You don’t need a hemp backpack or a bike with recycled-rubber wheels to make your vacation or business trip earth-friendly. Eco-tourism (or “green travel”) is less complicated than it seems.
It’s easy to forget, but there are a number of things you can do to make your trip greener before you even hit the road. Save energy and lower your utility bill by unplugging appliances and turning the heat or air conditioner down. Appliances eat electricity as long as they are plugged in, not just when they are on. You can also reduce the amount of trash you create in transit by carrying your own reusable water bottle and snack containers.
When you stay in a hotel, there’s a tendency to act differently than you would in your own home. Do you wash your sheets and towels every day at home? Most people don’t. When you check in, request that the sheets be left on the bed for the entirety of your stay, or changed only once a week if you’re there more than 7 days. Make a similar request for the towels, which can usually be used several times before needing a wash. Conserve energy by turning off lights, televisions and adjusting the thermostat when you leave your hotel room. You may not be paying the utility bill in your temporary home, but you’re passing that debt off on the environment.
Making wise transportation choices is another key to a “green” trip. If you’re hitting the road, be sure to efficiently use the space of your vehicle and carpool if you can. If you’re flying, check to see if your hotel offers a shuttle service from the airport – many do. If you must rent, choose a hybrid or a smaller vehicle with good gas mileage. If you’re visiting an urban area, look into using the public transportation system. It’s a great way to get to know the city, costs less than a tank of gas and enables you to read a book or enjoy the sights while in transit.
Another way to reduce waste is to tap into your sense of adventure and try new things during your travels. Instead of choosing familiar items that had to be imported, try to eat, drink and shop locally. Local goods will generally cost less because the cost of transit is not factored into their prices like items that had to be flown in from across the world. You may find something great that you would never have discovered otherwise.
Finally, let your hotel know what you think. Here at Courtyard, we’ve developed a prototype for LEED-certified hotels. The first one based on this model will be opening this summer and we’re going to be opening a lot more as part of our commitment to preserving the environment. Some of our other brands are also working on finalizing their LEED-certified prototype plans as well.
If you like what we’re doing to go green, let us know. If you have a suggestion, be sure to pass it on. We’d like to hear any ideas or suggestions you have for us.
Thanks for helping us keep Courtyard on the go.
It’s great to know that a huge chain like Courtyard Marriott is working so hard to make their hotel properties more eco-friendly and sustainable. Our website, RezHub.com, has a green score rating system integrated into our hotel directory. If you’d be interested in getting all of the relevant Courtyard properties rated with a green score on our site, please contact me efolgate@rezhub.com