Today sees the launch of our first eco-friendly hotel in Scotland on the ecobookers site - the Lovat Arms Hotel, Loch Ness. This landmark Victorian hotel overlooks the loch side village of Fort Augustus, in the center of the Scottish Highlands, and is surrounded by stunning scenery as it sits at the southern tip of the mysterious deep waters of Loch Ness.
Lovat Arms is an environmentally-friendly hotel with a character and class of its own. Its grace and charm is complimented by natural décor, modernism and a genuine, warm hospitality offered by a devoted and passionate team.
Wednesday, 30 April 2008
Tuesday, 29 April 2008
ecobookers at London Aware 08
If you’re free on the 10th or 11th May and would like to pop in and see us at UK Aware, drop us an email to ukaware@ecobookers.com – the first 10 emails will receive a free ticket for 2 to the show!
ecobookers at UK Aware plus FREE Tickets!!!
On the 10th and 11th May 2008 London will see the very first UK AWARE – a new event which aims to inspire us with ideas on how to live an eco-friendly life. ecobookers will be there and because we’d love to see you there too, we have some free tickets on offer!
UK AWARE is a social enterprise with a conscience and a mission. The founders of this new eco-friendly event are not scientists, activists or radicals, just normal people wanting to help everyone to make a real and necessary difference.
Realising that to really fight climate change we need to make the right choices the easiest ones, the aim of this show is to help everyone to live and work more sustainably, without needing to sacrifice lifestyle or comfort. The products and services being showcased help to do that.
There will be a wide range of exhibits to visit, including food and drink, clothing, house and home, leisure and transport.
As an eco-friendly accommodation service, we at ecobookers are very excited to be exhibiting at UK AWARE and we’d love to see you there! So, if you’re free on the 10th or 11th May and would like to pop in and see us, drop us an email to ukaware@ecobookers.com – the first 10 emails will receive a free ticket for 2 to the show!
UK AWARE is a social enterprise with a conscience and a mission. The founders of this new eco-friendly event are not scientists, activists or radicals, just normal people wanting to help everyone to make a real and necessary difference.
Realising that to really fight climate change we need to make the right choices the easiest ones, the aim of this show is to help everyone to live and work more sustainably, without needing to sacrifice lifestyle or comfort. The products and services being showcased help to do that.
There will be a wide range of exhibits to visit, including food and drink, clothing, house and home, leisure and transport.
As an eco-friendly accommodation service, we at ecobookers are very excited to be exhibiting at UK AWARE and we’d love to see you there! So, if you’re free on the 10th or 11th May and would like to pop in and see us, drop us an email to ukaware@ecobookers.com – the first 10 emails will receive a free ticket for 2 to the show!
Wednesday, 2 April 2008
New eco-friendly accommodation in Australia
Today sees the addition of an eco-friendly resort in North Queensland, Australia. Hidden Valley Cabins are located one and a half hours north-west of Townsville, near Running River on the western slope of the Paluma range in Queensland, Australia. The Cabins are in an ideal location for a relaxing holiday to recharge your batteries and experience the Australian outback tranquility.
The cabins have a rustic urban feel with all the comforts of home and all of the furniture located in the rooms has been hand-crafted from local red mahogany timber. No bricks or steel structures, no high-rise buildings, just the fresh cool mountain air. This is the way a holiday was meant to be. There are six modern rustic cabins with en-suites and four homestead rooms with a share bathroom.
Due to the mountain elevation the climate is cooler and less humid than areas close to the coast. Hidden Valley Cabins offer a peaceful, comfortable holiday in an "off the beaten track" environment. The area is abundant with varying species of birds, butterflies, wallabies, Lace Monitors, platypus, nocturnal animals such as gliders and much more. Hidden Valley Cabins is a great area for bird watching and wildlife enthusiasts, there are also regular sightings of Platypus in the nearby Running River.
The cabins have a rustic urban feel with all the comforts of home and all of the furniture located in the rooms has been hand-crafted from local red mahogany timber. No bricks or steel structures, no high-rise buildings, just the fresh cool mountain air. This is the way a holiday was meant to be. There are six modern rustic cabins with en-suites and four homestead rooms with a share bathroom.
Due to the mountain elevation the climate is cooler and less humid than areas close to the coast. Hidden Valley Cabins offer a peaceful, comfortable holiday in an "off the beaten track" environment. The area is abundant with varying species of birds, butterflies, wallabies, Lace Monitors, platypus, nocturnal animals such as gliders and much more. Hidden Valley Cabins is a great area for bird watching and wildlife enthusiasts, there are also regular sightings of Platypus in the nearby Running River.
Tuesday, 1 April 2008
New ecolodge in Dominica!
Today sees the addition of Rosalie Forest Ecolodge, Dominica, to the ecobookers site.
This new ecolodge is located directly adjacent to its sister-hotel, Green-Globe certified 3 Rivers Ecolodge. Located on the edge of the rainforest, about a mile away from the main road, the Lodge is an extremely quiet and peaceful place in a lush green valley, surrounded by nature and rivers, in unspoiled eastern Dominica.
Rosalie Forest Eco Lodge offers a range of rustically comfortable cabins and tree houses, as well as full camping and dormitory facilities.
This new ecolodge is located directly adjacent to its sister-hotel, Green-Globe certified 3 Rivers Ecolodge. Located on the edge of the rainforest, about a mile away from the main road, the Lodge is an extremely quiet and peaceful place in a lush green valley, surrounded by nature and rivers, in unspoiled eastern Dominica.
Rosalie Forest Eco Lodge offers a range of rustically comfortable cabins and tree houses, as well as full camping and dormitory facilities.
Sunday, 30 March 2008
eco-hotel of the month
This month Shireen and Barbara, Innkeepers at Hotel Mocking Bird Hill in Jamaica, explain their motivation to set up an eco-friendly hotel and talk about their future plans:
Since opening almost 14 years ago, Hotel Mocking Bird Hill has gained credibility as a leader in sustainable tourism development in the Caribbean. Twice Green Globe certified we are often asked why observing sustainable practices is important to us and what do we undertake to claim we are environmentally friendly.
One of the motivating reasons is that we have grown up in developing and then, later, in first world countries and seen the disparities between the two, as well as the negative impacts of so called “development”. This has influenced us a great deal. We have seen how communities were without water while the water available was directed to the large luxury resorts. We also lived in Germany for a long time and were very active in the “Green” movement in the late 70’s and early 80’s. We actively separated our waste, discarded unnecessary packaging at the supermarket counters, joined a group of friends who would collectively buy local seasonal food from the farmer and take it in turns to drive out there and pick it up for the group.
People living in abject poverty usually do not have the luxury to care about natural resources, as they worry instead about their next meal and obtaining their most basic needs. In the worst cases, their destitution leads to destruction of their environment. At the same time, however, our ability to create wealth and the economic resources that might enable those people to escape poverty will require that we use our natural resources as wisely as possible. Hence we have the doubly challenging task of making prudent use of land, air, water, forests and oceans while trying to meet the demands of an increasing number of impoverished people. We recognise the critical role that tourism can play in addressing these demands and set out to therefore operate our business along sustainable guidelines and demonstrate that even small business can make a positive contribution.
We started toying with the idea of developing an intimate inn / boutique hotel along sustainable guidelines and started by touring the country to select our location. We therefore consciously sought out Port Antonio, the least developed tourist region of Jamaica and set out from the start to plan and develop our business along responsible and sustainable principles. In doing so we sought to identify actions, resources and partners necessary to encourage the provision of products and services, which enhance rather than destroy the environment and culture.
Size is an important aspect that affects operations and costs. Much of what we do is possible because the hotel is small. It would not be feasible for a large resort to dry their clothes in the sun, to do their baking in sun ovens and so on. So in such instances the smaller scale of operations is an asset. It’s like nature, which is not mass-produced. Hence, environmentally friendly operations are ideal for small hotels as it does not require enormous capital outlays and it keeps operating costs under control.
We are constantly working to increase the efficiency of our systems as this is the main area of improving our performance. We install an awning to provide shade and keep our storerooms cooler which in turn lowers the demand on the cooling units (freezers and fridges).
Rather than trying to find solutions to our problems, such as recycling the plastic, we focus on avoiding the issue from the start so that we do not have to worry about the recycling. When considering how to invest money and effort and time for the sake of environmental benefits, choosing the most effective actions, though not terribly difficult, requires a bit of thought and homework.
Our future plans include adding more solar panels and using renewable energy to operate pool and water pumps as well as for outside lighting and guttering the roof of a building which has not been guttered as yet and increasing our storage capacities for harvesting rain water.
Our best moments are when staff who left our services return saying they realise how much they appreciated working with us after they left and that they are so used to our standards that they are not happy working elsewhere and above all they recognise how much they have learnt working with us. This acknowledgement makes our work worthwhile and brings home the fact that our work is not in vain and that we are achieving our goals gradually. Of course positive guest feedback brings moments of quiet satisfaction and a motivation to continue and keep improving.
Since opening almost 14 years ago, Hotel Mocking Bird Hill has gained credibility as a leader in sustainable tourism development in the Caribbean. Twice Green Globe certified we are often asked why observing sustainable practices is important to us and what do we undertake to claim we are environmentally friendly.
One of the motivating reasons is that we have grown up in developing and then, later, in first world countries and seen the disparities between the two, as well as the negative impacts of so called “development”. This has influenced us a great deal. We have seen how communities were without water while the water available was directed to the large luxury resorts. We also lived in Germany for a long time and were very active in the “Green” movement in the late 70’s and early 80’s. We actively separated our waste, discarded unnecessary packaging at the supermarket counters, joined a group of friends who would collectively buy local seasonal food from the farmer and take it in turns to drive out there and pick it up for the group.
People living in abject poverty usually do not have the luxury to care about natural resources, as they worry instead about their next meal and obtaining their most basic needs. In the worst cases, their destitution leads to destruction of their environment. At the same time, however, our ability to create wealth and the economic resources that might enable those people to escape poverty will require that we use our natural resources as wisely as possible. Hence we have the doubly challenging task of making prudent use of land, air, water, forests and oceans while trying to meet the demands of an increasing number of impoverished people. We recognise the critical role that tourism can play in addressing these demands and set out to therefore operate our business along sustainable guidelines and demonstrate that even small business can make a positive contribution.
We started toying with the idea of developing an intimate inn / boutique hotel along sustainable guidelines and started by touring the country to select our location. We therefore consciously sought out Port Antonio, the least developed tourist region of Jamaica and set out from the start to plan and develop our business along responsible and sustainable principles. In doing so we sought to identify actions, resources and partners necessary to encourage the provision of products and services, which enhance rather than destroy the environment and culture.
Size is an important aspect that affects operations and costs. Much of what we do is possible because the hotel is small. It would not be feasible for a large resort to dry their clothes in the sun, to do their baking in sun ovens and so on. So in such instances the smaller scale of operations is an asset. It’s like nature, which is not mass-produced. Hence, environmentally friendly operations are ideal for small hotels as it does not require enormous capital outlays and it keeps operating costs under control.
We are constantly working to increase the efficiency of our systems as this is the main area of improving our performance. We install an awning to provide shade and keep our storerooms cooler which in turn lowers the demand on the cooling units (freezers and fridges).
Rather than trying to find solutions to our problems, such as recycling the plastic, we focus on avoiding the issue from the start so that we do not have to worry about the recycling. When considering how to invest money and effort and time for the sake of environmental benefits, choosing the most effective actions, though not terribly difficult, requires a bit of thought and homework.
Our future plans include adding more solar panels and using renewable energy to operate pool and water pumps as well as for outside lighting and guttering the roof of a building which has not been guttered as yet and increasing our storage capacities for harvesting rain water.
Our best moments are when staff who left our services return saying they realise how much they appreciated working with us after they left and that they are so used to our standards that they are not happy working elsewhere and above all they recognise how much they have learnt working with us. This acknowledgement makes our work worthwhile and brings home the fact that our work is not in vain and that we are achieving our goals gradually. Of course positive guest feedback brings moments of quiet satisfaction and a motivation to continue and keep improving.
Saturday, 29 March 2008
Weird and wonderful eco-friendly accommodation!
While each of the accommodations featured on the ecobookers site is unique in its own way, some are a little more unique than others! So if you’re looking for a holiday to remember this year, maybe a stay in a weird and wonderful eco-friendly hotel or ecolodge would be just the ticket… read on to discover some of the more unique eco-friendly accommodations featured on the ecobookers site:
Bintang Bolong Lodge, Gambia
Located near the small and authentic African village of Bintang, Bintang Bolong Lodge is situated in approximately 3 hectares of land on the banks of the Bintang Bolong, the largest tributary of the River Gambia. On this part of the river the tide level changes by more than 1 meter, so that at high tide well over half of the camp is flooded. For this reason, the majority of the lodgings are built on stilts amongst the Mangroves where wooden jetties provide docking facilities!
One of the main attractions of this unique hotel is the River Restaurant with its large terrace from which you can experience incomparable sunsets.
Lova Lava Land Eco Resort, Hawaii
This unique eco-friendly resort on Big Island, Hawaii, is situated about 1,500 feet above sea level, on one of the largest mountains in the world, Mauna Loa. Located on an old lava field the resort is a once-in-a-lifetime experience in off-the-grid living. The grill, shower and compost toilet are all constructed from lava rock found on the grounds of the resort and dead tree limbs have been used to build furniture. Guests staying at this resort can choose to sleep in a Mongolian Yurt or in one of two converted campervans which would otherwise have been destined for the landfill!
Pollywogg Holler, USA
Named for the serenade of frogs that fills the evening air, Pollywogg Hollër is a Great Camp-style eco-resort which combines Adirondack-style craftsmanship, solar electricity, organic gardening, and gravity fed spring water. There are a variety of lofts, lodges and shacks to choose from, but for something truly different there’s the Phantasy Dome, an amazing futuristic, geometric structure, entered through a rustic Adirondack-style entrance. An eight foot diameter floating bed is the center piece of this thirty foot diameter dome!
Puri Lumbung, Indonesia
Puri Lumbung Cottages are located in Munduk, Bali, an area famous for beautiful scenery and a variety of fascinating walks and treks. The ‘lumbung’ or rice granary is part of Bali’s unique cultural heritage. Traditionally used to store rice under the protection of the goddess Dewi Sri, lumbungs are now seldom used because farming techniques have changed.
Puri Lumbung Cottages has been created from several disused lumbungs averaging 80 years old, which have been adapted into simple but charming accommodation!
Hoopoe Yurt Hotel, Spain
The Hoopoe Yurt Hotel’s location is idyllic - set in three hectares of olives groves and unspoilt cork oak forest, and with spectacular views of the Grazalema mountains of Andalucia, in the rugged wilds of southern Spain. To make the most of the stunning scenery, guests at this eco-friendly hotel are accommodated in Mongolian Yurts, each of which has as an acre of private meadow with hammocks and comfortable shaded seating areas. Each of the four yurts is individually decorated and features pieces of traditional Mongolian furniture and exotic textiles!
Bintang Bolong Lodge, Gambia
Located near the small and authentic African village of Bintang, Bintang Bolong Lodge is situated in approximately 3 hectares of land on the banks of the Bintang Bolong, the largest tributary of the River Gambia. On this part of the river the tide level changes by more than 1 meter, so that at high tide well over half of the camp is flooded. For this reason, the majority of the lodgings are built on stilts amongst the Mangroves where wooden jetties provide docking facilities!
One of the main attractions of this unique hotel is the River Restaurant with its large terrace from which you can experience incomparable sunsets.
Lova Lava Land Eco Resort, Hawaii
This unique eco-friendly resort on Big Island, Hawaii, is situated about 1,500 feet above sea level, on one of the largest mountains in the world, Mauna Loa. Located on an old lava field the resort is a once-in-a-lifetime experience in off-the-grid living. The grill, shower and compost toilet are all constructed from lava rock found on the grounds of the resort and dead tree limbs have been used to build furniture. Guests staying at this resort can choose to sleep in a Mongolian Yurt or in one of two converted campervans which would otherwise have been destined for the landfill!
Pollywogg Holler, USA
Named for the serenade of frogs that fills the evening air, Pollywogg Hollër is a Great Camp-style eco-resort which combines Adirondack-style craftsmanship, solar electricity, organic gardening, and gravity fed spring water. There are a variety of lofts, lodges and shacks to choose from, but for something truly different there’s the Phantasy Dome, an amazing futuristic, geometric structure, entered through a rustic Adirondack-style entrance. An eight foot diameter floating bed is the center piece of this thirty foot diameter dome!
Puri Lumbung, Indonesia
Puri Lumbung Cottages are located in Munduk, Bali, an area famous for beautiful scenery and a variety of fascinating walks and treks. The ‘lumbung’ or rice granary is part of Bali’s unique cultural heritage. Traditionally used to store rice under the protection of the goddess Dewi Sri, lumbungs are now seldom used because farming techniques have changed.
Puri Lumbung Cottages has been created from several disused lumbungs averaging 80 years old, which have been adapted into simple but charming accommodation!
Hoopoe Yurt Hotel, Spain
The Hoopoe Yurt Hotel’s location is idyllic - set in three hectares of olives groves and unspoilt cork oak forest, and with spectacular views of the Grazalema mountains of Andalucia, in the rugged wilds of southern Spain. To make the most of the stunning scenery, guests at this eco-friendly hotel are accommodated in Mongolian Yurts, each of which has as an acre of private meadow with hammocks and comfortable shaded seating areas. Each of the four yurts is individually decorated and features pieces of traditional Mongolian furniture and exotic textiles!
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