Travelocity flags five cutting edge green hotels

Hotels’ eco-friendly initiatives are weird, wonderful even wild

Travelocity has identified some of the most cutting-edge green hotels around the world. From rooftop beehives… to encouraging guests to generate energy for the hotel by working out in the gym, these properties are helping build a greener tomorrow, say Travelocity, and having a little fun while they’re at it.

Now Travelocity has logged more than 3,000 eco-friendly hotels on its site.”

Crowne Plaza Copenhagen Towers – One of the greenest properties in the world, this Danish hotel offers guests the chance to partake in its green efforts first hand — and receive a tasty treat in return. The hotel’s gym has two unique stationary bikes where guests can pedal to generate power for the hotel. Once a threshold is reached, they earn a free meal in the hotel’s restaurant.

The Fairmont Royal York – This Toronto hotel keeps more than 10,000 live bees on site that produce honey for its restaurant. Dubbed the Honey Moon Suite, the beehives are located in the hotel’s rooftop garden and provide guests with sweet treats while being gentle on the environment.

h2hotel – Though Sonoma is known for its local vintages, this eco-friendly hotel is bringing another beverage to the forefront: water. The brand-new h2hotel has “waterbars” sprinkled throughout its grounds. At each station, guests can use provided carafes to hydrate — and skip the wasteful single-use bottles. Guests can also visit the hotel’s Spoonbar to try a few delicious cocktails created with organically grown herbs, fruits and vegetables.

Aloft Portland – Located in one of the greenest cities in America, this airport hotel had to take its eco-initiatives to the next level to impress the locals. Not only is Aloft Portland situated on the MAX light-rail line so guests can easily commute with a small footprint but the hotel also offers bikes for checkout. Even cooler, it has an innovative Bike and Fly program, which allows guests to pedal to the hotel before their flights and park their bikes for up to 14 days for free.

Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows – Less wacky and more wild and wonderful, this gorgeous Oahu retreat invites guests to help protect the endangered local sea turtles. Given to the hotel by the Oahu's Sea Life Park, baby sea turtles are raised in the hotel’s saltwater ponds. When fully grown the turtles are released into the wild as part of the hotel’s Independence Day celebrations.

“Travelers are getting more sophisticated when it comes to green efforts and these cutting-edge touches are exactly what they love,” said Alison Presley manager of Travelocity’s Travel for Good® program. “While not all green hotels are going to these extremes, many are making substantial changes for a better tomorrow. In fact,

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Valere is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite 2011, special offers HERE