A leading North American environmental certification body, Green Key Global provides meticulously crafted certification programs and resources tailored for the hotel and meeting industries. Designed by seasoned hoteliers, these programs serve as an efficient and economical route to the eco-friendly certification, in perfect harmony with sustainability imperatives. From addressing the climate crisis to adapting to millennial influence, corporate goals, brand commitments, and OTA requisites, Green Key Global’s certification is a hallmark validating sustainability assertion. This empowers hotels to effortlessly cater to the rising tide of eco-conscious travelers and meet the exacting standards of business events.
Green Key Global’s suite of programs includes the Green Key Eco-Rating program and the Green Key Meetings & Events program, allowing participants to benefit on various fronts—cost savings, increased bookings from environmentally conscious consumers and meeting planners, and reduced carbon footprint.
The Green Key Eco-Rating program employs a graduated rating system, acknowledging diverse hotel and lodging establishments for their dedication to enhancing environmental and fiscal sustainability. Meanwhile, its Green Key Meetings & Events program is an assessment tool tailored for lodging and event facilities hosting gatherings of any scale, embodying their commitment to excellence in sustainability and hospitality. The online assessment evaluates core areas (energy, water, waste), communication (information, training, policies & management), activities (community, procurement, auditing), health (wellness activities, air quality, people), exhibitions, and audiovisual.
After the assessment a robust audit is required to become certified. Members will receive a highly useful performance report with their certification with the necessary recommendations to reduce utility consumption, waste, and emissions. Properties receive a rating from 1 to 5 keys based on the assessment and audit results. Once clients perfect their stance on their carbon footprint, they receive the green certification. Green Key Global then shares the property’s certification status with online travel agents, business travel agencies, and corporate entities, ensuring prominent listing for hotels as sustainable facilities and attracting more travelers. “As a leader in ESG and CSR certification, we’re committed to staying reliably relevant in the ever-changing world of sustainability,” says Rebecca Bartlett-Jones, Director of Marketing and Business Development, Green Key Global.
Staying true to this goal, team Green Key Global is focused on continuously revising and enhancing its offerings to align with the latest sustainability standards. Its new & improved Eco-Rating program testifies to this commitment. Recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), it aligns with all 17 United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs) while approaching sustainability more holistically. This includes questions on regenerative tourism, CSR, and ESG factors. The new iteration of the Eco-Rating program incorporates a more rigorous approach to certification, requiring properties to report on current processes and plan future initiatives.
As a leader in ESG and CSR certification, we’re committed to staying reliably relevant in the ever-changing world of sustainability
Green Key Global also brings an upgraded meetings program that features guidance on implementing sustainable event practices, KPIs to help measure success, and toolkits to ensure their meeting space is sustainable. Its new meetings program will be complemented by a Carbon Neutral Event certification program specially designed for individual meetings and events. Developed with its strategic collaboration with environmental partners, the program helps achieve carbon neutrality by calculating carbon footprint and reducing it to zero through a combination of efficiency measures in-house and supporting external emission reduction projects.
The innovation also entails rigorous member audits — a more rigid and enforced audit process. Green Key Global also equips hotels with an ROI calculator to evaluate projects like solar power installation for short-term and long-term financial gains.
The notion of continuous improvement is deeply ingrained in its DNA, and continues to make advancements that encompass latest elements of sustainability for hotels and event spaces. This, coupled with its excellence in driving sustainability and profitability for clients, makes it a partner of choice for numerous hotels, contributing to a greener and more sustainable future.
