How to be a
“green” guest
By implementing a few
personal eco-friendly
practices, you can become
a green guest, even when
you’re not spending the
night in green lodging.
Here’s how:
• Keep showers short and
turn off the water while
brushing your teeth.
• Turn off air-condition-
ing, heat, television, lights
or other electric devices
Bellasera
when leaving the room.
Resort Outreach
• Reuse sheets and towels,
educates Consumers
rather than having them
Many resorts step up their greening pro-
changed daily. Many ho-
cess by giving guests eco-information.
tels will not replace towels
“Sometimes a resort provides guest edu-
if they are hanging neatly
cation about the existing environment
on towel bars. When un-
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point
around the hotel or about its green
sure of the housekeeping
initiatives,” says Pamela Vazquez, a
policy, call the front desk
A green key
spokesperson for the southwest dis-
or write the housekeeping
trict of DEP’s Green Lodging Program.
to State Sustainability
staff a note.
“Occasionally, they offer education
Support for Florida’s Green Lodg-
outreach programs, because these win-
ing Program is growing both from the
• Pack your own toiletries
win eco-friendly practices get Florida
bottom up and from the top down. A
and drinking cup, rather
visitors thinking green.”
recent Green Initiative issued by Florida
than using the prepack-
Guests enjoying their green stay
Governor Charlie Crist, for example, di-
aged ones provided. If you
at Bellasera, a luxury boutique hotel
rects state employees who travel to stay
use a portion of the hotel’s
in Naples, are among those who feel
in green lodgings whenever possible.
toiletries, take them with
good about supporting the integrity
Others, including the Urban Land
you and use them at home
and beauty of the local environment.
Institute’s (ULI) Southwest Florida
or during the rest of your
Bellasera has a One Palm designation.
District Council, also laud the program.
trip.
Its enthusiastic spa director also com-
“We show our support not only by
mits a percentage of their Verde Spa’s
featuring programs for our members
• Ask about the hotel’s
profits to the Conservancy of Southwest
on sustainable practices, but also by
recycling program and sort
Florida, in Naples.
holding our programs in local establish-
your trash accordingly. If
“I’ve noticed how more people
ments that have received their green
the hotel doesn’t recycle,
are trying to achieve better health for
designation, as long as their costs aren’t
consider taking your empty
themselves and their environment,”
prohibitive,” says Debrah Forester, co-
bottles or other items to
says Spa Director Lynn Domenici, “so,
chair of ULI’s sustainability committee.
recycle at home.
when I tell them about our designation
Supporting the program directly
and contributions to the Conservancy,
benefits Florida’s fragile ecosystems,
• Provide personal feed-
they get a little excited about being
a concept embraced by the Hyatt
back to your hotel. Express
part of something larger, above and
Regency Coconut Point Resort and
your appreciation for any
beyond enjoying their spa experience.”
Spa, in Bonita Springs. That resort is
eco-friendly practices it
Bellasera’s spa uses only organic and
the first in the state to earn a Three
employs. If none are used,
natural products, as well as recycled
Palm designation, by maintaining a
encourage management to
items whenever possible.
Two Palm designation and demonstrat-
go green in the future.
December 2008 27
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