Eco-Friendly Hotels That Go Above and Beyond

Sep 14

Sustainable travel is now simpler than ever owing to a number of eco-friendly travel firms and hotels. The best news is that you don't have to give up fancy facilities in order to lower your carbon footprint. These 14 hotels are going above and above to go green while still providing a terrific experience for their guests.

Fairmont Waterfront, Canada

Vancouver is already an environmentally conscious city, but the Fairmont Waterfront takes it a step further. This luxury hotel has its own rooftop garden and apiary, which produce over 20 species of herbs, vegetables, fruits, and edible blooms that are occasionally served alongside sustainable, local fish on the restaurant menu. The Fairmont Waterfront also features a hotel for bees on its rooftop, where they may make their own honey and live in a safe environment.

Hotel X Toronto, Canada

Hotel X in Toronto may appear posh, but it is nonetheless committed to environmental practices. This high-rise hotel doesn't trade eco-friendly methods for luxury, with six green roofs, a stringent recycling programme, on-site renewable energy systems, and much more.

JW Marriott Hotel, Singapore

One of the most stunning eco-friendly aspects of Singapore's JW Marriott Hotel is its microclimatic canopy. The canopy is shaped like an ocean wave and has solar panels as well as rainwater collection. Its design promotes ventilation and incorporates spectrally chosen glass, which keeps the building one to two degrees cooler beneath.

Daintree Ecolodge, Australia

This eco-friendly hotel is located in the midst of the world's oldest rainforest, the Daintree Rainforest, and collaborates with the local Aboriginal population to conserve the surrounding region and fight destruction. The Daintree Ecolodge is a carbon-neutral facility that is partially powered by solar panels. The hotel also has a biocycle waste water treatment system, which allows 100% of the water to be recycled and used for irrigation and watering.

Hotel Verde, Tanzania

Hotel Verde in Zanzibar encourages visitors to be eco-friendly by offering its own money system to those that engage in energy-efficient activities such as climbing the stairs, reusing towels and sheets, and carefully sorting trash and recycling. "Verdinos" can be applied on your final bill or used towards coffee and meals at the hotel. Hotel Verde also incorporates grey and black water recycling systems as well as LED low-watt lighting.

W San Francisco Hotel, United States

The W San Francisco Hotel is the first LEED-EB Platinum-certified building in North America, with beehives and an aquaponics system on its roof (it has fish on the bottom and hydroponically-grown plants and flowers on top). The honey and flowers are used in a variety of recipes and beverages around the hotel. Going green has never looked or tasted so good.

Proximity Hotel, United States

Greensboro's Proximity Hotel may be the most environmentally friendly hotel in the United States. It is the first hotel in America to earn the LEED Platinum certification, with over 70 sustainable initiatives in place. In addition to a solar-paneled roof and a recycling programme, the Proximity Hotel in North Carolina uses geothermal energy in refrigerators and elevators that generate power.

Soneva Fushi, Maldives

Soneva Fushi pioneered eco-friendly resorts in the Maldives. Activities, including guest flights to the island, are carbon-neutral, and the island is self-sufficient, relying on rainfall and desalination procedures. Their waste-to-wealth initiative recycles shredded Styrofoam and concrete into lightweight bricks used for employee housing that stay cool in the summer. Soneva Fushi has also become a hub for glass art, transforming abandoned wine and liquor bottles into gallery showpieces as well as restaurant plates and cups.

Whitepod, Switzerland

Whitepod is a collection of eco-luxury pods in the Swiss Alps with wood burners fuelled by locally produced wood. LED LEDs illuminate the pods, and local spring water replaces water bottles. They recycle waste, use less water, and buy locally. Even the crew walks to work, which is hardly surprising given the magnificent natural surrounds.

Bardessono, United States

The famous Bardessono in Napa Valley is one of the country's only LEED Platinum-certified hotels. Given that the land had been in the family for decades prior to the resort's construction, every feature was meticulously planned to be as environmentally friendly as possible. During the construction phase, reclaimed wood was used for floors, walls, and doors, and 93% of waste was recycled. The hotel also has drought-resistant plants throughout the grounds, geothermal energy for heating and cooling, and an abundance of solar panels.

Olas Tulum, Mexico

Olas Tulum, located in southern Tulum, is environmentally sustainable in every way. The hotel's design harnesses the greatest Caribbean Sea breezes, removing the need for air conditioning, while solar panels power the entire resort. This resort is Mexico's only LEED Platinum-certified property. Olas Tulum additionally constructed subsurface water sources and rain collection systems, as well as composting all organic and cooking waste to nourish plants. All of the resort's cuisine is also supplied locally from nearby farmers.

Siloso Beach, Singapore

Siloso Beach Resort was founded in 2006 and is the only eco-resort residing on the beautiful island of Sentosa in Singapore. Nestled within its lush foliage surrounding and overlooking the breathtaking South China Sea, the resort hosts a wide range of accommodations. Amenities include a unique natural spring water swimming pool, waterfall feature, water slides, hot water spa pool and a gym room. The environmental achievements of Singapore Bay Resort (SBR) have been recognized by ASEAN Business Awards and the President's Award for the Environment. Over 200 Sentosa-native trees were architecturally circumnavigated and conserved during the Resort's construction. SBR actively employs persons with special needs, allowing them to study, grow, and earn their own money.

Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort, Thailand

This lovely property near the famous Chao Phraya River, Bangkok, Thailand collaborated with the Bangsai Agricultural Centre to create an outstanding rooftop garden comprised of many greenhouse structures outfitted with hydroponic gutter systems. After years of study and testing, the locally owned Bangsai successfully created specialised methods and equipment that allow firms like Anantara to cultivate produce year-round in the searing Bangkok heat.