SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL
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Want to make sure that your next room is environmentally conscious? Holly Tuppen explains how to spot the most sustainable stays, whether booking a city hotel or rural retreat
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ccommodation comes in all shapes and sizes, and Reusing 75% of the building’s former interiors has also saved so does its potential for positive impact, from thousands of tons of construction waste from landfills. In pioneering wastewater management to employ- Prague, Mosaic House Design Hotel not only recycles wasteing those that need it most. A recent booking. water but uses its excess heat to generate energy; its only the com survey (2021) revealed that although over second building in the world to do so. 80% of travellers want to book sustainable accommodation, Green certifications are a good indicator of commitment. just under half of them don’t know where to look. So, here There are over 200 out there, so look for those that are Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) recognised are a few thought-starters to help guide the way. Locally owned, small and indeor certified and involve some form of onsite (ideally external) assesspendent properties are often more sustainable than big hotel chains. “Is the hotel walking the ment. Booking.com is currently They are less likely to have the enordisplaying over 30 certifications talk? Look for whether officially approved by the GSTC, mous water and carbon footprint associated with construction, more it has an environmental Green Tourism and the EU Ecolabel likely to use local employees, artisans (although booking direct is best for policy with concrete the destination). and suppliers, and genuinely care for figures and targets” the destination, both environmentally Other things to look out for and socially. Locally owned stays also include an environmental policy with avoid the economic leakage of interconcrete figures and targets to prove nationally owned properties; your money is more like to that a hotel is walking the talk. A sincere commitment to remain 100% in the destination you’re travelling to. solving the climate crisis demonstrates an understanding In South America, pocket-sized Guyana demonstrates of the bigger picture. Addressing conservation and biodihow accommodation can cater to guests and locals alike. versity restoration is critical here, too. Even a city hotel As part of a new tourist circuit in the country, the Guyana can do its bit to support our much-depleted natural world Tourism Authority helped four indigenous communities by using any available space for insect-friendly plants and build ecolodges that they own and manage. In rural Hima- partnering with urban conservation initiatives. layan destinations throughout Nepal, India and Bhutan, Other things that demonstrate a will for positive change Sustainable group walking tour operator Village Ways has taken a simi- include a sustainable sourcing policy, local hiring (ideally sunsets lar approach, supporting villagers to create homestays via more than 70% of employees will be from the local area), Monteverde’s Senda building and administrative advice and funding. Similarly, green teams, living wages (higher than minimum wage), an hotel aims to fully immerse visitors in Borneo, KOPEL is a community-run conservation organ- understanding of responsible travel issues like over-tourism, into the local culture and nature isation established by a former Intrepid Travel group leader. and a diversity, equity and inclusion policy. On Intrepid’s Borneo Family Holiday itinerary, visitors spend If all this research seems a little daunting, one of the best a night in KOPEL’s unique jungle huts on stilts. ways to tell if accommodation is genuinely committed to In each example, the accommodation has a low impact sustainability is to ask. The most passionate advocates for a on the environment and is built and operated on a commu- better future will be eager to share what they’re doing. nity’s terms. These homestays and ecolodges also help rural communities thrive economically, avoiding urban migration and maintaining a more sustainable way of life. REALITY CHECK: AIRBNB Our travel plans don’t always involve off-grid ecolodges Airbnb has revolutionised how we travel, allowing visitors to leap straight and homestays, so it’s important to scrutinise city hotels for into the beating heart of a community. However, it has come at a cost. In sustainability, too. Urban accommodations leading the way 2019, a report by the Economic Policy Institute found that ‘the presence of also provide solutions to specific, local needs. For example, Airbnb raises local housing costs’. Several major cities (including Barcelona Lemon Tree Hotels in India employs people that are usually and Paris) have since tightened regulations to tackle over-tourism and denied work opportunities due to a learning or physical disabilensure that housing caters for residents rather than tourists. Fairbnb is a ity. In Austria, 80% of employees at Magdas Hotel are refugees. sustainable alternative; it doesn’t allow people to list second homes, and a In water-stressed San Francisco, Cavallo Point’s water percentage of fees go to community projects. reclamation system saves a million gallons of water per year.
38 February/March 2022
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Mike Dell - Coffee Abroad;
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Sustainable Accommodation
