Green Hotels in Asia and the Pacific

“Green is not a movement, it is an imperative. Sustainability is not just a philosophy, it is good business.” ~ GMIC 2011

Every day, more and more hotels worldwide are embracing Green and Sustainable Tourism.

Introducing Green Hotels Asia Pacific, our network of Eco-friendly hotels committed to environment-friendly operations management which aims for ecological protection and best Green Hotels practices to include:

• Energy Management & Saving
• Water Management & Saving
• Waste Management – Reuse, Reduce & Recycle Policies & Practices
• Minimizing  Carbon Footprint (i.e. the amount of carbon dioxide which is emitted at the atmosphere by everyday activities)
• Offering Natural and Local-sourced products to their guests
• Building an Environmental-friendly Culture and communicating it to staff and guests

Green Hotels program: Ecological Waste Mangement

 OUR VISION

• Our vision is our network to be the most reliable eco hotels network around Globe.

OUR COMMITMENT

• To promote sustainability to hotel sector

• To integrate innovation in our environmental actions

• To network hoteliers, operators, costumers and guests

• To promote Greenhotels around the world

• To integrate environmental customer satisfaction and needs to our “culture”

• To bring added value to the hotel industry

Green Hotels Training: Energy Efficiency

OUR BUSINESS MODEL

• Full committment to our Sustainability policy

• Ecological knowledge & experience

• Use of state-of-the-art technology

• Promotion via social media, internet and other technologies

• Green collaboration with all business sectors

A Green Hotels member, Kea Villas, Greece

BASIC SERVICES

• Auditing and sustainability action plans

• Waste management focusing in minimization and 3R’s Reuse, Reduce, Recycle

• Water management & saving

• Energy management & saving

• Purchasing management – procuring sustainability

• Certification – Travelife or other schemes

• CSR Management & Reporting Guest Engagement in Sustainability

• Promotion through Google add words

• Customized Training & Capacity Building for Managers & Staff

• Social media marketing

• Green marketing

• Online consulting services

• The Clean Blue Sustainable Beach Management

Green Hotels: Mitigating Climate Change

OUR GREEN HOTELS NETWORK

Green Hotels network consists of hotels that have implemented operational systems and methods that are eco-oriented, work towards the protection of environment and have applied principles of environmental management.

Through Green Hotels portal, the hotel itself is being promoted,  its ecological character, its environmental actions and other related activities – if available- which take place in the surrounding area. Moreover, great attention is given to the presentation of the personality of hotel’s manager, as he/she is considered to be the key person behind the development and establishment of the eco-character of the described hotel.

Green Hotels member Aristi Mountain Resort

Green Hotels network aims to promote not only the hotels through descriptive texts and photos, but also their owners and managers. Our network consists of hotels that offer guests a unique and holistic experience throughout their stay from check-in to check-out, in hospitable and eco-friendly atmosphere, with eco-knowledgeable staff ready to serve and inform them about the environment-friendly practices of the hotel which enhance the guest experience..

YOUR GREEN ADVANTAGE

• Fulfill Legislation standards
• Protect the environment
• Reduce of energy, waste, water use and water waste
• Fulfill shareholders, employees, guests and public expectations of eco-friendly standards
• Enhance company’s image and reputation
• 93% prefer a green hotel compared to another one without environmental policy
• 70% would like to practice environmental actions during their stay

Economic + Ecological = your Green Hotels Cutting Edge Advantage

YOUR CUTTING EDGE BENEFITS

• Your hotel/resort will be included in our Green Hotels, listed in most eco travel pages.
• Green Hotels is the first Eco hotels network in Asia Pacific
• Green Hotels principal in the Mediterranean has an experienced team within the fields of environmental management systems, marketing, lobbying.
• By becoming a member of our network you become a member of a global network.

Green Hotels committed to Sustainability and innovation

We, the *Green Hotels team,  are COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABILITY and INNOVATION. For more information on how to green your hotel/s and become a pioneering GREEN HOTELS member in Asia and the Pacific, email us at: sustainability@sonixnet.jp or visit: http://www.sustainabilityguruasiapacific.com

 * Green Hotels is not a certification or award

The Coron, Boracay & Negros Initiatives are Sustainable Tourism, Conservation and Social Responsibility frameworks being implemented with institutional partners Green Hotels & The Clean Blue. Sustainability Capacity Building and Training programs towards a green economy for cities, communities and destinations  include Good Governance, Rio 21 Agenda, Waste Management/3Rs/MRF, Resilience, Disaster Prevention and Management. Educational programs can be customized for public and private stakeholders, local government units, private businesses and the local community in general. For more info, check our website: http://www.sustainabilityguruasiapacific.com or email sustainability@sonixnet.jp.

Photo credits: greenhotel.com.gr

Sustainable Ethos for Occidental Negros

The Society for Sustainable Tourism & Development, Inc. (SSTDI) is a newly formed not-for-profit, non-government organization (NGO) to lead & implement the Negros Occidental’s Sustainable Tourism capacity building and training, promoting green travel experiences of culture, cuisine, conservation and meaningful visits to local communities.    

Last October 2011, while working on The Boracay & Coron Initiatives I took a side trip to my home province sugar land Negros Occidental in southern Philippines. Upon request of Tita Sonia Sarrosa, energetic CEO of 2010 ASEAN Green Hotel Awardee Nature’s Village Resort, I did a stopover to give a talk and presentation on Conservation, Social Responsibility and Sustainable Tourism.   I was happy to learn that in fact, Negros Occidental became the first organic province and aims to be the organic bowl of Asia.

Private farm of Bonnin family

A select group of Provincial officials and private tourism stakeholders were waiting patiently for my delayed flight to listen to my presentation, gleaned from my first hand experience with Inkaterra, Peru’s Eco pioneer and Conservation Leader since 1975.

Next day, we visited Sagay City, south of the province, home of Museo sang Bata Sa Negros (Children’s Interactive Marine Museum).  The Museum size, design and exhibits were originally intended for children but it is an attraction for visitors of all ages, too. Its focus is to educate primarily, children  on Coastal Marine resources especially of nearby Carbin Reef Marine Reserve. However the Museum also serves as a Welcome Center for all guests, offering a brief intro about Sagay’s marine biodiversity, conservation programs and a small hall dedicated to Sagay’s son, the late Governor Joseph Maranon. Several children act as guides in each mini-exhibit and their spiels are heartwarming and interesting not only for kids but also for adults

Just a quick motor boat ride from the pier across the water, we island-hopped to Carbin Reef Sandbar, the visitors’ base to the 200 hectare Marine Sanctuary. The tongue shaped white sand bar is open for day visitors on a limited capacity for swimming, snorkeling or scuba diving.From Carbin Reef, we took a brief ride to Barangay Vito, where we took the motorboat to Molocaboc Island. We were graciously welcomed by the Barangay Captain and residents who offered us an exquisite lunch of native seafood, proudly produced by the island. Molocaboc has no fresh water resource, thus all residents make use of large earthen jars for rain water catchment to have water supply.

Sagay, Negros Occidental’s rich marine resources

Japanese NGO’s visit the island yearly to do their outreach programs to include mangrove reforestation and sea ranching (a sustainable way of aquaculture & fishing). We then took a quick visit to the farm of college-friend, Jojo Bonnin in Barangay Alangilan,  a mini green-hideaway, just 15 minutes from the city.

Jojo Bonnin’s farm, mini green getaway

From this visit, The Negros Initiative was born, to develop responsible travel to Negros with proponents to include: Eco Agri Sustainable Agri Farm  showcase, Don Salvador Benedicto, the next emerging eco hot spot in the Philippines, and Fresh Start Organic Sustainable Agri tours.

Agri Tourism Sustainable Farm Show Case

The Society for Sustainable Tourism & Development, Inc. (SSTDI) is formed to lead The Negros Initiative in the Sustainable Tourism, Conservation and Social Responsibility development for Negros with institutional partners Zero Carbon Resorts, Green Hotels & Clean Blue. Sustainability

Society for Sustainable Tourism & Development, Inc. (SSTDI)

Capacity Building and Training programs for cities, municipalities and communities  include Good Governance, Rio 21 Agenda, Waste Management/3Rs/MRF, Resilience, Disaster Prevention and Management. Educational programs will be customized for public and private stakeholders, local government units, private businesses and the grassroots community in general.

ZERO CARBON RESORTS is our joint project with GrAt for the SMEs in the Tourism Industry to reduce carbon footprint by switching from use of fossil fuel to renewable energy sources especially solar energy and green technologies.

Green Hotels Asia Pacific our network of reliable eco-responsible hotels

GREEN HOTELS ASIA PACIFIC is our network of the most reliable eco responsible hotels around the world. It works to help the hotel industry embrace sustainability by integrating innovation and added value with environmental actions in a vibrant global exchange of green hoteliers, operators and responsible clients.

CLEAN BLUE ASIA is thenew industry standard for beach management and safety – ISO 13009 - the “Clean Blue Industry Standard” CBIS – to help provide beach operators with the information and guidance to effectively manage the beaches of Asia – Pacific.

For more information visit: http://sustainabilityguru.webstarts.com or email sustainability@sonixnet.jp

Green Getaways – travel and stay green!

conserving nature and culture while sharing it with the world

WHY GO GREEN?

Minimize impact, raise sensitivity

It is high time for savvy travelers and globe trotters to re-focus our travel and holiday mindset to SUSTAINABLE TOURISM: satisfying current tourist and host community needs, while protecting and improving future opportunities.

GOING BEYOND GREEN

Tourism for people, planet & profit.

It is enjoying our rich natural resources, while maintaining essential ecological processes, cultural integrity and biological diversity of beach destinations and cultural heritage sights, with lesser impact to community and environment.

Fight global climate change

GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE is taking its toll on the planet, wrecking havoc and destruction to our natural environment, rural communities and even big cities! We have to do our part in leaving less impact to the environment.

The message is RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL: let us protect the environment, care about local communities and culture as we explore, experience and enjoy. It’s travelling without a trace, stepping without footprints!

To know more about Sustainable Tourism, click here.

Stepping forward without footprints, embracing sustainability ethos.

Travel with a difference in these genuine GREEN GETAWAYS  such as our Negros Agri-tours, discover Don Salvador Benedicto (DSB) and Care for Coron‘s Tagbanua tribes-  meaningful journeys that touches the soul!

Coron Nature Experience: respect and protect nature

JOIN PERU DREAM TRIP  by Inkaterra, Peru’s Eco Pioneer and Conservation Leader since 1975; 100% Carbon Neutral travel and stay, any day departure. For more information and travel assistance to Peru, email sustainabilityg@sonixnet.jp

The Coron Initiative, The Negros Initiative & The Boracay Initiative are Sustainable Tourism, Conservation and Social Responsibility frameworks being implemented in Coron, Negros Occidental & Boracay with institutional partners Zero Carbon Resorts, Green Hotels & Clean Blue promoting green, eco-friendly and responsible travel.

Travel and stay green at our Green Hotels Asia Pacific member hotels!

GREEN HOTELS ASIA PACIFIC is our network of the most reliable eco responsible hotels around the world. It works to help the hotel industry embrace sustainability by integrating innovation and added value with environmental actions in a vibrant green global exchange of hoteliers, operators and responsible clients.

Sustainable Tourism, the way forward

Tourism is one of the world’s fastest growing industries and an important source of foreign exchange and employment for many developing countries. Since the mid 90’s we have heard of the term “Sustainable Tourism” and thought of it vaguely as something good for the planet and for the future of tourism but most of us do not really know what it is and its value.

Preserving culture and nature while sharing it with the rest of the world.

Sustainable is Explainable. According to the World Tourism Organization (WTO), Sustainable Tourism is “satisfying current tourist and host community needs, while protecting and improving future opportunities.” Put simply, Sustainability is the capacity to endure. In ecology the word describes how biological systems remain diverse and productive over time with due consideration for carrying capacity. For humanity, it is the continuing maintenance of its well-being, as it depends on the natural resources’ benefits and its responsible use.

Poverty, deforestation and destruction of marine eco systems has damaged some of the islands’ beauty and assets

In the Philippines, the 7107 islands archipelago is blessed with a wealth of natural resources: verdant tropical forest and a stunning range of marine biodiversity, even declared in one region as a Natural World Heritage site. However through the years, ignorance, recklessness, lack of education or awareness, poverty, deforestation and destruction of marine eco systems has damaged some of the islands’ beauty and assets, the very same source that provide livelihood for millions of citizens. More so for its top beach attractions, where stakeholders and travelers alike are unaware of their responsibility to conserve and avoid damage to the places they develop or visit, now vulnerable and threatened, and worse in some, endangered. This is not withstanding the fact that global climate change has fast-tracked the destruction.

Peru, destination of Ancient cultures, mysticism and tradition

Peru, is a country made up of three vast and distinct geographical zones, the 2,414 kilometers of the Pacific coast, featuring deserts, fertile valleys, savannas and spectacular surf beaches, the majestic peaks of the Andes mountains dominated by

Tropical rainforests dubbed as the Lungs of the earth.

However, its environment faces serious issues such asdeforestation from illegal logging, air pollution in Lima, toxic waste of rivers and coastal waters from municipal and mining wastes in the Central Peruvian Andes region and erosion of its mountains. Its tourism still in its infancy stage caters to both internal and international market, however it already faces threats to its archeological sites, biodiversity and natural wonders due to massive tourism.

Un-sustainable tourism has destroyed many destinations with pollution, waste, and overconsumption

According to UNEP, Sustainable Tourism describes policies, practices and programs that take into account not only the expectations of tourists regarding responsible natural resource management (demand), but also the needs of communities that support or are affected by tourism projects and the environment (supply)2. Sustainable tourism thus aspires to be more energy efficient and more “climate sound” (e.g. by using renewable energy); consume less water; minimise waste; conserve biodiversity, cultural heritage and traditional values; support intercultural understanding and tolerance; and generate local income and integrate local communities with a view to improving livelihoods and reducing poverty.

Local cultures, values and traditions are affected adversely from the profusion of massive expansion without any regard for eco balance. One major loss is authenticity, a major pillar in the principle of sustainable tourism, which should maintain the geographical character of a place, its environment, heritage, aesthetics, culture and well-being of its residents.

Community consultation in action, in Coron Island

Sustainable is Attainable.  Sustainable tourism development requires the informed participation of all relevant stakeholders, as well as strong political leadership to ensure wide participation and consensus building,” according to WTO guidelines. To achieve Sustainable Tourism, all sectors have to follow a continuous process which requires constant monitoring of impacts and implement the necessary preventive and/or corrective measures at all times.

In summary Sustainable Tourism is:

• Making optimal use of environmental resources that form a key element in tourism development, maintaining essential ecological processes and helping to conserve natural heritage and biodiversity

Community cooperation in conservation and tourism

• Respecting the sociocultural authenticity of host communities, conserving their built and living cultural heritage and traditional values, and contributing to inter-cultural understanding and tolerance.

Populace policy participation on Marine Protected Areas

• Ensuring viable, long-term economic operations, providing equal socio-economic benefits to all stakeholders, including stable employment, income-earning opportunities and social services to host communities and contributing to poverty alleviation.

Luxury lodgings at jungle’s best, exquisite regional cuisine, guests learning of the rainforest, biodiversity AND conservation

Sustainable tourism should not only satisfy the travelers’ needs of pleasure and relaxation but also ensure a meaningful experience that raises their awareness about preserving and conserving nature and culture while contributing to the local community as a lasting legacy.

Just like Inkaterra in Peru & Calamian Expeditions in Coron, Palawan’s ecological ethos, Sustainable Tourism is conserving culture and protecting  nature while sharing it with the rest of the world.

 The Coron Initiative, The Negros Initiative & The Boracay Initiative are Sustainable Tourism, Conservation and Social Responsibility frameworks being implemented in Coron, Negros Occidental & Boracay with institutional partners Zero Carbon Resorts, Green Hotels & Clean Blue. Sustainability Capacity Building and Training programs for  communities, cities and destinations  include Good Governance, Rio 21 Agenda-GreenEconomy, Waste Management/3Rs/MRF, Resilience, Disaster Prevention and Management. Educational programs can be customized for public and private stakeholders, LGUs, private businesses and the local community in general.

 ZERO CARBON RESORTS  is our joint project with GrAT  for SMEs in the Tourism Industry to reduce carbon footprint by switching from use of fossil fuel to renewable energy sources especially solar energy and green technologies.

Zero Carbon Resorts, reducing carbon footprint of the tourism industry

 GREEN HOTELS ASIA PACIFIC is our network of the most reliable eco responsible hotels around the world to help the hotel industry embrace sustainability by integrating innovation and added value with environmental actions in a vibrant green global exchange of hoteliers, operators and responsible clients.

Green Hotels Asia Pacific, our network of eco-responsible and sustainable hotels

 CLEAN BLUE ASIA is thenew industry standard for beach management and safety – ISO 13009 - CBIS standards.

References: UNEP, UN- WTO, National Geographic, Wikipedia. Photos credits: Al3 Photography for Coron, Palawan, Inkaterra for Peru