Surprisingly Sustainable STAYS

Explore the earth while you save the earth—add these sustainable resorts to your bucket list.

By Sam Micatrotto

While traveling as a concept is increasingly held to a higher standard for ecofriendly activity, many hotels are now adopting more sustainable habits to give back to Mother Earth. And, according to Booking.com’s “2021 Sustainable Travel Report,” 72 percent of travelers think travel companies should offer more sustainable choices.

So if you’re one of those jetsetters looking to add some sustainability to your next vacation, add these energy efficient or ecofriendly hotels to your list:

Save The Reef

Aqua-Aston Hospitality, an operating business of Marriott Vacations Worldwide, has established itself as a leader in conscious travel. In an effort to keep not only its guests but also the ocean safe, Aqua-Aston partnered with Little Hands Hawaii—a Hawaii based, family-run small business—to provide all hotel guests at its 20 plus locations with reef-friendly sunscreen. More than 6,000 tons of sunscreen enters the ocean in Hawaii each year, and as a result reef bleaching can occur, causing coral to ultimately die.

Another Hawaiian hotel that is dedicated to reef safety is The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club in Honolulu. Before heading out to the pool or one of Hawaii’s beautiful beaches, hotel guests are encouraged to lather up with Raw Elements sunscreen, a reef-safe alternative to SPF, courtesy of complimentary dispensers on the property.

Sustainable Structures

Cool down after a day in the sun during your next trip to Turks and Caicos at the luxurious Rock House resort. This resort combines sustainability and architectural design in the form of greywater harvesting, natural ventilation to cool down the resort and a beautiful landscape that consists only of local species of plants. And, a view almost as stunning as the crystal blue waters, the resort itself is a sight to see. Located at the base of a limestone cliff, the Rock House offers a stylish beach club and jetty, which extends 100 feet over the water, allowing guests to sail the waters on yachts and excursion boats to really make the most of their getaway.

ENERGY-EFFICIENT POOLS

Any time you check in for a stay at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa, you’re bound to feel connected to the planet. The property is surrounded by beautiful desert scenery with a breathtaking view of the McDowell Mountains—perfect for anyone looking to get away and reconnect with nature.

There’s no doubt you’ll want to spend some time at the resort’s 2.5-acre water playground, an oasis made up of 10 swimming pools, poolside cabanas, a Grotto bar and a three-story high-speed water slide that the hotel recently enhanced to become more energy efficient and mindful of water usage. The Hyatt Regency Scottsdale was also rated #5 Best Value of 26 Green Hotels in Scottsdale on Tripadvisor.

If your travels take you to the Dominican Republic, consider Club Med Michès Playa Esmeralda, the only operating resort in Michès. This all-inclusive luxury resort thought of it all when it came to sustainable efforts. Their adults-only Zen pool, tucked away in the Emerald Jungle, is naturally-filtered by plants—as the water passes through the plants’ roots and soil, the elements work their magic to clean the pool water, no harsh chemicals required!

An eco-friendly hotel pool isn’t the only thing that makes Club Med Michès Playa Esmeralda a sustainable stay. Their employees’ uniforms are made from recycled plastic (using approximately 40 percent less energy consumption than polyester production), they source coffee, cacao and produce from local farms, have an on-site “community” garden to educate guests on planting, recycling and composting and they banned single-use plastics.