GREEN TRAVEL

Along with the focus on spa and wellness travel, Travel to Wellness is also about keeping a healthy planet. Here's what's new with travel companies working toward sustainability and keeping it green:


• Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Florida is the first hotel in the state to received the Green Lodging Three-Palm Certification from the at State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Some of the major improvements for the designation include paperless check-in at the front desk as well as a paperless purchase order system; the addition of a “Green Practice” insert in all guestroom compendiums; increasing the guestroom temperature to 74 degrees from 72 degrees when vacant; changing all lighting in the parking garage to compact fluorescent; using a liquid pool cover during cooler weather to minimize heat loss and placing additional recycling bins in public areas.
www.coconutpoint.hyatt.com

• Jake’s Calabash Bay Villa at Treasure Beach, Jamaica has achieved the prestigious Green Globe Benchmarked Bronze status under the globally recognized program, which recognizes businesses’ commitment to operating at the world’s highest environmental standard.

In achieving Benchmarked Bronze status, Calabash Bay achieved Best Practice results in the categories of Waste Sent to Landfill; Community Commitment; Community Contributions; Paper Products; Cleaning Products; and Pesticide Products.

The main house has four bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, several large inside and outside living and dining spaces, a fresh water pool and private access to the beach. www.jakeshotel.com

• Thai Airways has initiated projects to support and create increased awareness with employees in the areas of environmental awareness and climate change. The Employee Awareness Education Efforts include a mobile exhibition as well as activities that will take place at the company's various buildings during the month of May 2008 onwards.

This project’s goal is the promotion of employee awareness of environmental and CSR efforts as a part of the THAI organization, jointly working to decrease CO² emissions in the airline industry.

Other projects include, THAI Plants Life for Planet Earth project includes reforestation in the Petchburi province, The Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) project involves the purchasing of raw materials based on good agricultural practice directly from the local farming community, and
the Energy Project Participation project, where employees are encouraged to collect vegetable oil that has been used in meal preparation and send it to the company's catering unit to recycle it into biodiesel, which will be developed into a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project in the future. www.thaiairways.com

• Taking its eco-commitment to the consumer, Kona Village, on Hawaii's Big Island, has partnered with Brilliant Earth to offer a Perfect Green Proposal Package that includes a Brilliant Earth conflict-free diamond engagement ring.

Brilliant Earth is the leading purveyor of certified conflict-free diamonds sourced from Canadian mines, free from violence and human rights abuses. They also promote sustainable practices by using environmentally responsible gold and platinum. Their precious metals come from secondary sources and are re-refined in order to ensure they are identical quality to newly-mined metals.

The diamonds are mined according to Canada's strict environmental laws, which are among the most rigorous in the world. These high standards protect caribou and other wildlife, water, and fish habitats. Brilliant Earth dedicates 5% of its profits to directly benefit African communities harmed by the diamond industry.

www.KonaVillage.com
www.brilliantearth.com

• Kurotel Develops Preventive Actions for Environmental Sustainability
Kurotel – Longevity Center and Spa in Gramado, Brazil, has developed initiatives that preserve nature using sustainable and responsible practices with the aim of reducing residues that pollute the environment. One of the many endeavors being carried out is the installation of a cistern to collect and treat rain water for local reuse in gardens, toilets and outside cleaning. Another way Kurotel promotes environmentally responsible practices is the prevention of food waste by asking guests to order exact portions.
To reduce energy consumption, the spa has established motion sensors for room lighting; the use of a magnetic card to cut the energy when guests are away from their apartment; replaced monitors with new ones that consume less energy; and adopted the rational use of the dryer and clinical sauna. www.kurotel.com.br