Earth Hour

EARTH HOUR
Lights Out Saturday, March 28, 2009
8:30 – 9:30 p.m. local

Turn off your lights for one hour to express your support for action on climate change. Across the globe, more than a billion people are expected to participate in one of the greatest mass demonstrations in history, shutting off lights in homes, offices and public sites to proclaim the need for new policies and practices to address global climate change.

The goal of Earth Hour is to make a powerful visual statement on climate change by shutting down all lights on March 28 from 8:30 – 9:30 p.m. local time. Last year, Earth Hour saw 50 million people participate in 370 towns and cities in 35 countries on all seven continents. The experience inspired many people and businesses to change their energy habits and has influenced government energy policy in countries around the world.

Atlas, as well as many of our preferred travel parenters will be participating. For example, all of Abercrombie & Kent’s local offices, and many of its employees, will be participating in Earth Hour. Their camps, lodges and ships will use only emergency lighting, and we they have asked their hotel partners to do the same.

Please support this effort by literally turning off the lights for one hour, to symbolize your commitment to finding solutions to climate change. In addition, we encourage you to:

Ask government officials to turn off the lights at iconic buildings and national landmarks

Replace standard light bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs

Ask your family, friends and co-workers to join you in supporting Earth Hour.

Holland America Cruises Announces Edocs

Holland announced it’s new flexible, “green” system – replacing traditional buly cruise documents – saves energy and resources.

How It works:  Once final payment is made and up to 50 days prior to departure, you’ll be notified that Express Docs are available for your clients. Once the easy Online Check-in is completed for each guest, Express Docs for each guest will be ready to print or send. With Express Docs, clients have access to more information tailored to their specific itinerary — and it’s easy for you to check ticket and voucher information, and make changes with no document re-issue fees.

Benefits of Express Docs

 

• Greater convenience & control for you and your clients.
• Express Docs may be accessed at the guests’ convenience online 24/7, up to 60 days prior to departure, once final payment is made.
• Guests may print selected pages or the entire set of Express Docs.
• Each person on a booking will have their own set of Express Docs.
• It’s easy to leave copies of their itinerary with family or friends.
• There is no need to wait for documents to be reissued when you add a package, or make a change to the booking.
• There is more time to review itineraries for accuracy.
• There is no charge to have documents reissued with Express Docs.
• While guests are completing their Online Check-in, it is easy to take a moment and navigate to the Shore Excursions page and view their Personalized Shore Excursion Brochure, as well as book Shore Excursions early.
• Choosing Express Docs is also a more environmentally friendly option! By choosing Express Docs you reduce shipping costs, which helps reduce emissions

 
When does it start?This new electronic delivery system goes into effect for cruises that depart May 9, 2009 or later. Just let your agent know that you prefer Edocs, so we can all do our part in saving the environment!

Sustainable Hotels: El Dorado

El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels announced the launch of its “Passion por el Medio Ambiente” program. The translation is Passion for the Environment. The program is designed to encourage staff & guests’ participation in environmentally sustainable practices.

El Dorado resorts has been committed to the environment for years, including installing solar panels throughout all of their properties.  They also have implemented quality controls over towels and sheets, restroom sensors and the use of green cleaning suppliers like Johnson Diversery.  Among sustainable practices implemented, a major recycling initiative is also underway. El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels has taken extensive measures to ensure that all garbage is separated and recycled properly including dangerous waste, organic items, glass and paper. Employees have undergone an extensive training program outlining the MARTI initiatives and illustrating the benefits derived by its implementation. Employees are also encouraged to bring in recycled goods from home once a week, which are processed on property.

Eco-conscious guests will enjoy the extra care taken at these resorts. El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels is a fabulous collection of luxurious All Inclusive Adult-Only beach resorts located throughout the most beautiful sites and exclusive beaches of the Riviera Maya in Mexico. Providing a breathtaking view of the Caribbean Sea, El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels standout by exceptional hospitality service, innovating Gourmet Inclusive Cuisine and outstanding accommodations that transform your dreamlike vacation into a lifetime experience.

To check prices on Mexico vacation packages, click here

Sustainable Travel: Adventure Trips

Adventure Center is a One-stop source for world-class sustainable adventure travel experiences at affordable prices. Choose from a range of over 1,000 adventure vacations worldwide including hiking and biking trips, cultural tours, African safaris, Antarctica expedition cruises, and much more. The environmental effects of a trip are key considerations during the itinerary design process. Everyone involved with the organization of a trip, from tour leaders to office staff, promote and adhere to sustainable travel principles, which travelers are encouraged to embrace.

Backroads, Country Walkers, National Geographic and Mt. Travel Sobek are all adventure companies offering unique itineraries including hiking, biking and walking trips to lessen the environmental impact and allow travelers to be culturally unobtrusive.

Would you be more likely to travel with a company that promotes environmentally friendly practices over one that doesn’t?

Green River Cruises

Viking river cruises recently unveiled the Viking Legend, a “green” ship with hybrid engines which are 20% more energy-efficient.  The ship will be sailing a 15 day Grand European itinerary from Amsterdam to Budapest along the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers. The cruise visits 5 countries with 14 guided tour included in the cruise fare. The world’s largest river cruise line, Viking River Cruises was established by a Scandinavian and Dutch consortium experienced in cruising. With 25 ships, Viking River Cruises continues to expand to new destinations, and builds innovative vessels that provide all the comfort of a fine hotel with attentive Swiss management. Viking River Cruises offers European river cruises, China river cruises along the Yangtze, and Russian river cruises.

Norwegian Cruise Line: Sustainable Travel

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has been named a finalist in Condé Nast Traveler magazine’s 2008 World Savers Awards. The awards honor 38 travel companies from around the world for their leadership in social responsibility in five key areas: poverty alleviation, cultural and/or environmental preservation, education, wildlife conservation & health.

In 2007 alone, the recycling program saved 2,200 mature trees, 2,300 gallons of gas & 672,000 gallons of water. This translates to enough saved timber resources to produce more than 27.28 million sheets of newspaper; enough gasoline to drive more than 64,500 miles; & enough fresh water to meet the daily fresh water needs of more than 8,960 people.

NCL began recycling used cooking oil from its ships at the Port of Miami in early 2007. More than 15,000 gallons of used cooking oil have been offloaded & donated to an organic farmer in Vero Beach, Fla., who converted the oil to 870 gallons of usable bio-diesel for his farming equipment.

Celebrity Solstice Team Earth

In partnership with leading conservation organization, Conservation International, Celebrity Solstice offers a venue onboard called Team Earth which is highlighted by a Globe on Deck 7.

Team Earth is an interactive exhibit onboard the new Celebrity Solstice designed to capture the interest & imagination of guest through brilliant nature photography, museum-quality exhibits and digital touch-screen displays.  Celebrity’s President & CEO Dan Hanrahan descrbed Team Earth as ”A vivid example of our shared belief in doing all we can to preserve the earth’s fresh water, clean air, natural resources and rich beauty.”

You can read news, see short films, audio clips and learn about the world’s oceans, marine life and the environment. Guests will also have the opportunity to join the Team Earth online community to receive pertinent news & support global conservation efforts.

You can learn more about the energy efficient features onboard the Solstice by reading my previous blogs, and you can view over 95 photos of the ship by visiting my Flickr account.

Environmental Hotels Update

The American Hotel & Lodging Association is completing it’s guidelines to help hotels become more “green.” At this point, there is no plan to create a certification program, but rather ask for minimal environmental guidelines to be followed. Some items being addressed are energy saving measures such as towel & linen reuse programs, waste management & use of fluorescent bulbs & digital thermometers. It’s not much, but it is a start to what we hope will be increased changes in the coming years.

Many individual hotel chains are taking their own steps to help the environment. InterContinental Hotels has set up a new Innovation Hotel, which is a specially dedicated section of the IHG web site that will showcase the hotel’s green efforts both now & for properties in the future. Many things are being put into place within the next few years, such as solar roof panels, recycled furniture & low-emissions paint, where other items such as “green roof” & rainwater harvesting will take more time to implement as new hotels are built.

Ask an agent to assist you in finding hotels worldwide that are committed to the environment & “greening” the hospitality industry. Would you be willing to pay more for a “green” hotel?

Collette Vacations: Project Green & Blue

Collette has announced the launch of its newest initiative, Project Green & Blue. The program is Collette’s latest step in reducing its carbon footprint & environmental impact. The domestic tour operator’s initiative is aimed at ensuring Collette’s worldwide offices are operating as “green” as possible on a day-to-day basis.

“Everyone needs to take responsibility for the impact they have on our environment,” said John Galvin, CFO. “We want to do everything we possibly can to leave the world a better place as a result of our being here.” Project Green and Blue is aimed at doing just that.

On Arbor Day, Collette planted 519 trees, one in honor of each of their employees. Collette is also working on the design & construction of the new Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certified building for their office in Canada. The building should be complete in April 2009 will include a geothermal heating system, so they will use less fossil fuel for heat.

Future projects will include installing a 20-kilowatt wind turbine in the company’s Vermont retreat location which will provide renewable energy for the house and in clean energy that can be sold back to the utility company.  They will also make changes & upgrades to their corporate office in Rhode Island including replacing lights & installing water saving fixtures, installing programmable thermostats & occupancy sensing light systems, as well as changing over to environmentally friendly cleaning products.

Collette Vacations makes traveling the world simple and hassle-free. For more information on their travel packages visit: www.escortedcollettetours.com

Celebrity Solstice: Sustainable Travel

Celebrity Solstice arrived in Ft. Lauderdale Nov. 3rd. The ship will be named in formal ceremonies on Nov. 14, & will embark on its inaugural season Nov. 23 on 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruises roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale. In the spring, the ship will sail to Europe & have 10- & 11-night Mediterranean sailings r/t from Rome.

The Solstice will offer some great new features for guests, but my focus is to discuss Celebrity’s environmental efforts. From it’s design, Celebrity focused on the hull to ensure a more fuel efficient ship. The ship will also have 80 solar panels which will provide some of the ship’s power.

Celebrity then partnered with 3M to create a window coating that will deflect the heat that comes in, reducing the amount of air conditioning needed to cool the ship. The tinting should also extend the life of the carpeting by protecting it from sun damage. Other changes include the use of LED lighting and river rocks in their buffets to keep food chilled versus ice cubes.

Celebrity Cruises’ Ocean Fund also awards marine conservation grants throughout the year.

We feel Celebrity has set the example, & consumers will be looking for cruise lines to introduce more innovations to save the environment as new ships are built.