MANILA, Philippines?More and more Filipinos are now becoming tourists in their own country as they learn to appreciate and explore the Philippines? mountains, seashores and other natural wonders. Many of these scenic areas, which were once undiscovered, are now developed and made accessible by developers who are enjoying very good business returns.

This is partly what accounts for the increase in local tourism which is now a billion-peso industry. In the process, visitors? accommodations in various forms have sprung up from small pension homes to inns and luxury hotels. After all tourism is one of the world?s largest industries.

One of the biggest issues

Environmental issues are one of the biggest issues in the travel industry today. It is a common experience now to find a note in a hotel room saying that towels are not changed every day to conserve precious water. Many hotels install flow restrictors in shower heads and aerators for faucets.

Ecologically-conscious hotels have adopted other measures to ensure sustainability in the earth?s resources. Some have recycling bins inside hotel rooms. Housekeeping staff members are enjoined to use nontoxic cleaners and detergents. They select suppliers who have high environmental standards. Even the coffee in hotel room mini bars is organically and shade-grown.

Hotel stationery and writing pads in many hotel rooms are made of recycled paper, and the management is pleased to inform guests about that. Paperless check-in and check-out is being encouraged as many procedures can be done electronically.

The hospitality industry has taken on an environmentally-responsive culture. Hotel guests are shown that simple steps have a positive impact on the environment.

Energy conservation

Energy is conserved by the key card system which automatically shuts down lights and air-conditioning when the guest leaves the room. Compact fluorescent lamps are almost in full use in most hotels.

Green design and proper building orientation are key factors that influence energy efficiency and comfort of hotel guests.

Some hotels abroad now offer eco-transportation and hybrid cars to transport guests to nearby places. They also have donation programs and give amenity bottles and tin cans and old newspapers to local charities.

Wall-to-wall carpets and heavy drapery are dust collectors, and eco-friendly hotels pamper their guests with healthier furnishings.

Using locally sourced building materials for hotel construction is a green practice and saves on embodied energy.

Cutting down a forest to build a resort destroys the ecosystem and has a negative impact on animals, air, water and future vegetation. Putting up a hotel in the middle of a forest is not ecologically-sound.

Wastewater treatment and management of chemical and toxic substance disposal are big concerns in the hospitality business today.

Green hotels

Hotels that reflect the local culture and spirit of the place are green hotels because they preserve the culture of the place and people.

In Bali, Indonesia, a famous resort spa involves the local community by hiring workers to maintain the traditional art work and craftsmanship used in the villas and interior furnishings.

In your choice of hotels it would be advisable to check out the green features and eco-friendly practices of hotels before making a reservation. Or, if you find that the hotel where you are staying lacks environmental consciousness, it will help all of us if you write a note and suggest to the hotel management to adopt environmental procedures and policies to make it a green hotel. Implementing environmental programs have been proven to boost the bottom line.

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