How Green is your Hotel?

I was at a reception last week hosted by Canopy - celebrating, among other things, the development of "second harvest" paper made from straw.  They had a live auction for the last of a special edition of Margaret Atwood's new book, In Other Worlds, printed on said paper.  Many of the guests are involved in environmental organisations, and when I said what it was that I do for a living the question was raised: What hotel (or chain) is the "greenest"?

Very good question.

My first response was that new-builds are being designed to be more environmentally responsible, and one of the hotels that came to mind was the Delta Guelph, with its green roof, and lights on timers.  I'm pretty sure that the Ritz-Carlton Toronto is part of the system of downtown office buildings being cooled by the waters of Lake Ontario.

When I got home I happened to pick up a copy of Meetings and Conventions magazine featuring an advertorial about ARIA Resort in Las Vegas.  According to the advertorial:

"...ARIA is one of the largest buildings in the United States to receive LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The property utilizes recycled wood from responsibly managed forests and advanced technology to attain a 30 percent improvement of energy efficiency. ARIA has received a five key [highest] rating from the Green Key Eco-Rating Program for its ongoing operational commitment to sustainability."

The Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) reverts to the same Green Key Eco-Rating Program, but there's also a Green Leaf rating system through the Top Canadian Hotels website, dedicated to green travel.

It's all somewhat confusing, and I'd love to know your comments. Does a the "green-ness" of a venue affect your hotel selection for a meeting or conference?  Or for personal travel?

To be continued.