The GreenHotels Directory, the first online reservation system designed for travelers seeking environmentally-friendly hotel accommodations, was launched last week by a partnership between Environment News Service and ARES Travel Network. Now, for the first time, business and vacation travelers are able to instantly locate and make online reservations at hotels offering responsible conservation features.
Thousands of hotels have participated in the launch of the GreenHotels Directory initiative and more are being added every day. ARES has documented the environmental contributions of hotels and attractions so that travelers are offered a way to identify green lodging when booking their vacations.
Industry-wide surveys of more than 47,000 hotels have pinpointed quantifiable green features offered by the participating hotel members. Sustainable practices provide comforts away from home to travelers and to the environment. The GreenHotels Directory online reservation system promotes hotels engaged in green practices, from non-caustic cleaners to recycling to renewable energy.
The GreenHotels Directory has captured the contributions of suppliers and highlighted them in the online booking engine. Visitors can recognize environmentally-friendly hotels by the ‘Travel Green’ icon. Clicking the icon opens a summary of that hotel’s sustainable activities in the GreenHotels Directory.
In evaluating members of the GreenHotels Directory, all efforts by each hotel were considered as a whole in building each property’s green identity, rather than using a narrow rating system, which provides relatively few in-depth details about a hotel’s practices.
Visit www.greenhotels-directory.com to view participating hotels across the United States.