By Guest Contributor, Sam Marquit, Co-author of Fair Marquit Value (fmarquitv.tumblr.com)
As a commercial contractor, I see a number buildings and facilities that could benefit from going green. The benefits of green materials and sustainable practices are truly amazing for business owners and homeowners, but especially for hotels. Fortunately, there is a real trend in the United States for hotels to become more energy conscious and eco-friendly. They don´t just do it for marketing purposes, but because these big hotels have a responsibility to promote recycling, sustainability and green materials. One of the most important parts of going green is becoming LEED certified. However, just doing that isn't enough. Businesses should also be recognized for going above and beyond LEED certification, especially when they do more for their communities. In Asia, community engagement, community development, cultural awareness, natural area preservation, resource efficiency and other eco-friendly practices are all categories in responsible tourism for The Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Awards. Since the award show celebrates what businesses can do for their cultural and environmental surroundings, it's an incredible way to promote businesses, green building and eco-friendly practices as well as responsible tourism. In the United States, there isn't an equivalent awards program like the Wild Asia Responsible Tourism awards, but that hasn't stopped many hotels in U.S. big cities from doing something to be more eco friendly.
Implementing a recycling program or installing showerheads and faucets with shut off valves that are automatic are good first steps to LEED certification for hotels. Hotels in Las Vegas have done a number of things to become more environmentally conscious and proudly promote the sustainability of their hotels. Since the tourism industry focuses on hotels and lifestyles at these getaway spots, it's important to keep in mind how waste can lead to sustainability. One Las Vegas hotel was awarded for being the "Most Eco-Friendly Hotel in America." The Las Vegas Palazzo Resort incorporated a number of sustainable elements into its hotel and also recycles or reuses waste.
Other hotels in big cities have also adopted greener practices. For example, in New York City, hotels have begun to implement eco-friendly practices and waste recycling because it helps cut down on energy costs. It also gave them on edge on competition when marketing for new guests. Responsible tourism goes a long way to bring a customer´s eye to your get away spot. Ink48 Hotel was one of the large hotels to even start a program called Earthcare. Members of Earthcare get together and speak about ways that they can affect change on the planet in a positive light.
It's not every day that you see businesses pulling together in an industry to affect worldwide change. The hotel industry continues to put its best foot forward to advance responsible tourism. Through their eco-friendly practices, they have truly saved a ton of waste and protected some of the precious resources in their areas. Las Vegas hotels see a lot of action. There are over 124,000 hotel rooms and 40,000,000 travelers to this neon hot spot in Nevada. For that reason, responsible tourism truly takes on a whole new light for this big city. However, it shouldn't just be hotels that are getting into this LEED certified, waste recycling, eco-friendly world.
Every business can benefit from eco-friendly and recycling practices, whether it's just to save on energy or to ensure that the local environment is not being affected. We all have a part to play in the future of our planet, and with that in mind, it's essential that business owners as well as homeowners do something sustainable and eco-conscious every day. If we can affect change within our local communities, then we can affect change throughout the world and truly bring about a positive change for the entire planet. Big city hotels shouldn't be the only ones taking part in responsible tourism. In your travels, I encourage you to look for ways that you can also become a motivating factor for going green and traveling responsibly.
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