Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji

As Earth Day nears on April 22, we’ve discovered that not only smaller, boutique hotels are “going green” but also many of the larger and luxurious resorts around the world.

Three award-winning hotels and resorts have been praised for their strong commitments to going green – Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji, Fairmont Scottsdale Princess in Arizona, and El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels and Azul Hotels by Karisma in Riviera Maya, Mexico.

These top, luxury “green” hotels and resorts have gone above and beyond in striving to eliminating waste and preserving their environments, including various guest amenities as well as employee initiatives.

· Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji (www.fijiresort.com<http://www.fijiresort.com)
One of the most renowned and environmentally friendly vacation destinations in the South Pacific, the amazing Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji offers spectacular ecological exploration, relaxation, understated natural luxury, and warm hospitality in the traditional Fijian style.
This luxury property is located on the island of Vanua Levu and built on 17 acres of a former coconut plantation, Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort requires sustainable fishing and agricultural practices and does not permit reef fish or threatened species when selecting seafood for its dining menus.  The resort’s landscaping features a large number of indigenous fruit trees – including mango, papaya, lemon, lime, guava, pineapple, passion fruit, breadfruit, and coconut – which are irrigated using recycled water from the resort’s wastewater treatment plant.  Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort is home to an extensive organic herb and vegetable garden that is meticulously cared for by the staff and provides the resort’s kitchen and bar with fresh produce for guests.  The culinary garden also benefits from the composting of green kitchen waste.  The resort’s full-time Fijian naturalist/marine biologist, Johnny Singh, guides Bula Club (kid’s club) outings, providing a delightful educational experience for children.

The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess

· Fairmont Scottsdale Princess (www.scottsdaleprincess.com<http://www.scottsdaleprincess.com)
a luxurious Southwestern resort that has just completed a $60 million renovation, is committed to a number of green initiatives year-round. Given the desert climate, Fairmont Scottsdale Princess takes significant water conservation measures and landscapes only with indigenous desert plants. The resort’s grounds are also home to wildlife, including Cecil, a rescued desert tortoise with his own habitat. Fairmont Scottsdale Princess has a recycling program that collects more than 125 tons of refuse each year, as well as 700 gallons of used cooking oils from its kitchens which is converted into biodiesel fuel. “Driving” the conservation message further, hotel guests who drive hybrid vehicles enjoy a 50 percent savings on overnight valet parking. As part of its renovation, the resort built a Living Wall that is formed of thousands of panels and plants on the front and back façade columns. All water for the Living Wall is sourced from irrigation overflow and its own lagoons. The design also includes a catch basin at the bottom of the wall, which captures water that flows back into the resort’s watering system and is treated for further use. As a LEED point, the addition of foliage adds oxygen to the air and also increases the efficiency of insulation, helping the resort reduce the need for air conditioning in months when the heat is less intense.

· El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels and Azul Hotels by Karisma (www.karismahotels.com<http://www.karismahotels.com)
are a premier collection of adults-only and family-friendly Gourmet Inclusive properties in Riviera Maya, Mexico offering the best in food and service.  Through a 100,000-square-foot onsite greenhouse at El Dorado Royale that services all ten sister properties and neighboring resorts, produce exchange with local farmers, educational programs and tours, signage on eco-efficient practices throughout its properties, a major recycling initiative, and ongoing certification programs, the resort collection is setting a new standard for eco-conscious tourism and living in Riviera Maya and Mexico.  As a part of its commitment to sustainability, El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels and Azul Hotels by Karisma launched and participates in several programs designed to engage guest, staff and partner participation in environmentally-friendly practices, including Pasión por el Medio Ambiente (“Passion for the Environment”), a program that encourages guest and staff participation in environmentally sustainable practices that was inspired by the Mesoamerican Reef Tourism Initiative (MARTI).

Please use the Contact Form below to submit your travel request and stay at one of these “green” luxury hotels. We will promptly get back to you.

Grand Velas Riviera Maya

Earth Day is celebrated this year on April 22. The luxury Grand Velas Riviera Maya is offering an ideal, green escape hotel package now through the end of the year.

Located in Mexico, the luxurious Grand Velas Riviera Maya resort is Green Globe-certified.

The AAA Five Diamond Grand Velas Riviera Maya, an all-suites and spa resort located five minutes from Playa del Carmen, is the latest and most sophisticated iteration of the ultra-luxury, all-inclusive resort experience.

Each of the resort’s 491 suites offer more than 1,000 square-feet of living space.

The resort’s new Green Escape Package provides travelers the chance to see and learn about the property’s natural cenotes (fresh water sinkholes), plus plant a mangrove tree in their name in the resort’s lush jungle area.

Resort guests will also receive a certificate with the tree coordinates so they can watch it grow from home on Google Earth.

Grand Velas Riviera Maya’s all-inclusive rate includes suite accommodations, a la carte dining at a choice of five gourmet restaurants, premium branded beverages, 24-hr in-suite service, access to fitness center with personal trainer, activities for adults and kids, round-trip airport transfers, taxes, gratuities, and more.

Green Escape Package rates in a Master Suite start at $493 per person per night based on double occupancy through April 30th and $439 per person per night from May 1 –Dec. 19th.

The children from 4-16 years are $99 per child per night (Jan 3 – Apr 30, 2011) and $75 per child per night (May 1 – Dec 19, 2011).

A three-night minimum stay is required.

For additional information and reservations, please visit www.grandvelas.com or call 1-866-230-7221

With the 40th anniversary of Earth Day quickly approaching, we all need to take time to do something and protect our planet.

Earth Day is on April 22, and is the annual U.S. celebration of the environment. Earth Day was first observed on April 22, 1970. On that special day, an estimated 20 million people across the U.S. attended the inaugural event.

Now for the third consecutive year, select Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts around the world will join in Earth Hour on March 27. The goal is to bring awareness to climate change.

A record 48 Four Seasons properties will turn off all non-essential lighting in addition to offering special celebrations during the event and beyond.

Here is a small sample of Four Seasons property events around the world:

• Celebrate with dinner lit by specially designed carbon neutral candles in the destination that started it all at Four Seasons Hotel Sydney

• Dine on a three-course, prix-fixe menu featuring organic and sustainable ingredients at Aqua in Four Seasons Hotel Miami

• Give back even more when dining at Four Seasons Hotel Seattle; by partnering with Glassybaby candles, the hotel will donate 10% of dinner proceeds to the International Conservation Fund

• Continue to show support all year long by booking a table at one of the monthly candlelit dinners at three-starred Michelin restaurant Allegro in Four Seasons Hotel Prague