24 Sep 2007: Green hotels can save the world!

Not meaning to sound righteous, but how many of us turn the lights off in our hotel room when we leave? Switch the TV off or leave it on stand by? Use the shower or bath water sparingly? I know I've been guilty of some of these.

Now consider the millions of hotel rooms around the world. The loss of energy, money and resources must be absolutely astounding. In a hotel recently I heard a receptionist explain to a guest that the second plastic key card they were given (which switches the rooms power off when you leave it) was actually so they could keep the AC going when they had left the room!!?!?!?!? They also insisted you use a fresh towel for the pool and another for your room, doubling the quantity of washing - what a waste of energy.

It's up to us, the hotel guests, to start applying pressure to non-conforming hotels by booking the hotels which make "green" efforts. Rewarding them with your business will encourage them to do more and other hotels to do something. If hotels create an infrastructure which is effortless for the guest and not a compromise on quality and experience, then we all win. We have started to highlight some of these options under the "Availability Search" category options, but will do more over the coming months.

One to try: The Zetter Hotel in Clerkenwell has many green initiatives happening including having their own bore onsite and strong recycling policies in-house which staff follow. They have recently also won awards for their efforts in green tourism.

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