American Hotel & Lodging Association Adopts Green Key Sustainability Program

Image: Sustainability takes many forms. (Photo Credit: narawit / Adobe Stock)
Image: Sustainability takes many forms. (Photo Credit: narawit / Adobe Stock)
Lacey Pfalz
by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 12:00 PM ET, Wed February 28, 2024

The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and the Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) will both be adopting the Green Key Global Sustainability certification program across their respective countries, beginning April 1. 

HAC created Green Key Global in 1994 as a way to certify a hotel’s environmental sustainability policies, and its criteria is aligned with the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It involves an assessment and audit across areas like energy, water conservation, land use, air quality and more. 

“We are so proud of the commitments hotels are making on the ground as part of this program,” said HAC President & CEO Susie Grynol. “Establishing a Green Key Global North American standard of sustainability allows more properties to elevate their leadership in this space, and through this partnership, we believe we can make sustainability accessible for all hotels.”

The new partnership between AHLA and HAC builds on AHLA’s Responsible Stay initiative. Hoteliers can sign up to participate in the program ahead of April 1 on the Green Key Global website

“This partnership is a gamechanger for the hotel industry in the U.S. and Canada and takes our commitment to sustainability to the next level,” said AHLA President & CEO Chip Rogers. “Green Key Global provides important third-party validation for hotels’ sustainability efforts, and it gives sustainability-minded travelers the information they need to choose the lodging options that are right for them. AHLA and HAC will be working together to promote these goals through this important partnership.”


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Lacey Pfalz

Lacey Pfalz

Senior Editor, News & Features

Lacey Pfalz is Associate Editor at TravelPulse. She's a passionate advocate of responsible travel and believes the best travel experiences happen outside of a planned itinerary. Lacey currently lives in rural Wisconsin. She can be reached at [email protected].

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