Which Timeshare Resorts are Going Green?

Timeshare resorts are going Green, so writes Freda Stemick, a business development executive for "Resort Trades." When you plan a timeshare rental vacation, you might want to check with the resort and see what they are doing to be eco-friendly and Green. Chances are they'll have a good answer for you.

Stemick writes that many resort developers are now beginning to understand that tourists want to Stay Green. "Though it is usually a financial burden initially to convert a resort to become 'Eco Friendly', the benefits far outweigh the costs," explains Stemick. "When a consumer is eco-conscious, they will usually pay a little more to stay in an eco-friendly resort."

Stemick lists numerous resorts that have already implemented Green initiatives. In 2010 Bluegreen Corporation announced its creation of Synergy. This is a document imaging and storage system that greatly reduces paper usage with the intent of benefiting the environment.

Around the same time last year, reports Stemick, Divi Resorts also announced its own plan of implementation of green initiatives. Divi is providing 'Natura' products in all of its rooms, suites and villas. The Natura products include personal care items such as soaps, lotions, hair shampoo and conditioners. All of the products are packaged in bio-degradable containers, which even includes the lids and caps.

The installation of solar panels is one of several initiatives the Orange Tree Golf Resort has undertaken to become more sustainable. Bruce Hamm, General Manager of the Orange Tree Golf Resort, says the benefits are two fold. “The solar water heating system has decreased our overall energy costs, and guests appreciate our efforts to be more environmentally conscious.”

Many timeshare resorts in Florida work toward being a Certified Green Lodge, a prestigious designation awarded by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

The bottom line, says Stemick, is that by giving eco-conscious travelers a choice, the niche market picks up speed and the timeshare industry grows. "The eco-tourist base is increasing, as more and more people come to realize that reducing waste is not only politically correct, but a responsibility that we should all undertake as stewards of our Earth - even when we are on vacation."

Going Green is even becoming a global movement. World Green Tourism Abu Dhabi (WGT), the first global event dedicated to the investment and development of sustainable tourism, took place November 22-24, 2010, in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. A keynote speaker at the 3-day event was Suraphon Svetasreni, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
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