BWH Hotels continues to promote its desire to offer more sustainable and responsible tourism options for travelers in 2024 and beyond. In line with its “Because We Care” sustainability program in 2023, BWH Hotels introduced new eco-conscious brand partnerships, while continuing to encourage individual properties to prioritize sustainability efforts, located in their respective markets.
By 2024, BWH Hotels announced its collaboration with Tesla to install electric vehicle charging stations in properties in North America, which will begin this year with international expansion plans. BWH Hotels is also partnering with Green Key Global, the leading sustainability certification organization for the hotel and lodging sector in North America, to implement a standardized sustainability program in the United States and Canada.
The brand's focus on green initiatives has led Best Western® Hotels & Resorts, SureStay® Hotels and WorldHotelsTM well-known brand properties around the world to improve their sustainability practices. From coastal restoration projects to urban beekeeping, the following BWH Hotels properties do their best to contribute to the environment and local communities.
Best Western Premier® The Lodge On Lake Detroit | Detroit Lakes, Minnesota: Located on the shores of Great Detroit Lake, the hotel has played a crucial role in the restoration and conservation of the local shoreline. The facility's efforts have culminated in the Rain Garden Lodge project, which has planted more than 4,000 native perennials to protect the lake from runoff. In addition to local conservation efforts, the property offers eco-friendly products, including organic coffee, numerous organic and biodynamic wines, and naturally derived bath and body products. Notably, a portion of profits from manufacturing bath and body products goes to support research on honey bees and sustainable pollination at the University of California, Davis. Additionally, all hotel rooms include artwork created by local artists, LED lighting, and recycling bins.
Nordic Hotel Forum, WorldHotels™ Distinction | Tallinn, Estonia: Located in Tallinn (Estonia), the Nordic Hotel Forum is the first hotel in the city to have its own beehives, with more than 360,000 bees, making the hotel their home. This property, a pioneer of urban beekeeping in Tallinn, has been dedicated to preserving one of the most important insects in the world. The bees have become a vital part of the restaurant, producing the honey that is served to guests during breakfast. In addition to the beehives, the Nordic Forum Hotel is Green Key certified.
Best Western Plus City Hotel Gouda | Gouda, Netherlands: Located in the historic center of Gouda, next to the Gouwe River, the hotel has more than 215 solar panels on its roof that generate up to 25% of the total energy consumption. Paving the way for a greener future, the hotel has also installed special covers on its windows, designed to block the sun and allow in natural light, eliminating excessive use of air conditioning. Inside the hotel, sustainability extends to lighting solutions, as 90% of the luminaires use low-consumption LED technology.
Hotel Ten Hill Place, WorldHotels™ Distinctive | Edinburgh, Scotland: Located in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Ten Hill Place Hotel has taken several steps to reduce its environmental impact. The hotel gives each guest Scottish wildflower seeds, encouraging them to plant them, which has a positive impact on the country's ecosystem. The property has also launched its 'Choose to be Green' programme, allowing guests to opt out of cleaning services and donate £5 a night to Bowel Cancer UK, as well as removing plastic water bottles. Since 2009, the property has held the Gold Award from Visit Scotland's Green Tourism Business Scheme, which recognizes the property's excellent sustainability initiatives.
Hotel Best Western Plus Kamloops | Kamloops, Canada: Located in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada, the hotel has implemented several sustainability initiatives at its facilities. It has electric vehicle charging stations, uses single-use, compostable tableware and has jacuzzis and pools with geothermal heating. The Best Western Plus Kamloops helps the local community by sourcing from local suppliers within a 160 km radius of the hotel. The hotel is also a Green Key-rated entity committed to the Biosphere.
"At BWH Hotels, we know that sustainability is not just about what we do - it's about the legacy we leave behind," said Richard Rehwaldt, vice president of BWH Hotels Latin America. “Through our global Land, People and Community initiative, we are working with our hoteliers to enact meaningful change that helps shape a brighter future for generations to come.”
“In Mexico, many of our hotels have begun to adopt solar energy solutions to reduce dependence on the regular urban grid. For example, the BW Plus Riviera Veracruz has installed a network of solar cells throughout its parking lot, which currently generates enough electricity to cover 60% of the hotel's electrical needs,” Richard commented.
Additionally, the Best Western Posada Chahue in Huatulco has adopted stray cats and dogs from the city, a common problem in many Mexican towns, and has "put them to work" in the hotels as receptionists.