By Amelia Ball
Members of the AHA now have access to an online program that enables them to assess their own business’s environmental performance.
Announced at the AHA National Convention yesterday, AHA members have special access to Green Globe Lite at a discounted price.
Green Globe Lite is an online program that operators can undertake without a third-party audit, assessing areas including energy and water consumption, carbon dioxide emissions and waste production.
The program meets international standards for carbon footprint calculation and is backed by the world’s leading tourism research body, the Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre (STCRC).
AHA chief executive Bill Healey said the partnership between the AHA and Green Globe will provide hotels with an affordable tool to improve their environmental performance.
“While the final structure of the carbon pollution reduction scheme is still to be determined, the AHA is of the view there is value in our members preparing for it by gaining a better understanding of the energy their businesses use,” Healey said.
EC3 Global manages Green Globe in Australia, with CEO Stewart Moore saying there are bottom-line benefits for hotels that commit to the program.
“It’s a step towards achieving practical sustainability outcomes for businesses,” he said.