Guest Post by Sam Marquis
Considering a ‘green’ vacation this summer? One of these resorts might just be the ticket
Environmental Awareness In Tourism Is Growing. As an independent commercial contractor, I’ve witnessed the initial implementation of “green” building materials. Responsible tourism is important in today’s society. Various individuals are working hard to increase sustainability and their devotion to being eco-friendly is being recognized.
Las Vegas in particular has made great strides toward becoming an eco-friendly city. The Las Vegas Palazzo Resort was recently named ‘Most Eco Friendly Hotel in America,’ and with good reason. This resort finds ways to reuse its own waste, making it a little more self-sustaining while also containing water recycling systems and solar panels for heating.
Wild Asia, an Asian accommodation provider, gives out annual Responsible Tourism Awards to organizations that demonstrate an admirable level of respect for the environment. A number of categories are recognized, among them are; Wildlife Conservation and Cultural Preservation.
There are several ways resorts and hotels can become more sustainable. Many organizations are implementing eco-friendly systems such as:
- Installing automatic-shutoff faucets and showerheads
- Using motion sensors to turn off lights when a room is empty
- Serving local foods
- Many hotels in Vegas are fitted with items meet LEED certification standards
- Some New York City hotels, such as Ink48, are matching the Palazzo Resort’s self-sustaining waste recycling programs
- Many others are working to reduce their carbon footprints
- Ink48 has gone so far as to create a program called Earthcare, which allows its members to discuss new ways to reduce the impact they have on the planet
It’s truly great to see so many people working to improve our environmental situation. Increased sustainability of the most heavily used facilities helps the planet and raises awareness. With nearly 40 million travelers in Las Vegas last year alone, there’s no doubt that people will become more conscious of our effect on the environment.
And it’s not just Asia who is recognizing eco-friendly tourism – the Las Vegas Palazzo Hotel & Resort was recently named the ‘ Most Eco-Friendly Hotel in America ’. The Palazzo is dedicated to reducing their impact on the environment and calls it ‘the cornerstone of their business model’. They reuse water, waste, and generate their own power, providing a powerful example of how a business can be environmentally conscious and still successful. There are more than 40 million tourists who travel to Las Vegas every year on vacation. As a result many hotels in Las Vegas are being built, all of which contain sustainable features.
Cleanliness and Awareness campaigns on environment is highly needed for big companies that involves bigger operations.