You're booking a trip, and you want to stay somewhere with eco-cred.
You look for the green leaves or some other symbol that indicates the hotel you're eyeing is doing its part. But you see different symbols from one hotel to another, and you don't know which to trust.
"There are thousands of different certification systems just for ecotourism alone - it can be very hard for the consumer to know which are just marketing tools, just greenwashing," says Rachel Dodds, eco-tourism consultant and university professor at Ryerson's School of Hospitality and Tourism.
Two years ago, tour operators worldwide agreed they needed official guides. So the United Nations Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria was created: It includes 37 voluntary criteria (pared down from 4,500) that outline the bare minimum tour operators aspiring to "green" should aim for.
The eco-savvy traveller can make sure the usual measures are taken, like motion-sensor lights, low-flush toilets and so on. But here's what the Sustainable Tourism guidelines also recommend hotels do:
-use locally appropriate and sustainable construction;
-provide information about the natural surroundings, local culture and heritage, and advice on appropriate behaviour while visiting natural areas, local communities and cultural heritage sites;
-hire local residents, including in management positions;
-purchase local and fair-trade services and goods;
-offer local entrepreneurs the chance to sell sustainable products based on the area's nature, history and culture;
-contribute to the protection of local historical and culturally important properties, and do not impede access to them by local residents;
-use elements of local art, architecture or cultural heritage in its operations, design, decor, food or shops;
-measure consumption of energy, water and greenhouse-gas emissions, and adopts measures to reduce consumption;
-minimize the use of harmful pesticides, paints, swimming-pool disinfectants and cleaning materials.
Remember, it's not good enough for a company to make a claim: A hotel shouldn't just say "we're zero waste" or "we're water friendly"; they should tell you exactly how they did it.
Staff, with a report from Zoe Cormier. Special to The Globe and Mail