· 22 min read
Travel is booming again, and with it comes a growing sense of responsibility towards the planet. More people — from backpackers to business travelers — are seeking ways to explore the world without leaving a trail of environmental damage.
Ecotourism is a conscious way of traveling with minimal impact on nature and supporting local communities. This type of tourism is becoming increasingly popular, and it is a global trend. The ecotourism market will grow by an average of 16.1% until 2028, according to forecasts from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). For comparison, the real estate market, according to experts, will grow by an average of 6.07% over the same period. It is expected that by 2034, the size of the global sustainable tourism market will reach about $11.39 trillion. This isn’t just industry hype; it reflects real demand from travelers.
The most obvious indicator of the growing popularity of ecotourism is the interest of the tourists themselves. If you look at the statistics of visits to reserves and national parks, then in most cases we will see a stable growth. For example, 10% more tourists came to the Primorsky Reserve “Land of the Leopard” in 2023 than a year earlier (almost 130 thousand people). In Kenozersky National Park, the average stay of tourists has also increased, from 2.4 to 3.8 days. Overall, 69% of all travelers worldwide are currently looking for eco-friendly travel options. Several criteria will help you find them.
One key piece of the sustainable travel puzzle is where we stay. Enter the eco-hotel: an accommodation that genuinely strives to reduce environmental impact and give back to local communities. But how do we distinguish a true eco-hotel from one that merely greenwashes its image by adding “eco” to its name? Below, we explore six key criteria (identified with the help of experts) that define an authentic eco-hotel. These are also ways that eco-hotels can help answer the broader question of “Do eco-hotels really reduce the environmental impact of travel?” Each criterion is illustrated with real examples, showing how innovative hotels around the world are making tourism more sustainable. Finally, we’ll look at steps you can take — as an individual traveler or a corporate travel planner — to make any trip more eco-friendly.
Waste recycling and plastic rejection
Eco-hotels should pay special attention to waste reduction: recycling programs, composting organic waste, minimizing the use of single-use plastics. Different colored bins for collecting garbage do not mean that it is actually taken for recycling. You can search the website for information or ask on social networks how the hotel approaches waste recycling, find out for yourself if there are sorting centers and recycling plants nearby. Both in the world and in Russia, there are already successful waste management practices.
In 2020, the world’s first hotel that completely abandoned plastic opened in Paris. Guests here brush their teeth with bamboo toothbrushes and wear bamboo slippers, glass bottles are used in the bar, and even coffee capsules in the hotel are made of paper. The owners claim that they save up to 24 thousand plastic bottles, 55 thousand mini-bottles for cosmetics and 16 thousand plastic bags per year.
In 2020, the L’Opéra Liège Paris hotel in Paris refused single-use plastic (Photo: L’Opéra Liège Paris)
By the way, garbage in hotels is not only plastic, but also food waste. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) published a report in which catering establishments (which include hotels) rank second in the volume of food waste produced in the world: 32 kg per capita per year. At the same time, according to hotel standards, about 90% of food waste cannot be reused. Therefore, they are trying to solve the problem in a comprehensive manner: reducing the size of plates, conducting information work with guests so that they take as much food as they can actually eat. In the USA, the Hotel Kitchen project is doing this.
In general, all measures in this area can be divided into two conditional categories — “attractions” and a systematic approach. “Attractions” can be understood as measures that are spectacular, but not effective. For example, there are studies showing that wax worms (Galleria mellonella) are able to break down plastic polymers into smaller and more easily decomposable elements with their saliva. At the moment, this is the fastest method of decomposing plastic known to mankind. Most likely, in the near future, hotels will begin to use these insects to demonstrate to tourists their concern for the environment. This is a spectacular “attraction” in the short term, but not effective, because the technology has not yet been studied enough and it is unlikely that microorganisms will be able to cope with a large volume of waste.
And systematic work with waste, or waste management, includes several approaches. One of them is the refusal to produce plastic waste. There are examples of hotels in the world that have already put this principle into practice: Sussurro in Mozambique is a hotel that does not use plastic at all, but replaces all consumables and containers with local handicrafts. It also relies on renewable energy, organic personal care products, local fisheries and agriculture. But there are almost no examples of a hotel that suddenly went and refused plastic. In most cases, waste management is an evolutionary process of hotel management. Categorization will help to understand at what stage a particular hotel is — there are 7 categories of plastic products in total. Most plastic waste in the world falls into the first category (PET), the recycling of which does not cause serious problems. But the hotel business uses large volumes of disposable products that fall into categories 5 (PP) and 6 (PS), some of the most difficult to recycle. These are disposable cups, plates, plastic straws, bottle caps, plastic food boxes, cutlery. These are the categories that you should pay attention to when choosing a hotel: in what quantities they are used and whether they are sent for recycling.
Energy efficiency
Another cornerstone of an eco-hotel is energy efficiency. Hotels can be energy hogs — think of the air conditioning running 24/7, lights left on in empty rooms, or old appliances guzzling electricity. Sustainable hotels address this on multiple fronts. On the low-tech side, many places have simple policies like key-card switches that automatically cut power when you leave your room, or friendly reminder signs asking you to turn off the lights and AC when not needed. These may seem like small steps, but they can yield big savings when every guest participates.
Modern eco-hotels go further by investing in energy-efficient infrastructure and technology. For instance, LED lighting has become a standard — LEDs use a fraction of the electricity of traditional bulbs and last much longer. Energy-star rated appliances and induction cooktops (which are more efficient than standard electric coils or gas stoves) are often found in green hotel kitchens and rooms. Smart climate control systems are another advanced measure: these use sensors and automation to adjust heating, cooling, and ventilation in real time, ensuring comfort with minimal wasted energy. An example is a system that kills the air conditioning when a window is open, or one that learns a guest’s schedule and pre-cools the room only just before they return each day.
An example of such a system is a huge canopy of almost 3 hectares at the JW Marriott hotel in Singapore. The canopy is designed so that air flows to cool the building by 2 ºC without the use of air conditioners.
JW Marriott Hotel (Photo: JW Marriott)
There is a good example of using solar energy. The Poseidon Undersea Resort in Fiji is located 12 m underwater and runs entirely on solar panels.
And the Iveagh Garden Hotel in Dublin uses an autonomous renewable energy system, which has reduced energy consumption by 78% and CO2 emissions by 81%. The attention to detail here is amazing, for example, the rooms are equipped with smart LED TVs.
But it seems that Qatar has decided to go further in energy efficiency. There, they presented a project for an island hotel that will move across the sea and generate electricity by rotating around its axis.
There are more radical solutions than autonomous energy generation systems — a complete refusal to use electricity. This is the path taken by the Hideout hotel in the jungle on the island of Koh Yao Noi, Thailand. The hotel territory is an electricity-free zone, and one of the purposes of visiting the hotel is a digital detox.
Careful attitude to water
Fresh water is one of our most precious resources, and tourism can be extremely water-intensive. Consider that hotels often have pools, gardens, countless laundry loads, and long guest showers — it adds up quickly. Many eco-hotels have therefore made water conservation a top priority. On the simplest level, you’ve probably seen the now-common bathroom sign: “Dear Guest, we invite you to reuse your towels and sheets to save water.” This isn’t just a token gesture. Washing linens daily for every room uses enormous quantities of water (and energy). By reusing a towel for an extra day or keeping the same bedsheets for a few nights, each guest can help a hotel save thousands of liters of water over the course of a year. Laundry can account for 250–500 liters of water per room per day, so scaling back daily linen changes makes a real difference.
Another easy water-saver is installing dual-flush toilets and low-flow fixtures. Dual-flush toilets allow users to select a lighter or heavier flush, conserving water for liquid waste. Low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators mix air into the water stream to maintain pressure while using less water. You, as a guest, might barely notice a difference, but these technologies can cut water use by 30–50% in those fixtures.
The UN recently released a study: by 2030, water shortages will affect 40% of the world’s population. At the same time, in hotels we spend on average 2.5 times more water than at home. And 30% of all water consumed in a hotel is in the showers in the rooms. All this data inspires the Hydrao startup to create smart shower heads that track water consumption via an app and light up in different colors depending on the consumption.
But these are all point solutions, while global water management is a complex process, and only a variety of measures can significantly reduce water losses. Among the main technologies that are already actively used in the hotel business, we can highlight:
• Smart irrigation and leak detection: Eco-hotels often use digital monitoring systems for their water supply. These systems can detect leaks in pipes (so they can be fixed promptly) and optimize irrigation schedules for gardens. By watering plants in the early morning or late evening, for example, less water evaporates. Some systems even adjust based on weather forecasts — skipping the sprinklers if rain is coming, or reducing water on cooler days.
• Drought-tolerant landscaping: Rather than thirsty lawns, many sustainable properties design landscapes with native plants that thrive in the local climate and need minimal watering. If you visit a resort in a dry region and see beautiful gardens of cacti, succulents, or hardy shrubs instead of water-guzzling grass, that’s a sign of smart landscape design for conservation.
• Water recycling and reuse: High-end eco-resorts may invest in on-site treatment systems that recycle greywater (from sinks and showers) to use for flushing toilets or irrigating gardens. Advanced membrane filtration systems can make this recycled water very clean. Some hotels even treat and desalinate seawater if freshwater is scarce.
• Efficient fixtures and guest education: As mentioned, fixtures like low-flow showers and taps significantly cut usage. Coupled with that, many eco-hotels try to engage guests in the effort. Besides the towel reuse cards, some provide fun facts in the room about water in the region, or gentle prompts like “Did you know a five-minute shower uses 50+ liters? Help us conserve this precious resource.” The key is to make guests feel part of the solution, not just impose restrictions.
The Robinson Club hotel in the Maldives has built its own treatment plant, where seawater is filtered and desalinated, after which it is mineralized and poured into glass bottles. And then the bottles are collected, cleaned, and reused.
Contribution to the local economy
Truly sustainable travel isn’t only about nature — it’s also about people. A genuine eco-hotel will strive to have a positive impact on the local community. This can manifest in several ways, and some are easier for a traveler to observe than others. One obvious aspect is staffing: does the hotel employ local residents in meaningful roles, including management? When hotels hire locally, they not only provide jobs, but guests also benefit from staff who intimately know the area’s culture and environment. A local guide or receptionist can introduce travelers to authentic experiences far better than an impersonal, fly-in-fly-out staff member. Plus, locals who are proud of their homeland are often the best ambassadors for responsible tourism — they have a personal stake in preserving the environment and cultural heritage.
Another aspect is sourcing local goods, especially food. The farm-to-table movement is a perfect complement to ecotourism. Many eco-hotels feature restaurants that serve organic produce, meat, and dairy from nearby farms or their own gardens. By eating locally grown food, the hotel cuts down on the carbon footprint associated with transporting ingredients from far away (not to mention it provides fresher, tastier meals!). It also pumps money into local agriculture. For instance, an eco-lodge in a mountain region might buy all its vegetables from farmers in the valley below and its cheese from a village dairy cooperative. This not only sustains those farmers and food artisans, but it also gives guests a literal taste of the region’s terroir. When you dine at such a restaurant, you’re directly supporting the local economy — and likely enjoying unique flavors you wouldn’t get at a generic hotel buffet.
Animal welfare (the Animal welfare concept) is also part of working with the local environment. The term Animal welfare is included in the ecotourist glossary from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), an organization that develops standards for sustainable travel and tourism. According to this concept, animals in the local ecosystem should be treated with care and respect.
There is an example of a comprehensive approach to working with the local ecosystem — this is the Jean-Michel Cousteau resort in Fiji. Here, they use energy-saving light bulbs, do not install air conditioners, and all wood comes from certified local forests. The design of the ceilings, straw paneling, and ceiling fans make the rooms cool. The hotel has a farm where local workers grow coconuts, pineapples and mangoes without artificial fertilizers. They catch only pelagic fish, that is, those that are not found near the shore or at the bottom of the ocean, and the reef ecosystem remains untouched.
Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort Fiji (Photo: Jean-Micheal Cousteau Resort Fiji)
The Lapa Rios eco-hotel in Costa Rica is one of the successful examples of involving local residents in the service economy. The event program includes excursions to forests, mountains and the ocean, visits to places of residence, watching animals, horseback riding and cable car rides — all of these are jobs for local residents. In addition, the influx of tourists after the opening of the hotel caused an increase in demand for food supplies and additional services from local residents, such as commerce and catering.
Educational Work
According to research, guests around the world are often unhappy with stickers and signs that encourage people to save water, reuse towels, and turn off the lights, because they believe that the hotel is trying to “whitewash” its reputation and is engaged in greenwashing, hiding behind environmental concerns for the sake of profit.
And while some people think that a sustainable hotel should be a tree house where guests sleep on the floor, this is not actually the case. Some of the most luxurious hotels and resorts in the world are also eco-friendly, as the examples above show. Therefore, it is important for all budget and luxury eco-hotels to work with guests, not only to tell them about their eco-initiatives, but also to involve them in the local culture.
An example of introducing tourists to local traditions is the Kochi Marriott Hotel, which has developed a whole program to introduce guests to traditional crafts in the Indian town of Chendamangalam. The hotel interacts with the weavers’ association and invites guests to visit craft workshops with traditional weaving looms, talk to artisans and buy their fabrics.
Sometimes, it is not only master classes and the program that help guests understand that the hotel has chosen ecotourism as a global strategy, but also the architectural form itself. For example, the Baobab luxury safari resort in Tanzania chose suspended architectural forms: the rooms here are built in such a way that, thanks to the design of the structure, they can collect rainwater for technical needs or for animals. Another global trend is mobile buildings that can be quickly installed and dismantled and at the same time they do not leave traces in the environment. An example is the DROP XL cabin eco-hotel project. Or the design of a floating mini-eco-hotel powered by solar energy.
The DROP XL cabin eco-hotel project. The prefabricated capsules are made of wood, steel and glass and are supported by adjustable metal legs (Photo: designboom.com)
Another innovative concept is the floating solar-powered eco-hotel — a design idea where a small hotel or cabin floats on water, entirely powered by solar panels and using advanced waste recycling so it doesn’t pollute the lake or sea it’s on. One prototype features a circular floating building with a solar roof and a self-contained sewage treatment; it can be towed to different locations as a movable, leave-no-trace resort. For guests, waking up in such a floating cabin, surrounded by quiet nature and knowing that you’re leaving practically zero impact, can be a profound educational moment about what sustainable living might look like in the future.
The overarching point is that eco-hotels strive to be living laboratories of sustainability — not only implementing green practices behind the scenes, but also showcasing them to guests in a positive way. Whether it’s through hands-on workshops, community interactions, informative nature hikes with experts, or simply the inspiring form of the buildings themselves, these hotels aim to send travelers home with new knowledge and appreciation. Ideally, a guest leaves an eco-hotel thinking, “I loved how they did X — maybe I can incorporate a bit of that in my life or ask other hotels why they don’t do the same.” In this way, each eco-conscious guest becomes an ambassador for sustainable travel, spreading the ideas far beyond the hotel’s property.
Certification
With sustainability becoming trendy, many hotels now advertise various “green” accolades. But not all certifications are created equal. As a traveler, one reliable shortcut to finding truly eco-friendly hotels is to look for independent, internationally recognized certifications or eco-labels. These act as quality seals, indicating the hotel has been audited or verified to meet certain sustainability standards. For example, from the non-profit initiative Green Key, which takes into account all the criteria from our list. For example, the map shows more than 20 eco-hotels in Turkey, as well as in Egypt, Kazakhstan, and Georgia.
Another gold standard is LEED certification, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. This is actually a certification for buildings (originating in the U.S. but used globally) that assesses how environmentally friendly and energy-efficient a building’s design and construction are. LEED-certified hotels have to meet strict benchmarks in areas like energy use, water savings, materials, and indoor environmental quality. LEED awards different levels — Certified, Silver, Gold, and the coveted Platinum. To give you an idea, only a very select group of hotels worldwide (around 28 properties) have achieved LEED Platinum, the highest level of sustainability in building design. If your hotel has Platinum status, you can be sure it’s among the greenest buildings on the planet in terms of construction and operations (think features like solar power, geothermal heating/cooling, zero-landfill waste management, and more). Even at the basic LEED Certified level, it means the hotel was built with sustainability in mind from the ground up.
Aside from Green Key and LEED, there are other reputable certifications and standards: EarthCheck, Travelife, Rainforest Alliance Certified, and country-specific eco-labels, to name a few. The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) doesn’t certify hotels directly, but it accredits and recognizes many of these programs — so if a hotel boasts a GSTC-recognized certificate, that’s a good sign it meets global best practices.
For corporate travelers and event planners, these certifications are increasingly important. Large companies and organizations often include sustainability criteria in their RFPs (Requests for Proposals) when selecting hotels for business travel or conferences. Hotels that lack credible green certifications or clear sustainability data risk losing out on lucrative corporate contracts. On the flip side, venues that can demonstrate their eco-performance (with, say, a LEED certificate or a Green Globe label) have a competitive edge. A recent analysis showed that hotels participating in a sustainability program were 22% more likely to be chosen in corporate bid processes compared to those that weren’t. This is a powerful incentive for hotels to get certified and continually improve. So when you, as a traveler, choose a certified eco-hotel, you’re not only picking a greener stay — you’re also encouraging the whole industry to raise its standards.
Bottom line: checking for reputable certifications can quickly validate a hotel’s eco-claims. However, don’t rely only on a logo — you can also read what the hotel says about its practices on its website or in reviews. Sometimes a smaller hotel might be genuinely eco-friendly but not have the funds to pursue formal certification. Use the criteria we’ve discussed as a guide: if a place demonstrates strong efforts in most or all of those areas, it’s likely a true eco-hotel even if it doesn’t (yet) have a certificate on the wall.
How to make travel more eco-friendly
Tourism as an industry has long gone beyond work “on the ground”, when the main goal was to create infrastructure. Now is the era of a product approach, trend watching, and design consulting: we see more and more projects (and participate in them ourselves) in the field of creating engineering infrastructure, closed-loop economy models, and sustainable business models.
But a lot depends on the tourists themselves. It is important not only to stay in the right place, but also to enjoy the beauty of nature, study the culture and traditions of the region, and learn something new about the unique ecosystem. A few short tips will help.
1. Awareness and independence
Consider venturing off the beaten path. Overtourism can stress popular destinations, so by choosing a less-trafficked location or creating your own unique itinerary, you help spread the tourist load and discover hidden gems. For example, if a famous national park is overflowing with visitors, seek a nearby wildlife reserve that’s just as beautiful but less well-known. You’ll reduce pressure on the crowded site and likely have a more authentic experience, deepening your understanding of local culture and nature. Being aware also means researching the environmental and cultural issues of the places you visit — knowledge is the first step toward responsible action.
2. Slow down
In our hectic lives, we often try to cram as much as possible into a trip, but sustainable travel thrives on a “slow travel” philosophy. Rather than racing through five cities in seven days, consider spending a week truly getting to know one region. Not only does this cut down on the carbon emissions of constant moving (fewer flights or long drives), but it also lets you appreciate nature at a relaxed pace. Take time to hike, sit quietly and observe wildlife, or engage in unhurried conversations with local people. Avoiding a jam-packed schedule and disconnecting from work or social media while traveling can help you be present and foster a real connection with the place. In short: travel less frantically, experience more deeply.
3. Respectful behavior
This might sound obvious, but it’s worth reinforcing. Always follow the principle of “leave no trace” — whatever you carry into a natural area (bottles, food wrappers, etc.), carry it back out. Use reusable items (water bottles, cloth bags, etc.) to cut down waste. Stick to marked trails when hiking to avoid damaging vegetation or disturbing wildlife habitats. Never feed wild animals or remove plants/rocks as souvenirs. Equally important is showing respect to the people who live in the place you’re visiting. Learn about and honor local customs, dress codes, and etiquette. Even simple gestures — like asking permission before photographing someone, or learning a few greetings in the local language — demonstrate respect. Remember that you are a guest in someone else’s home, whether that’s a village or a fragile mountain ecosystem.
4. Helping nature and the economy
Look for opportunities to contribute positively. Many destinations have volunteer programs like beach clean-ups, tree planting days, or citizen-science projects (e.g., helping track animal sightings for research). Donating a few hours of your vacation to such activities can be incredibly rewarding and directly beneficial to the environment. Additionally, support the local economy in a thoughtful way: eat at family-run restaurants, buy handicrafts from local artisans (rather than mass-produced souvenirs), and use local guides or tour services. Your spending can become a form of conservation if it goes into local hands — it provides an economic incentive for communities to protect their natural and cultural heritage. For corporate groups, this could even mean organizing team-building projects that have a charitable angle, like building a rainwater harvesting system for a village or sponsoring a school environmental club.
5. Eco-friendly logistics
How you get around is often the biggest part of your travel carbon footprint. Whenever feasible, opt for low-carbon transport options. Can you take a train instead of a short-haul flight? Can you explore the city by walking or renting a bicycle instead of taking taxis? Public transit is not only greener but also a great way to experience a place like a local. If you do need to rent a car, see if hybrid or electric vehicles are available. Many hotels (especially eco-resorts) offer bicycles to guests, or even electric scooters, as a courtesy — take advantage of that. Also, “eco-friendly logistics” includes the journey to your destination: look into airlines or travel agencies that offer carbon offset programs, so you can compensate for the emissions of your flights by funding environmental projects. And for business travelers, ask your travel manager or tools like SQUAKE about calculating and mitigating the CO₂e from your hotel stays, flights, and rides — many companies are now tracking this data and actively working to reduce it.
By keeping these tips in mind, you’ll travel in a way that not only lessens harm but often adds benefit to the places you visit. Sustainable travel isn’t about depriving yourself — it’s about enriching your journey with meaning, ensuring that the beautiful experiences you seek will still be there for others to enjoy in the future.
Conclusion
Traveling more sustainably ultimately comes down to conscious choices — from the hotel you book and the way you get around, to how you engage with local people and environments. Eco-hotels, as we’ve seen, can indeed reduce the environmental impact of travel by excelling in waste reduction, energy and water savings, community support, guest education, and verified green standards. They are an important piece of the puzzle, offering travelers a chance to lessen their footprint without sacrificing comfort or quality (in fact, many of the world’s most luxurious resorts are also eco-friendly). But choosing an eco-hotel is just one part; sustainable travel is a two-way street. The best outcomes happen when both the provider and the traveler are committed to making a positive impact.
The next time you plan a trip — be it a vacation or a corporate retreat — consider it an opportunity to put these principles into practice. Imagine a future where all hotels strive to be “eco,” where tourism dollars help regenerate nature and invigorate local communities, and where travelers return home not only with great memories but also with a sense of pride that their journey mattered in a good way. That future is possible if we keep asking the right questions (like the one in the title of this article) and making informed choices. Safe travels, and may your journeys be both enjoyable and sustainable!
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