Just what Green Hotel?

A green hotel is one that strives for being green. Specifically, these eco-friendly inns make efforts in construction, renovation and daily maintenance that reduce the businesses use of water and energy, and which reduce solid waste.
Many of these changes could be as simple as outfitting each room with the towel change cards that many of us have all seen in our travels in the past years. These cards encourage guests to go green by reusing their towels which saves water and reduces the amounts of detergent which is delivered to water processing facilities and potentially into lakes or rivers. For the green hotel owner, this straightforward sign can save thousands of dollars a year in lowered electricity, water, detergent and manual labor costs. By being a green hotel it is possible to impress your customers, save money and help protect the environment.
The key benefits of a Green Hotel
Learning to be a green hotel is an excellent strategy to open up a uniquely new customer base. Every savvy marketer sees that today becoming environmentally friendly inside your operations translates right to more green money in your bank deposit every week; turning an ordinary hotel in to a green hotel is almost certain to increase profits.

Increasing profits by becoming green happens through two avenues. The main way that green accommodations can increase profits is as simple as earning additional revenue through attracting customers who care about the environment. There is little about becoming a green hotel that could shut off the few customers who don’t care about being eco-friendly, but much that may attract customers that specifically care about eco issues. Simply speaking, you boost your customer base by appealing to an individualized crowd, without impacting your mass appeal to travelers as a whole.
The next method that a green hotel increases profits is as simple as minimizing operational costs, an implicit component of being a green inn. A great number of efforts are small and require almost no initial cost output. Towel change cards are certainly one illustration of big financial impact with almost no financial output. For hotels with restaurants, serving water upon request only is a cost-free change that can add up to big savings. Of course, larger changes for example installing cost effective HVAC systems may help to a bundle, but you do not have to spend a great deal to take advantage of green operations.
Deciding on a Green Hotel

For travelers wishing to stay at a green hotel there are numerous of ways to find and verify that the hotel is green. Over the coming years it will become less difficult as the green hotel initiative will take off, helping more and more hotels to go green.

One way to choose a green hotel is to simply check out the website or pamphlet of the chosen hotel for a green certification tag. The Green Business Bureau (GBB) certifies green hotels, among other businesses, so you can feel comfortable knowing that you have truly chosen a business who strives to use sustainable, eco-friendly practices.
You may also search through the GBB database at www.gbb.org to locate hotels, along with businesses, which are certified green. While other online green certifications do exist and can be useful in your efforts to pick green, the GBB keeps a comprehensive database of green hotels, providing details about each hotel including location, mapping and website details. By choosing green accommodations you may help offset your carbon footprint and feel happier about your vacation choices.

How to Become a Green Hotel
Being a green hotel requires that you first obtain information, then make environmentally sustainable changes in your business processes and equipment. You’ll want to follow this up by obtaining a certification that advertises your commitment to eco-friendly practices. These changes may be simple and inexpensive. Simply installing low-flow shower heads, putting towel change cards in the rooms, and working towards recycling will put you on the path towards becoming green.

For Earth loving hotel owners who would like to get involved on the green action, visiting www.gbb.org is an excellent starting point. Our staff can work with you on your green initiative, showing you how you can earn more income and pay out less money, all while helping improve our world. Once you’ve a become a green hotel, you can be certified green through the GBB, adding our certification tag to your site and print materials, letting all of your customers realize that you have made a commitment to them and to the environment.