A whole heap of Green Certificates for the hospitality Industry

Globally there are so many different green certification schemes for the hotel and hospitality industries that both the hoteliers and their customers are both confused and frustrated. What is needed is a common benchmark!..
By: Paul Rees
 
Oct. 4, 2011 - PRLog -- We are all aware that creating a sustainable way forward in tourism is both necessary and beneficial to the industry. Your clients are looking for green accommodation and travel, event organisers and meeting planners are under pressure to provide green venues, especially within the government sector, and sustainability can also mean more profit to your organisation.
According to the World Tourism Organization, ecotourism is the fastest growing market in the tourism industry, growing at a rate of 5% worldwide and representing over 11% of all consumer spending.
The non-profit International Ecotourism Society recently stated 'more than two-thirds of U.S. and Australian travelers, and 90% of British tourists, consider active protection of the environment and support of local communities to be part of a hotel's responsibility.'
From this you clearly see that to stay competitive in the market, you need to be green certified – but which one? There is Green Leaf, Green Key Global, Green Globe, Green Seal, Green Tourism Business Scheme, and for all we know Green Giant (I made that up)!
The UNWTO (World Tourism Organisation) is currently meeting in Cambodia (3-5 October 2011) to discuss Ecotourism, one of the outcomes is purported to be “Delegates conclude with the drafting of a Declaration, sealing the commitment of a common vision and collective affirmative actions to be undertaken.”
Is it not time for the world’s governments to come up with a common standard for the Industry to be measured by? I understand that there will be regional variations required, but it is not beyond the means of man (or government official) to allow for these. In this way the hotel and travel Industries will all have a collective understanding of what is required and how to achieve truly recognized green certification, and your customers will understand how to measure your achievements.
This article is the introduction to a series of articles on ecotourism, the way forward from Hotelier.com.
Author: Paul Rees
http://www.hotelier.com

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Source:Paul Rees
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Tags:Hospitality Green Certification, Sustainability, Hotel Green Certification, Wto, Unwto
Industry:Environment, Tourism, Travel
Location:Shrewsbury - Shropshire - England
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