Finding Sustainable Hotels for Your Next Trip

If you are planning a sustainable vacation, staying in a sustainable hotel or homestay should be part of that plan. But if you want sustainable lodging, it can be hard to know what to look for.

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Here are practical tips for finding eco-friendly accommodations that meet your travel needs and environmental values:

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Look For Sustainability Certifications

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A key criterion for choosing eco-friendly hotels is to look for third-party certifications that verify sustainability attributes like green design and carbon footprint. Here are some of the most common certifications used in the hotel and short-term rental industry:

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• LEED certification: Provides the framework for building and operating hotels sustainably.
• Green Key: Evaluates environmental practices and sustainable operations for hotels, hostels, small accommodations, campsites, and holiday parks.
• Green Globe: Certifies hotels, resorts, conference centers, and attractions and is tied to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• Earth Check: Science-backed certifications designed for sustainable destinations and tourism organizations.
• Biosphere: Measures and evaluates the contribution of a tourism territory and its model to its sustainability.

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You can also check out hotels that are a part of The World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance. It has partnered with a lot of third parties, including the International Labor Organization, Living Wage Foundation, World Benchmarking Alliance, World Resources Institute, and International Finance Corporation.

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For short-term rentals, check out Sustonica, which vets properties based on sustainability standards, including energy conservation, community engagement, and waste and water management. You can find Sustonica-verified properties on Airbnb and Booking.com. Another option is EnviroRental, which partners with short-term rental owners. If you already have a specific accommodation in mind, you can evaluate its environmental impact using the Hotel Footprinting Tool.

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Beyond these certifications, there are certain steps that you can take to find sustainable hotel options.

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How To Make Your Stay More Sustainable

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Due to public scrutiny and industry standards, hotels often maintain strong sustainability practices, including renewable energy usage and water conservation initiatives. Take time to review their sustainability pages to learn more about their specific efforts. You can also filter reviews using keywords like "sustainability" and "eco-friendly" to see firsthand accounts from previous guests.

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During your stay at any accommodation, you can reduce your environmental impact through simple actions: turn off lights when leaving rooms, keep air conditioning at moderate temperatures (especially important in less energy-efficient buildings), bring your own toiletries and reusable water bottle to avoid single-use waste, and sort waste according to local recycling guidelines. Many hotels reward eco-friendly choices by offering incentives, such as loyalty points, for declining daily housekeeping or reusing towels.

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