OLIVE EARTH

Ecotourism is defined by Wikipedia as responsible travel to fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas that strive to be low impact and (often) small scale (as an alternative to mass tourism). Its purpose is to educate the traveler; provide funds for ecological conservation; directly benefit the economic development and political empowerment of local communities; and foster respect for different cultures and for human rights. With increasing interest in eco tourism, the demand for green hotels has also been increasing. Eco-conscious consumers, who want to participate in Eco-tourism, also want to limit their carbon footprint and want to use sustainable and responsible hotels.

 ITC Royal gardenia became one of the earliest hotels to get the coveted LEED platinum rating for its green orientation. It was awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Platinum Rating by the Indian Green Building Council, making it the world's largest and Asia's first LEED Platinum Rated Green Hotel.

In alignment with LEED principles, the ITC Royal Gardenia is focused on delivering "Responsible Luxury." According to its philosophy of "Forward to Green, Back to Nature," the ITC Royal Gardenia employs forward-looking environmentally sustainable practices such as energy efficient operations, zero solid waste management, and green banqueting, while merging the physical aspects of the hotel with nature. To optimize energy consumption, ITC Royal Gardenia required the most efficient chiller system that would meet the demands of the local climate and the challenging energy needs of a hotel. Carrier provided a air-conditioning solution that would ultimately meet and exceed the customer’s requirements and set new benchmarks in efficiency for the hospitality and the heating, ventilation and air conditioning industries.

The key practices that will generally enable Hotels and Lodges to genuinely claim to be eco-friendly and green can be listed as below:

1. Energy efficient practices
2. Protect the nature, reduce pollution
3. Use natural resources responsibly
4. Support, respect and benefit local culture and economy
5. Learn and preach a philosophy of Green Orientation

ENERGY EFFICIENT PRACTICES:

1) Alternative Energy – Properties that uses renewable energy which can include biogas, solar, water, wind and geothermal

• a) Use solar panels or other alternative energy to heat water, pools etc.
• b) Use Alternative energy resources such as solar or wind energy.

2) All carbon dioxide emissions that are produced directly by the hotel are offset through the support of renewable energy projects in other parts of the world.

3) Energy Conservation – Properties should reduce energy consumption by different possible means. This may be selecting energy efficient appliances, compact fluorescent or LED lighting, turning things off when not in use and using more insulation and weather stripping.

PROTECT NATURE, REDUCE POLLUTION

a) Wide recycling program. Reduce, Reuse & Recycle.

1. Recycle bins in guestrooms rather than just trash cans.
2. Recycle containers with clearly marked out classification are also placed around the property where guests and staff can use them instead of just trash cans.
3. Green hotels use recyclable disposable products instead of foam and non-biodegradable plastics that can stay in landfills for several years.
4. Green hotels use of bio-degradable cleaning products,

b) Organic Food & Gardening

1. Organic gardening practices (non-use of chemical pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers).
2. Organic vegetable garden and use of local food products.
3. Organic kitchen waste is composted on site and used in the hotel gardens.
4. Native plant species in the gardens and hotel grounds.
5. Green hotels use biodegradable disposables like napkins or corn-based plastics
6. Composting - Turning solid organic materials into a soil-like product for gardens. This aids in holding moisture and decreases the necessity for watering
7. Planting Trees – Planting trees regularly, green their campus and circulates fresh air around. Rooms that have windows that open or use a fresh air exchange system in the building

c) Other Hotel consumables

1. All linens and towels are made of organic cotton, hemp or bamboo.
2. Lead-free paints are used in the hotel’s interior and exterior painted surfaces.
3. Absolutely no use of plastic and non reusable cutlery.
4. Cleaning supplies are non-toxic and biodegradable.

v) Non-Smoking Rooms - Property are encouraged to have rooms guaranteed to be free of smoke pollution.

d) No Plastic zone campus with instructions to reduce plastic usage