sort the recyclables, it’s tough to be certain.” There are some steps consumers can take to sort out green hotel options. First, determine your own environmental requirements. Then call the hotel you’re considering to ask about its policies. Does it use Energy Star–approved appliances and TVs? Are rooms cooled by ceiling fans to minimize air conditioning? What about organic cotton linens and towels? Of course, travelers can also check if a resort’s Web site lists its green initiatives. Spending WiselyThe price tags at green hotels vary almost as much as their eco-friendly offerings. For example, the luxurious Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, Calif., costs about $1,367 a night. Meanwhile, Concordia Eco-Tents, on St. John in the Virgin Islands, manages to keep nightly costs at about $115. Even if you can’t find a green hotel in your price range, all is not lost. According to Griffin, travelers can do their part no matter where they stay, by turning off lights and appliances when leaving their rooms, as well as closing drapes and taking shorter showers. “Each of us makes decisions every single day that, when multiplied with thousands of other travelers, can create huge change,” Griffin says.
— Neil Weilheimer
Green StaysInterested in going green, but not sure where to start? Here are some green hotels recommended by TripAdvisor.com, plus how much you’ll splurge for a night. Post Ranch Inn, $1,367 Inkaterra Machu Picchu, $616 Hotel Punta Islita, $310 Inn by the Sea, $404 Hotelito Desconocido, $480 The Lodge at Chaa Creek, $400 Concordia Eco-Tents, $115 — N.W.  Illustration: Tom Burns |
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