The recent Glastonbury Music Fair used to have one choice, and only one choice for accomodations: camping out on the Festival grounds.  Then back in 2005, a former London attorney came up with a better idea.  She founded Camp Kerala, a "pop up hotel" that uses handmade tents from India to shelter 75 luxurious rooms ($12,000/for 3 nights including organic meals and tickets).  Each room comes with all natural bath products and wood furnishings from sustainable forests. 

When Guests walk into the rooms they know right away that it makes a minimal impact on the environment.

It’s Definitely a Trend
But how does the eco conscious traveler tell the truly eco-conscious from the merely "greenwashed"?  The Newsweek article I read goes on to say that there is no National Standard except for the those of the National organizations like the U.S. Green Building Council (usgbc.org) and Green Seal (available in nine states and at greenseal.org.  There’s the Orchard Garden Hotel in San Francisco that features a Euro-style system that allow room lights and air conditioner to be turned on on only after a guest has inserted a key card into a special holder thus ensuring that electricity automatically shuts down when the room is unoccupied.  In addition, the hotel’s furniture is made from sustainable wood, the cleaning staff uses chemical free products and the chefs cook with locally grown foodstuffs. 

There Are Other Sources for Green Hospitality
There are other web sites to  check out as well such as environmentallyfriendlyhotels.com.  The Sofitel Water Tower Chicago sofitel.com has developed its own 65 point Environmental Plan that includes the use of ozone laundry machines that reduce the use of detergent and water.

From Newsweek
Most of the above information is from a recent issue of Newsweek, not some obscure ecofriendly magazine.  This is mainstream stuff, folks.  Look for more Hotels at all price points to go Green in the future and, as interiorscapers who make our living with them as clients, we should be aware and participate in their goals.  To learn more about this trend, check out Green Plants for Green Buildings and attend Calscape this Sept.26-28 in Las Vegas.  Green is not just about Plants anymore.