Every year, Earth Day rallies millions of people worldwide to take a closer look at how they interact with the environment.
The theme for this upcoming Earth Day on April 22nd is “Planets vs Plastics,” which calls for an awareness and immediate phase-out of single-use plastics.
Today’s travelers are placing higher importance on environmental and social responsibility, and we’ve compiled a list of planet-positive hotels for Earth Day and byond. Highlights include a Waikiki beach hangout featuring meaningful partnerships with Parley for Oceans and Mananalu, a family-friendly resort in Mexico located on a protected marine park home to some of the world’s rarest marine species, and other hotels in Spain and the BVI that offer unique ways to engage with the environment while on vacation and more.
Carbon neutral in Hawaii: ‘Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach |Oahu, Hawaii
‘Alohilani Resort, located in the center of Waikiki with rich Hawaiian cultural touches, was the first hotel in Hawaii to commit to achieving PAS 2060 carbon-neutral certification, the only international standard for carbon neutrality. The resort employs many other sustainable initiative onsite including native and drought tolerant landscaping, compostable takeout packaging, refillable water bottles, bulk bath amenities and more. In addition, the beachfront property has committed to planting 100,000 native trees in partnership with the Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative (HLRI), helping to revive Hawaii’s endangered hardwood species and rehabilitate a native ecosystem. Guests are encouraged to visit HLRI’s forest on Oahu’s beautiful north shore to take a tour and plant their own tree. For the month of April, the resort will be donating $1 from every purchase of its signature cocktail, “When in Waikiki” to HLRI. ‘Alohilani’s sustainable food and cocktail happy hour series, Earth to Cup, includes dishes centered around sustainable farming and local products that reflect the bounty of each island.
Leader in ocean conservation and education for guests: The Twin Fin Hotel | Oahu, Hawaii
Located steps from Waikiki’s glistening shoreline and famous surf breaks, the towering Twin Fin Hotel is a love letter to the ocean. Through an exclusive partnership with Mananalu, the water brand founded by Hawaii-born actor and ocean activist Jason Momoa (an avid supporter of the hotel), Mananalu’s 16-ounce refillable bottles are available as complimentary amenities in each of the resorts’ guest rooms and refill stations are found throughout the property. As the first resort in Hawaii to carry Mananalu’s aluminum water bottles, The Twin Fin has saved more than 200,000 plastic bottles from going into the ocean. The property is well-known for hosting educational programs, beach clean-ups, and sustainability talks throughout the year. In partnership with Parley for Oceans, the hotel will be unveiling an exclusive interactive exhibit centered around ocean conservation later this year. Art is also sustainable with unique installations like The Wave, an oversized, wave-shaped art structure made from ocean plastic and Albizia wood, an invasive species to Hawaii. Bonus: The Twin Fin just launched an epic new experiential surf school helmed by nine-time Pipeline champion, Jamie O’Brien.
Dive with a National Geographic marine expert: Ibiza Gran Hotel | Ibiza, Spain
Ibiza Gran Hotel is the island’s most sophisticated and longest-standing five-star hotel that has set the standard for luxury hospitality in the Balearics for the past 15 years. Private guest experiences include diving with National Geographic marine expert and photographer Manu San Félix to understand the importance of preserving Posidonia, an endemic sea grass known as the lungs of the sea. The reef found near the island is considered the world’s oldest organism and has immense importance including carbon capture (these sea meadows store more carbon than forests), providing oxygen and supporting a biodiverse marine community. In addition, Ibiza Gran Hotel uses solar panels to cut CO2 emissions by hundreds of tons every year and a glass refill water bottle program with local company Agua Kmzero. Ibiza Gran Hotel’s on-site Michelin-starred restaurant, La Gaia by Óscar Molina, showcases the islands’ local bounty and zero-kilometer dining at its finest.
Support the circular economy: Zafiro Palace Andratx | Mallorca, Spain
Zafiro Palace Andratx is the crown jewel of a second-generation, Mallorcan-family-owned hotel portfolio. The five-star property abides by a zero-kilometer philosophy and prioritizes local purveyors for dining, in-room amenities, décor and more to reduce the carbon footprint associated with goods transport and support the circular economy. For example, take-home vanity cases are designed by Teixits Vicens, one of the island’s three artisanal fabric makers still producing textiles in the traditional method. As a part of the Zafiro Goes Greener program, the hotel implements innovative systems to reduce water and energy use, minimize waste and preserve the natural environment, earning recognition as an Ecotourism Hotel by the Alcudia City Council (Mallorca). All guests can access complimentary electric scooters to explore the nearby coastline and sprawling beaches like a local.
Explore one of the world’s largest protected marine parks: Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto by Danzante Bay | Loreto, Mexico
Set amidst the dramatic Sierra de la Giganta mountains, bordering the turquoise waters of the Sea of Cortez, Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto is an award-winning family-friendly resort perched on the Loreto Bay National Marine Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The protected national marine park spans almost 800 square miles and is teeming with marine life. The protected status limits the size and power of boats that traverse its crystal-clear waters, keeping pollution from watercraft to a minimum. Guests can book a scuba diving, SUP, snorkeling, or kayaking tour with the hotel and enjoy the incredible underwater wildlife in the “Galápagos of Mexico.” The marine park is home 43 species of marine mammals including a third of the world’s whale and dolphin species, 900 species of fish, hundreds of vascular plant species and more. The hotel has implemented several eco-friendly initiatives, including solar panels, a sophisticated seawater purification system for all water throughout the resort, a greywater recycling program, an onsite garden for produce, and more.
A sanctuary for sustainability: Oil Nut Bay | Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands
Situated within the North Sound region of the British Virgin Islands, Oil Nut Bay stands as a haven of seclusion and environmental mindfulness. Half of the low-density community’s 400 acres is designated green space. Solar power serves as the primary source of electricity, powering essential amenities like air conditioning and refrigeration, as well as fueling desalination plants for clean water production. Homes and villas are built to LEED energy standards and blend seamlessly within the topography, several boasting living green roofs brimming with native flora. Guests can partake in unforgettable experiences such as turtle tagging and mangrove kayaking in glass-bottom kayaks, contributing to marine conservation endeavors. The turtle tagging initiative provides guests with a rare opportunity to engage in turtle conservation alongside onboard researchers, leaving lasting impressions and instilling environmental consciousness. Younger guests can also immerse themselves in eco-friendly activities that foster a profound connection with nature with the Ranger Program. Additionally, the onsite animal rescue barn serves as a sanctuary for rescued horses, emus, tortoises, flamingos, and more.
