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About the Green Lodging Program
The Green Lodging Program provides third-party verification that lodging facilities meet environmental best practice standards and demonstrate a strong commitment to water quality, water conservation, waste minimization, resource conservation, and energy efficiency. Through a comprehensive and credible method for assessing the extent of the environmental measures undertaken, participating facilities can reduce environment-related costs and gain a marketing advantage.
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Good for the Environment, Good for Business
Stage 1: Self-Evaluation
Familiarize yourself and your staff with the program and the key aspects of environmental management for lodging facilities. Conduct a review of your current practices and identify areas to improve. When you are ready, complete the Green Lodging Designation Application and submit it to Audubon International.
Stage 2: Assessment
Audubon International Green Lodging staff will review your application and schedule a site visit to verify your practices.
Stage 3: Verification
Audubon International Green Lodging staff will direct an independent verification of your facility to assess its environmental best practices.
Stage 4: Eco-Rating Awarded
An eco-rating is awarded based on your overall score and site visit results. We will send you your certificate and prepare an environmental performance report with suggestions about how to improve. Completed applications and reports are confidential and only accessible to you and program staff.
Stage 5: Continuous Improvement
You can increase your eco-rating! Tools are available to help you implement and expand environmental practices, including online resources and fact sheets.
Annual program membership fees are based on the number of rooms the lodging facility has.
"Audubon International made it possible for us to make our resort as sustainable as it is. In 2005, when we began this journey, Audubon was the only eco-rating program for hotels that we could find that actually came to the facility and helped ascertain the best way to operate your business sustainability and profitability at the same time. The program has been invaluable to us"
- Jenn Holderied, Director of Marketing and Owner
Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort
General Pricing
Number of Rooms Annual Membership Fee*
1-50 (Tier 1) $500
51-100 (Tier 2) $500
101-200 (Tier 3) $500
201-500 (Tier 4) $750
500+ (Tier 5) $1,000
One time membership enrollment fee: $500
*Base fees for a single lodging establishment in North America. International and multi-part projects will receive a customized proposal.
Benefits of Membership
Owners and managers of hotels, motels, inns, B&Bs, resorts, and accommodation facilities of all kinds can see a host of benefits from participating in the Green Lodging Program, such as:
- Third-party, credible verification by a non-profit environmental group.
- Public recognition and marketing benefits as an environmental leader.
- Easy identification as a ‘green hotel’ for millions of ‘green’ travelers.
- Structure, information, tools, and advice to reduce operating costs.
- Enhanced staff job satisfaction through their involvement.
Audubon International has joined forces with Clean the World to help Green Lodging members increase their environmental efforts and save lives in the process. Clean the World is a non-profit organization collecting used soap from hospitality partners, sanitizing and recycling it, and distributing it to homeless shelters in North America and to communities in developing countries. Every day, thousands of children around the world die from diseases that could have easily been prevented with access to soap. Be part of the solution.