Eco-Friendly Hotels Around the World

'Going green,' eco-friendly - no matter how you phrase it, sustainable initiatives among hotels, and travel in general, are on the rise. And while vacationing at one of these hotels is not plausible for this Earth Day, you can still feel good about booking with one of these properties when we can travel again.

Grupo Experiencias Xcaret has received Earth Check's benchmark certification at all of its properties and has been recognized as a Socially Responsible Company for the past 15 years. From reducing its carbon footprint to contributing to the local economy, Hotel Xcaret Mexico helps with reforestation in the area, participates in integrated water management and is even one of four companies that makes up the national board for the Global Compact Network in Mexico.

Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall is a certified member of Green Globe, which provides a regulated evaluation of sustainability with over forty core criteria and almost four hundred compliance benchmarks.

In 2019 the Palladium Hotel Group launched the 'Palladium Feeling Green' initiative to improve its sustainability measures across all of its hotels. At Grand Palladium Punta Cana Resort & Spa, all single-use plastics have been swapped for biodegradable and reusable materials and a focus on reduced water usage and minimizing the overall carbon footprint of the property has been instilled. The resort has also earned Earthcheck's certification.

Sandos Caracol Eco Resort - along with the brand's three other Mexico-based hotels - has received Rainforest Alliance certification as well as Travelife Gold Certification. But the hotel's eco-friendly and conservation efforts are not just for staff. Guests can participate in its sea turtle conservation program, feed rescued animals on a mini-farm, help with beach cleanups and more.

It may come as a surprise to many that a hotel on Vegas' notorious energy-consuming strip makes this list. But The Cosmopolitan has made strides in reducing waste across the property - from moving away from disposable utensils to donating all food leftovers to the Las Vegas Rescue Mission. The property even earned NV Energy's first Lifetime Leaders in Sustainability award in 2018.

Over 21 million pieces of single-use plastics used annually have been eliminated across all Sandals Resorts in the Caribbean. And the resort also partnered with Oceanic Global, which is a non-profit that focuses on how to correct problems impacting our oceans.

Like its sister resort, Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall, Hyatt Ziva Cancun is a certified member of Green Globe. The hotel even has a Sustainability Development Department to help decrease the hotel's effect on the local environment.

Club Med Miches Playa Esmeralda held its grand opening last November and is the first of the brand's Exclusive Collection in the Americas. And from the very beginning of construction on the property, Club Med Miches Playa Esmeralda focused on minimizing its environmental footprint to the surrounding area and enacting eco-friendly practices into daily operations.

Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa is making an interesting splash in their conservation efforts. In an attempt to give guests a greater understanding of preservation and connection to marine life, the resort in partnership with Hawaii Mermaid Adventures is offering 'mermaid adventures.' And while most of the experience is about fun, the resort hopes that it also leaves a lasting impression with guests about the importance of our oceans. The hotel is also in the process of reducing its energy consumption by 38 percent through its rooftop photovoltaic system, buying local and sustainable food, donating food waste and working toward a TRUE Zero Waste certification from USGBC.

Grand Canyon Lodges is the only lodge at the more remote North Rim of the Grand Canyon. The lodge is part of Xanterra Travel Collection, which aims to reduce and recycle waste and teach guests about the sustainability of the area.

Le Blanc Spa Resort not only adheres to the sustainability measure set in place by parent company Palace Resorts, but they must also observe measures the city has enacted for the area. The Los Cabos community is known for its strong sense of social responsibility to the area - limiting resorts to only 220 rooms, sanctioning a height restriction, barring billboards and keeping 42 percent of the state as protected land.

Part of Palladium's Feeling Green program and certified by Earthcheck, TRS Yucatan Hotel in Riviera Maya provides an all-inclusive experience you can feel good about. You won't find single-use plastics here and the resort is working towards minimizing its carbon footprint, water usage and waste management.

Grupo Vidanta has made it one of its top priorities to protect the environment and natural beauty of Mexico since the company's founding in 1974. "It's our belief that our practices should serve the greater good and promote a brighter future for generations to come. All of our projects have been designed, built and operated using solutions and socially conscious programs that are ecologically responsible and efficient in reducing the impact on the environment," said Iván Chávez, executive vice president of Grupo Vidanta, in a statement. With properties in Mexico and Latin America, Grupo Vidanta Resorts focuses on minimizing its carbon footprint, water and energy conservation efforts, preservation of marine ecosystems and wildlife preservation.

In addition to participating in Palladium's focus on sustainability measures, Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife has received the silver certificate from Earthcheck. The hotel continues to make strides to "Save the Planet" with its focus on sustainability while still providing a stunning luxury resort for guests.

Rated by National Geographic Traveler magazine as one of the top eco-lodges, Six Sense Con Dao in Vietnam offers an ultra-luxurious escape you can feel good about. From its work with sea turtle conservation to using reusable plastic bottles to helping students in the local community, the resort has played an active role in protecting the local environment.

Barcelo Bavaro Grand Resort received its recertification from Green Globe with a 91 percent compliance rating. The resort recycles 4,000 plastic bottles every day in its restaurants and even has a state-of-the-art waste management facility.

Montage International has worked hard to develop green operating procedures at all of its properties. Montage Deer Park even led the way in Utah, becoming the first LEED-certified resort in the state.

The Brando considers themselves guests or caretakers of the island of Tetiaroa and focuses on becoming carbon neutral. The resort has even developed a Sea Water Air Conditioning system that uses the power of cold ocean water to provide cooling throughout the property.

Element Hotels are part of Marriott International and Ctwo Hotels and focus on long-stay and eco-friendly amenities. The buildings themselves are even built using as many recycled materials as possible.