A growing number of cities are attracting tourists with eco-friendly hotels, but are they worth the higher price tag?
As the significant carbon footprint of tourism becomes increasingly clear, many folks are searching for ways to make travel a little less impactful on the environment. One of the easiest ways to do this? Skip the Holiday Inn and make a reservation at an eco-friendly hotel.
The descriptors “eco-friendly” and “sustainable” are thrown around a lot nowadays, and people often consume products that bill themselves as such without actually understanding what they mean. Colin Heinrich, the director of global impact at the membership-based luxury travel company and Equinox Circle partner Indagare, says there’s a lot more to the hotel sustainability than wooden keys, locally sourced food, and the decision to use your towel more than once.
Here, Heinrich explains what actually makes a hotel eco-friendly and sustainable, unexpected examples of eco-friendly hotels, and how hotels in general can contribute to or improve the climate emergency.
What Makes a Hotel Eco-Friendly
“The term ‘eco-hotels’ is a bit of a misnomer, because it only looks at one side of the equation,” Heinrich says. “It only looks at the conservation side of things, but that’s not all there is to it. You also have to look at the local community: How is a hotel building them up? How is a property preserving the culture of the area?”
When evaluating whether a hotel can be considered eco-friendly, Indagare closely examines five attributes.
• Natural heritage: Is the hotel contributing to biodiversity? Was their construction done with minimal impact?
• Environmentalism: Is the hotel working to offset carbon emissions? How is the hotel sourcing its energy and food?
• Cultural heritage: Does the hotel seek input from the local community? Does the design match the community it inhabits and incorporate local customs?
• Community development: Is the staff hired locally? Are the food, decor, and other elements sourced locally?
• Transparency
RELATED: Broaden Your Horizons Through Travel
Eco-Friendly Hotels to Add to Your Itinerary
Just because a hotel bills itself as eco-friendly doesn’t mean it actually is, says Heinrich. And the reverse is also true. “The Ritz Paris is one example of this,” he says. “The Ritz Paris is a luxury city hotel that doesn’t market itself as sustainable, and people don’t book them because they’re an eco-hotel. But they are the only hotel in France thus far that’s certified by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.”
Safari lodges are another example of hotels that don’t bill themselves as eco-friendly and sustainable but probably are, Heinrich adds. “The Fogo Island Inn in Canada is another example. They don’t call themselves an eco-hotel, and they’re still a luxury property,” he says. “But they’re also really involved with the local community [and] help create opportunities for people on the island while being eco-conscious in how they source their power, materials, and what they use as a waste management plan. The Mandarin Oriental also does a great job, and they have a robust sustainability initiative.”
You can see a full list of the hotels Indagare has evaluated and considers to be making a positive impact on the environment here. The company is currently working to evaluate several additional hotels (such as the accommodations through 1 Hotels, which is a big proponent of sustainability), says Heinrich.
RELATED: The Wellness Scene of Ibiza
The Bottom Line
If your goal is to preserve and improve the environment, yes, eco-friendly hotels probably are worth the higher price tag. But Heinrich encourages travelers to consider their whole carbon footprint when they book a vacation, not just the property they’re staying at. “For example, while a safari property may be sustainable, the overall carbon footprint of flying to Southern Africa is huge,” he notes. “It’s something to think about.”
Long story short: When it comes to thinking about sustainability and environmental impact, it’s always important to look at the whole picture — not just one piece of the puzzle.
Through Equinox Circle, Equinox members have insider access to Indagare’s curated journeys, a 30-day complimentary trial of Self Planner membership, and $100 off annual subscription, plus access to VIP benefits including upgrades, complimentary breakfast, spa credit, and more.
