To help green-conscious travelers rank hotel properties that claim to be environmentally friendly, a new
Web site launched by Whole Travel--a company that encourages ecotourism--provides users with a chart that can determine how much of an impact individual properties have on the environment. The site is focused on tourism rather than business travel, but it's not hard to imagine such a site for any type of property.
Claiming to keep hotels "honest," Whole Travel allows hoteliers and resort managers to provide profiles of their properties. Based on their answers, the site generates a chart to let consumers know how eco-friendly the property is. The score generated is based upon the hotel's environmental and economic impact, culture and consumer interaction. Given that hotels may exaggerate their "greenness," consumers will be able to post comments and reviews ensuring that the properties live up to what they claim.
Also, the site is working with another non-profit organization, Sustainable Travel International, which creates green awareness and gives eco-friendly hotels accredited “badges” that they have to pay for.