What is a "Green Hotel"?
You may be wondering exactly what it means for a hotel to be considered a Green Hotel. There can be multiple interpretations for what it means for something or someone to be “green.”
According to the Zero Waste Alliance, the term “green hotels” describes hotels that strive to be more environmentally friendly through the efficient use of energy, water, and materials while providing quality services.
I consider this a solid definition for green hotels, but “many unscrupulous hoteliers are claiming that they are ‘green’ by simply hanging a sign and declaring themselves to be ‘green’” (Pizam). Other hotels are claiming to be green also by the simple practices like changing the linens less frequently or other small measures. This brings up the issue on what hotels need to implement in order to be considered “environmentally correct,” as well as their intentions. It is unethical for hotels to falsely advertise their “green” standards for a larger customer base, yet, “a growing number of hoteliers are sincerely instituting programs that save water and energy, reduce solid waste, use resources economically, protect the planet’s ecosystem, and provide products and services that do no harm to human health.” The institution of these programs is a solid base for hotels to be considered “environmentally correct,” but most countries and states do not have a legal or universally accepted definition. Because of this, there are certification programs by non-profit organizations and other governments for hotels to distinguish themselves from those who falsely claim to be green. Soon, I believe that hotels will have no other choice but to become “real green” in the future because of spiraling costs of energy and the depletion of resources.
I consider this a solid definition for green hotels, but “many unscrupulous hoteliers are claiming that they are ‘green’ by simply hanging a sign and declaring themselves to be ‘green’” (Pizam). Other hotels are claiming to be green also by the simple practices like changing the linens less frequently or other small measures. This brings up the issue on what hotels need to implement in order to be considered “environmentally correct,” as well as their intentions. It is unethical for hotels to falsely advertise their “green” standards for a larger customer base, yet, “a growing number of hoteliers are sincerely instituting programs that save water and energy, reduce solid waste, use resources economically, protect the planet’s ecosystem, and provide products and services that do no harm to human health.” The institution of these programs is a solid base for hotels to be considered “environmentally correct,” but most countries and states do not have a legal or universally accepted definition. Because of this, there are certification programs by non-profit organizations and other governments for hotels to distinguish themselves from those who falsely claim to be green. Soon, I believe that hotels will have no other choice but to become “real green” in the future because of spiraling costs of energy and the depletion of resources.