Hotel guests and clients are driving the greening of the hotel industry, they are encouraging and supporting greening programs at hotels throughout the world. 

They are participating in hotel linen programs by reusing towels and not having sheets changed every day. 

They are turning off lights and TV as well as closing drapes when they're out of their hotel rooms to reduce energy usage.  They are using less water while at hotels.  They are participating in hotel recycling programs.  They are choosing to help protect the fabulous destinations we all love to visit.

But, what can these consumers expect to find when they open their green guestroom door?  T

hough they may not find all of the greening features listed below in an ideal green hotel room just yet, with more encouragement and support for greening, green hoteliers will move forward to ideally provide the following in every hotel guestroom as suggested by "Green" Hotels Association®:

• Linen program asking guests to consider reusing towels and not having sheets changed daily
• No smoking
• Low-flow 1.5-2.5 gpm showerhead and 0.5 gpm sink aerators
• Recycling basket
• Fluorescent lighting - CFLs in lamps
• Dispensers for soap and shampoo
• All-natural, biodegradable amenities
• Organic cotton or bamboo bed and bath linens
• Energy-management system
• Energy Star PTAC, TV and appliances
• Fresh smell (not the smell of cleaning products), which hopefully means non-toxic cleaning products and HVAC filters changed appropriately
• Houseplant to help clean indoor air
• Washable glasses and cups
• Painted walls (with no- or low-VOC paint) rather than vinyl wall coverings that can encourage mold and mildew
• Recycled bathroom paper products
• Ceiling fan
• Newspaper on request only

How will each traveler's participation help?  Like the proverbial movement from the wings of one butterfly, each of us makes decisions every single day that, when multiplied with thousands of others, can create a wind of change. 

Travelers should understand the importance of their input, their participation and their voice to help protect all destinations—especially those that are fragile. 

GHA President Patricia Griffin says, "The most important thing any traveler can do is to speak directly to the general manager or the sales manager or write them a note—with compliments or comments recognizing a property's greenness or its lack.  Let managers know that you want their hotel to have a green program, and that you want to participate."

Patricia continues, "All managers listen to guests, and guests' encouragement will help them make decisions that are greener.  "Green" Hotels Association® encourages guests, clients, travel agents and meeting planners to spend their guestroom, meeting and convention dollars with properties that are interested in our environment and are committed to help protect our planet."

Greening is a journey, a path that will not end.  There is no line to be drawn regarding when a property is green because of the different needs, opportunities, guests, rates, buildings, properties, weather, etc.  There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of ideas that can be implemented.  Every day there will be more choices, more ideas, more products from which to choose.

GHA wants every hotel to have at least one environmental page on their website with information on the property's green program.  Further environmental pages would focus on their specialties—meetings, conventions, weddings, reunions, etc.

Encourage all hotels to join "Green" Hotels Association®'s elite corps of green hoteliers in saving water, saving energy and reducing solid waste to help protect all destinations. 

Learn more or find a "green" hotel for your next stay or event at "Green" Hotels Association's website: www.greenhotels.com