It is free for travel providers who can demonstrate a genuine on-going commitment to sustainability to be featured on the site. From local operators, guides, guest houses and camp grounds to conservation organisations and community groups, members will then be able to receive direct enquiries from customers, promote their region and provide local advice through collaborative blogs and newsletters.

Related link:

• MuchBetterAdventures.com

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I certainly hadn’t planned to wake up – on the cusp of 39 – in a mixed-sex dorm with three guys with flatulence, and the prospect of having to cook porridge for 26 people by 6.30am.

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The report says: “Effective demand measurement need not cost departments anything in terms of initial investment but can have a huge impact. The new Government needs to establish the best way to build demand management into procurement procedures and enforce it rigorously. IT and travel should be clear priorities for action.”

The report – Becoming the Greenest Government Ever – says that last year’sReview of Government Travel, carried out by consultants JMP, highlighted the extent of government’s influence on the travel habits of both its employees and service users and this provides a useful starting point to access further efficiencies and savings.

It says: “The SDC is pleased to note the [Coalition Government’s] initial announcement relating to the 10% reduction in carbon emissions over the coming 12 months; there is now however a clear opportunity over the coming years to signal equal intent in relation to…carbon emissions from Government travel.”

“The SDC … believes that Government needs to understand both the sphere of influence of its operations and procurement and the potential for change, including the potential to link operations and procurement with policy goals.”

JMP chairman Gordon Baker said: “This report shows government’s policies are starting to make a difference, but it again calls on policy leads to clear the confusion that surrounds travel management and reporting. Progress with travel falls far short of that achieved in other areas – such as energy – a step change is urgently required. Government needs to move away from measuring impacts and focus on how travel is procured, managed and used to deliver the business of government.

“There is a clear message in this, the SDC’s, final report. Whilst some reductions are being achieved in the costs and emissions associated with ‘administrative’ vehicles, departments need to take a holistic approach and recognise that all travel, regardless of mode or type of journey, contributes to the sustainability of government operations.

“DfT’s new role as the lead on sustainable travel in government, and the development of a new reporting and monitoring framework, can make this happen. There needs to be a clear steer, better data collation, management and interpretation, and collective action to make a difference.

“The SDC has played a huge role supporting government embed sustainability in its operations. If Government is to honour its commitment and be the “greenest government ever” then it must continue to be transparent. The private sector is expected to have its CSR policies and performance independently scrutinised. To retain credibility, Government needs to do the same.”

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After undergoing extensive review by Green Globe International and meeting the highest ecological standards of development, procedures, and operations, this 273-room, all inclusive luxury resort received the Green Hotel Certification. The Green Globe certification is an indication to travelers that a resort implements environmental safe practices.

“Not only did we receive recertification, but we did it with an incredible 95% compliance. I know of no other hotel in the world that has achieved such a high grade so soon after opening,” said Gabriel Santoyo, Chief Environmental Officer of Tres Ríos. Santoyo directed the practices that have enabled the resort to achieve this international recognition.

Romarico Arroyo Marroquin, Vicepresident of Development and financing of Tres Ríos received the Green Globe Certification from the Latinoamerican President of Green Globe Mexico, Romeo Dominguez, during a special ceremony in Hacienda Tres Ríos Resort Friday morning. Arroyo Marroquin emphasized the significant effort involved in ensuring that the group’s most luxurious resort meets strict environmental quality standards in Mexico and abroad.

“Tres Ríos started as an ecological park. From that point forward, we have continued to follow new and established standards of protecting the region’s extraordinary beauty and diversity in a manner that allows our guests to reconnect with nature while enjoying the Mexican hospitality and endless luxury that we offer. Hacienda Tres Ríos is the best example that sustainability and tourism are compatible and we are convinced that this is the right way to be responsible,” said the Mexican entrepreneur.

The President of Green Globe Latinoamerica, Romeo Dominguez, acknowledged “the intelligent and responsible use, and enduring respect of the ecosystems on Tres Ríos’ property.

“It is remarkable to see a luxury beach resort apply such high standards for the sound management of its natural resources — 120 plant species and 90 animal species — and for its training programs that benefit both employees and the community,” said Dominguez, who manages the sustainable tourism network and green business travel with a presence in 50 countries.

Since its opening in November 2008, Hacienda Tres Ríos has become a model for sustainable tourism in Mexico and the world when it was recognized by the Mexican government, through the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), and when it was invited to share its sustainable tourism practices at world-renowned tourism fairs in London, Spain, and Berlin.

Hacienda Tres Ríos is recognized by major environmental organizations worldwide, such as Green Globe, the Rainforest Alliance, and Sustainable Travel International, and its success story has been presented at major exhibitions in Germany and London.

Nestled within 326 acres of rainforests, mangroves, and coastal dunes, Hacienda Tres Ríos is an eco-friendly resort built 9+ feet (2.8 meters) above sea level on stilts that allow for natural river flow. The resort was creatively designed to reduced electricity consumption from air-conditioning by 38% and from lighting by 70%. In addition to using 100% biodegradable products and recycling 100% of solid waste, the resort’s custom-designed operating systems reduce water consumption by 40%. At the forefront of sustainable tourism development, Hacienda Tres Ríos offers luxurious guest experiences while protecting the region’s natural beauty and cultural heritage. For more information, visit http://www.haciendatresrios.com/.

In 2002 his company became one of the first British travel operators to begin offering customers the opportunity to buy into an offsetting scheme. By paying money to a third party operator that ran carbon-reducing projects in the developing world, holidaymakers could jump on board flights supposedly happy in the knowledge that any carbon dioxide released during their journey would eventually be reduced by the equivalent amount somewhere else.

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Photo by Paulo Brandão