For all media and pr enquiries please contact: info@ecohotelsoftheworld.com

Previous press:
Click below to go directly to the article.
Press from 2008
Daisy Green Magazine, Jan 1 2009
GreenFixes, Jan 7 2009
TheStreet.com, Jan 13 2009
Eco Home and Garden, Feb 1 2009
Greenzer, Feb 25 2009
Sustainablog, Mar 4 2009
Travel Daily News, Mar 16 2009
All Things Eco News, Mar 19 2009
Travel Mole, Mar 19 2009
Planet Green Discovery, Mar 20 2009
Ecoki, Mar 21 2009
EcoGreenHotel, Mar 31 2009
BeMoreEco, June 15 2009

Meet Alex Conti, January green god
By Nicola
Published: January 1, 2009

When we picked ten green gods back in November, we weren’t planning on a regular theme. But those handsome, clever, ethical men just keep on offering themselves to us and we are powerless to resist. Here author, eco-traveller, archaeologist and self-confessed Indiana Jones wannabe, Alex Conti, talks exclusively to Daisy Green.

Archaeologist to eco travel writer. A bit of a change! Explain.
Ah yes, I must admit it appears to be a strange route. Well, archaeology really appealed to my sense of adventure. I grew up watching Indiana Jones and in some way I suppose I wanted to be a little like that. I travelled a lot in that sphere and fell in love with exploring new destinations or at least finding new ways of seeing old ones. I love living and understanding different cultures and really getting to know what makes a place tick. Writing about it was only a small step away.

What is your favourite place that you have visited. Is it featured in the book?
You know that’s the hardest question. I think that your favourite destination changes all the time, I think it changes with you… One year the perfect place is that small beach on a tiny Greek island, the next it might be the bustling activity of Old Delhi, everything depends on how you are feeling at the time and in some ways it is important to keep it that way (after all you don’t want the same holiday every year!). In the book I cover pretty much most of the globe and, from property to property, everything is so different that pitching them against each other is almost impossible.

Carbon offsetting - your opinions please.
Well it’s a good interim solution. It allows us to keep flying responsibly and in the meantime gives airlines and aircraft manufacturers a much needed breathing space to come up with better and more efficient permanent solutions. I often hear that the best thing to do is not to travel at all, but I have to disagree. Travel is an enormously important social phenomenon; it allows people to see things, to open their horizons and to understand the world around them. The cultural, historical and economical ramifications of travel are intrinsic to our humanity and people should not be deprived of it. However, we should all make a personal effort to travel responsibly, take the train if you can, take the most efficient flight routes and then offset the rest with a trusted provider.

What are your top five tips for planning an Eco holiday?
Everything is in the planning and the devil is in the detail. The more you plan at home the more you get to relax on holiday. Spending time looking at where to stay, how to get there and where to eat are all important parts of the planning stages and ultimately can be great fun, they help you visualise a place and learn a little about it before you arrive. You should also make sure that before you leave you: pack wisely (extra weight on flights means extra fuel and also extra back pain), choose the most efficient method of transport (train over plane and direct flights over indirect), choose your providers wisely (if you are using a local tour operator make sure they are environmentally aware, the hotel should also be the same) and finally do your homework (reading up on local culture and habits will stand you in good stead).

Does your love of all things green spill into your own life? Do you furiously try to reduce reuse and recycle?
I am afraid that it does, but only in the same ‘realistic green’ manner that I apply to travel. I love recycling as it only requires the smallest effort. It reduces the emissions associated with extracting virgin materials, manufacturing products and to top it all off, it can be done in the comfort of your home. Another obvious solution I like is making sure that when I replace an appliance it is always with one that is more efficient, the old one is donated or recycled. Gone are the days of throwing things away, there is always a second life waiting for most of our possessions whether you give them to charity, to a recycling centre or even just a friend who needs them, whatever you do try not to throw them away unnecessarily.

Ethical vs environmental - different issues or intrinsically linked?
It’s all linked. When we talk about environmental concerns the associated argument is normally ‘nature-centric’ but in its broader sense I think it overlaps with a lot of ethical issues we also like to talk about. One term that I see mentioned more often lately is that of ‘Geo-tourism’. This works well as it refers to tourism that sustains and enhances the geographical character of a place: its culture, environment and heritage. I like it because it makes no distinction where there should be none. If we take the trouble to organise an eco holiday the local people and businesses are just as much a consideration as the local flora or fauna. In our eco hotel or lodge selection it is imperative that the properties follow these small but important rules that ultimately take into account both environmental and ethical questions: dependence on the natural environment, ecological sustainability, proven contribution to conservation, provision of environmental training programs, incorporation of cultural considerations and provision of an economic return to the local community.

What are your own travel plans for this New Year?
For the New Year there are many travel plans in the pipeline. I have some research to do in Europe to seek more eco properties for our listing and consolidate the current entries. Then there will of course be the mandatory sailing holiday! Sailing has become something of an eco living benchmark for me, being that close to nature and seeing the effects that even the smallest personal action can have on the immediate environment is quite telling. I often think that if we all lived as efficient as people do at sea the world would be a different place.

What does 2009 hold for Alex Conti?
Who knows! A new book is in the pipeline which will be completely different and promises to be quite a shock. In the meantime I will be there to help people have the most incredible experiences of their lives without any eco-guilt.

For the Original article click Here
To go back to the top click here

Traveling Green in 2009
By Crystal
Published: January 7, 2009

Visit Eco-Hotels to book your hotel stay.
Eco-hotels is a website that you can go to that helps you find the hotels who practice being eco-friendly. Before booking your hotel ask these key questions: 1.) Is the hotel locally owned and operated? If not, then is it at least staffed by local employees? 2.) What kind of recycling program does the hotel have (aluminum, plastic, paper, gray water, composting)? 3.) Do guests have the option to reuse towels and sheets instead of having them changed every day? 4.) What programs does the hotel have to reduce consumption? Examples include energy-efficient lighting, low-flow toilets and showers and alternative energy sources like solar or wind power? 5.) How does the hotel contribute to the local community?

For the Original article click Here
To go back to the top click here

Beyond Green: Sleep in a Recycled Hotel
By Kelsey Abbott
Published: January 13, 2009

Eco Hotels of the World uses a green-star ratings system to evaluate a hotel's efforts in energy conservation, water conservation, waste reduction, environmental action and production.

To be evaluated by Eco Hotels, a hotel must first fulfill a series of criteria including ecological sustainability, a proven contribution to conservation, an economic and cultural commitment to the local community and the availability of environmental-education programs.

For the Original article click Here
To go back to the top click here

Eco Hotels of the World - Alex Conti
By Editor
Published: February 1, 2009

Conti admits he struggled with contradictory feelings when putting this book together. Whilst he recognises travel is a cultural tool in trying to re-distribute wealth around the globe, he is also aware that it contributes to climate change. With this in mind he approaches it in a way that increases awareness and responsibility.

The book is easy to use and gives an eco rating to each place, so you can be sure of the level of ‘greeness’. Full of interesting facts and tips that make it very readable.

For the Original article click Here
To go back to the top click here

Luggage Without Environmental Baggage
By Editor
Published: February 25, 2009

February’s a great month to get away. Preferably, for most of us, somewhere that hasn’t seen snow in years and has a very low annual rain fall. We could go on about the greenest way to get there (train, if possible, and carbon offsets if you must fly), the greenest place to stay (one of the new eco-focused hotels on Eco Hotels of the World) and some environmentally-conscious activities (how about a volunteer vacation?), but instead, we want to alert you to a set of luggage that’s light on impact and heavy on quality.

For the Original article click Here
To go back to the top click here

Green Globetrotting with Eco Hotels of the World
By John Ivanko
Published: March 4, 2009

Showcasing the most environmentally-friendly hotels in the world, Eco Hotels of the World is a leading global online guide for the ultimate in green travel accommodations, from sustainably designed new hotels or resorts to once-in-a-lifetime ecotravel experiences like staying in an igloo in Switzerland. Each accommodation is evaluated based on a five star rating system that examines energy, water, waste disposal, eco-activity (communication), and ecological protection.

Based in England, Eco Hotels of the World searches the globe for leading examples of hotels that appeal to the eco-adventurer in us all. Who doesn’t want to bivouac in style on the Dark Continent with elephants passing near by at a safe distance — and where the money paid to the hotel helps conserve the habitat, support the local community, and protect the elephants? There’s a dizzying range of size, scope and degree of comforts and amenities for hotels included in Eco Hotels of the World, so you’re not just getting a listing of the ultra-swank-eco-hotels that will break your bank (even if some of the funds do, in fact, go to helping preserve the environment or benefits the local community). It’s all about choice with a conscience, and Eco Hotels of the World is a great place to plan your green getaway.

The 131 hotels now featured in Eco Hotels of the World have been personally selected by the website’s editors to ensure that they meet the standards required to be considered an eco-friendly hotel, including stewardship of the natural environment, ecological sustainability, proven contribution to conservation, provision of environmental training programs, incorporation of cultural considerations and provision of an economic return to the local community. A departure from most other eco-hotel review processes, hotels cannot pay for inclusion in the listing, nor does Eco Hotels of the World accept commissions on bookings in order to remain independent and objective.

Launched by Alex Conti in 2008, Eco Hotels of the World reflects Conti’s global perspective on ecotravel. “Initially Eco Hotels of the World was really designed to show people that travel is an incredible social tool allowing us to meet people, learn things and even redistribute wealth and that these positive aspects could be enjoyed in a very responsible and eco-friendly way,” explains Conti, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. “There was also an urge to highlight the story of wonderful people around the world that do everything they can to preserve their local environment and showcase it to those who visit them.”

Beyond the website, there’s also the Eco Hotels of the World guidebook by Alex Conti. This authoritative and visually stunning, full-color book will jolt even the most committed arm chair travelers out of their seats, reaching for their passports and packing their bags. For avid ecotravelers, it offers numerous rare finds for new eco adventures. The engaging narrative about each hotel is woven together with a colorful and compelling design that highlights the key practices and features of each accommodation.

For any ecopreneurial business, transparency is an important aspect of how they operate their enterprise. Befitting this, Eco Hotels of the World features a built-in customer review system where every hotel can receive a customer rating that will be shown in full on their site.

“Ecotourism makes the world a better place because it allows us to enjoy the massive benefits of ecotravel knowing that we are not harming the very destinations we visit,” sums up Conti.

For the Original article click Here
To go back to the top click here

Eco travel reviewers wanted for Eco Hotels Of The World website
By Theodore Koumelis
Published: March 16, 2009

Top environmentally friendly travel website www.ecohotelsoftheworld.com is fast becoming the ultimate place for eco conscious travellers to find their dream eco hotel, lodge, spa or other holiday destination, as new venues are added to the site at the rate of 3 a week.

Becoming more and more widely used not only as a directory of the best eco-destinations across the globe, the site is fast improving its reputation as a community of travellers, green and “mainstream” - and is a great resource for journalists searching for eco travel stories, information and detail. We have images of every venue listed - currently 140 but increasing at a rate of 2-3 per week

Following on from the success of the book Eco Hotels of the World which launched last year, as well as huge improvements on the site, this portal is a mine of information for travellers of all types from families to backpackers. Featuring a two-fold ratings system, giving both green stars for Environmental criteria, as well as a general rating for service, location and comfort, the site guarantees unbiased, honest feedback and ratings from holidaymakers themselves who have visited and scored the venues on their genuine travels.

Eco Hotels of the World currently features over 140 green holiday venues around the globe, and rates them with green stars in the areas of Energy, Water, Disposal, Eco-Active and Protection.

The site is always looking for new, exciting venues for its listings and is calling in particular for travel writers and journalists to share any new locations they find in both the rated sections and on the site’s highly popular blog.

The website ecohotelsoftheworld.com started with a handful of volunteers less than 18 months ago and now has around 3 new venues a month being added to the site as well as many reviews. Says the site’s founder Alex Conti, “We really are aiming to be as interactive a site as possible, with a real community feel, not only attractive to current environmentally conscious travellers, but ultimately helping everybody take a more ecologically responsible attitude to their business and leisure travel, whilst not having to compromise in any way on the travel experience. We really value the reviews, feedback, travel stories and interaction from the site’s visitors and we are encouraging more people to take part in making our site vibrant, exciting and the ultimate thorough guide to eco travel across the globe.”

The main features of the site include finding your dream eco-destination, rating your eco holiday venue, sending travel news and snippets in for the blog and following the site on facebook and twitter.

Timeout says of the website “Now there’s no excuse: plan your holidays with an eco-conscience this season,” and Panorama has said it is an important “point of reference for travellers all over the world.”

For the Original article click Here
To go back to the top click here

Eco travel reviewers wanted for website as green travel increases exponentially in 2009
By Valere Tjolle
Published: March 19, 2009

Top environmentally friendly travel website www.ecohotelsoftheworld.com is fast becoming another place for eco conscious travellers to find their dream eco hotel, lodge, spa or other holiday destination, as new venues are added to the site at the rate of 3 a week.

Becoming more and more widely used not only as a directory of the best eco-destinations across the globe, the site is fast improving its reputation as a community of travellers, green and “mainstream” – and is a great resource for journalists searching for eco travel stories, information and detail.

Following on from the success of the book Eco Hotels of the World which launched last year, the portal is a mine of information for travellers of all types from families to backpackers. Featuring a two-fold ratings system, giving both green stars for Environmental criteria, as well as a general rating for service, location and comfort, the site guarantees unbiased, honest feedback and ratings from holidaymakers themselves who have visited and scored the venues on their genuine travels.

The site currently features over 140 green holiday venues around the globe, and rates them with green stars in the areas of Energy, Water, Disposal, Eco-Active and Protection.

The site is always looking for new, exciting venues for its listings and is calling in particular for travel writers and journalists to share any new locations they find in both the rated sections and on the site’s highly popular blog. It started with a handful of volunteers less than 18 months ago and now has around 3 new venues a month being added to the site as well as many reviews.

Says the site’s founder Alex Conti, “We really are aiming to be as interactive a site as possible, with a real community feel, not only attractive to current environmentally conscious travellers, but ultimately helping everybody take a more ecologically responsible attitude to their business and leisure travel, whilst not having to compromise in any way on the travel experience. We really value the reviews, feedback, travel stories and interaction from the site’s visitors and we are encouraging more people to take part in making our site vibrant, exciting and the ultimate thorough guide to eco travel across the globe.”

The main features of the site include finding your dream eco-destination, rating your eco holiday venue, sending travel news and snippets in for the blog and following the site on facebook and twitter.

For the Original article click Here
To go back to the top click here

Eco Hotels of the World
By Editor
Published: March 19, 2009

Eco Hotels of the World currently features over 140 green holiday venues around the globe, and rates them with green stars in the areas of Energy, Water, Disposal, Eco-Active and Protection.

The site is always looking for new, exciting venues for its listings and is calling in particular for travel writers and journalists to share any new locations they find in both the rated sections and on the site’s highly popular blog.

The website started with a handful of volunteers less than 18 months ago and now has around 3 new venues a month being added to the site as well as many reviews.

Becoming more and more widely used not only as a directory of the best eco-destinations across the globe, the site is fast improving its reputation as a community of travellers, green and “mainstream” – and is a great resource for journalists searching for eco travel stories, information and detail.

Featuring a two-fold ratings system, giving both green stars for Environmental criteria, as well as a general rating for service, location and comfort, the site guarantees unbiased, honest feedback and ratings from holidaymakers themselves who have visited and scored the venues on their genuine travels.

Says the site’s founder Alex Conti, “We really are aiming to be as interactive a site as possible, with a real community feel, not only attractive to current environmentally conscious travellers, but ultimately helping everybody take a more ecologically responsible attitude to their business and leisure travel.”

For the Original article click Here
To go back to the top click here

Find Green Hotels with Eco Hotels of the World
By Josh Peterson
Published: March 20, 2009

Don't quote this as fact, but I'm sure that as soon as there were two towns on the planet, there were two inns, the precursors of modern-day hotels. Inns have been around forever. Ancient Greece had inns, and inns play a large role in the Bible’s Christmas story. Inns, hotels, motels, lodges, whatever you call them are here to stay. The trick is finding a green one.

There is a new website on the internet that can help you find an ecologically friendly hotel in some of the farthest-flung corners of the world. The site is called Eco Hotels of the World. They are an independent guide that strives to provide the green traveler a comprehensive selection of eco-minded hotels, lodges and inns. Each hotel in their listing has been hand-picked by their editors. However, if you believe that they have missed an eco-friendly hotel, they are open to suggestions.

They rate the hotels on a scale of one-to-five green stars. They showcase hotels on all six of the populated continents. You can even purchase a environmentally friendly, carbon-offset, FSC paper book of their website, allowing you to carry this information into regions where the internet may not be available.

For the Original article click Here
To go back to the top click here

Plan your next eco-accomodations with ease
By Laurie
Published: March 21, 2009

Want to be a little more earth-friendly next time you plan to travel? Eco Hotels of the World provides a much-needed resource dedicated to showcasing the most-environmentally friendly hotels in the world.

This free online guide has a huge (and growing) list of hotels that are specifically selected by their editors to ensure they meet their standards for eco-friendliness. Showing hotels and lodges all across the world, they are a leading guide in green accommodations, from hotels to resorts to cabins to igloos.

It’s as simple as a search engine to see where to stay next time you take a trip. The five start rating that corresponds with each location is based on energy, water, waste disposal, eco-activity, and ecological protection.

If you’re planning to Fiji, do a quick search and you might be interested in Matava Eco Adventure Resort. Set beside the Great Astrolabe Reef, it’s a small tropical paradise, where you sleep inside traditional thatched Fijian bures among the rainforest.

Amazon Yarapa River Lodge might spark your interest instead, a full-fledged green operation, with solar lighting and locally staffed Peruvians along the banks of the Yarapa River.

And if you’re a frequent traveler? Eco Hotels wants your voice. Always looking for new properties, if you have one to recommend, they’re more than interested in adding it to their online guide. You can also add reviews to your favourite properties (or least favourite), to the ones that they’ve already listed.

The 147 hotels that currently are listed is ever-growing, each with customer reviews. The sole 1 star hotel caught our attention, and that’s where Eco Hotels of the World proves to be helpful. The hotel, with a beautiful, lush description and scenic photographs looked perfect, but user reviews assured us that it was overridden with dirt and bugs.

In addition to the resource, website owner Alex Conti also has written the Eco Hotels of the World Guidebook. This full-colour book combines information for eco-travel, a more detailed look at each accommodation, combined with additional images and key features.

Visit: ecohotelsoftheworld.com for more information

For the Original article click Here
To go back to the top click here

All Over the Map: It’s a small (green hotel) world
By Parisiscott
Published: March 31, 2009

Heads up, green hotel owners, managers and marketing departments! There’s a new place on the worldwide web for promoting eco hotels, and it’s making it easier than ever for properties like yours to attract potential guests.

Check this out: www.ecohotelsoftheworld.com. This site has an independent, objective online directory created to assist eco-travelers in finding environmentally friendly lodging all over the world. The U.K.-based site has been adding venues at the rate of three per month since inception and currently lists around 140 properties worldwide.

Site visitors can search the free database for an eco hotel near their destination. They can also submit hotel reviews, recommend hotels for inclusion on the site, and sign up to receive a newsletter full of information and travel-related offers.

And here’s how it works from the lodging facility side. First, hotels study the requirements for inclusion in the directory. The requirements are fairly straightforward and mainly focus on water and energy conservation, waste disposal practices, community involvement and staff training.

Then, the hotel fills out the directory’s simple online form and submits it. An Eco Hotels of the World representative will contact the facility about whether or not the property has made the cut.

And here’s the best part: Hotels are not charged any fees or commissions to be listed on the site!

EcoHotelsoftheWorld.com has been featured in various publications, including Time Out magazine and Panorama. It’s a site that’s destined to pick up speed and grow, so get in on the ground floor and secure your hotel’s free listing soon!

For the Original article click Here
To go back to the top click here

Getting away from it all for a UK Holiday needn’t be a guilt trip.
By Sara
Published: June 15, 2009

Eco-holidays in the UK really represent the modern face of responsible tourism. The chief aim of an eco holiday is to support local economies while being environmentally sustainable. An eco holiday offers the opportunity to eat well, smell the grass and gain a new skill or experience without exploiting the environment in which it takes place. And of course you will be using less air miles than if you were to travel abroad!

More people than ever are choosing to holiday at home rather than traveling abroad with the intention of decreasing their carbon footprint and being more environmentally friendly. The good news is that there are lots of camping, self-catering, activity and other eco chic holiday options to choose from. In this three part series we look at holidaying in the UK either as a single, part of a couple or as a family

If you are Single, don’t worry!

Single? Then forget Club 18-30 and book a holiday with a difference all in the company of other single travelers who share your individual special interest. Why not indulge in a passion or try a new experience, whether it is learning about organic cuisine, crafts, art, dancing, tennis or music. Explore the great outdoors with environmentally friendly scenic tours and rambling weekends. There are tons of companies out there that cater for the single traveler in the UK with many not charging supplements that singles get hammered for frequently

Want to do it yourself? Then just do a quick google search which will result in pages of great eco holiday ideas.

Finally, Ecotraveller Alex Conti has an extensive UK section in his Eco Hotels Of The World book that was released at the start of the year. Also check out Terena Plowright’s book called Eco-Centres and Courses for a comprehensive guide to over 150 places which offer practical courses, fun days out and accommodation.

For the Original article click Here
To go back to the top click here