Exercising the most up-to-date environmentally friendly practices available is a way that resorts can set the standard for hospitality properties. This can mean many things, but most often it takes effect as the resort is committed to lowering energy use and minimizing the number of resources that are not recycled or reused. However, resorts that take a "green" approach can still remain extremely up-scale, producing the comfort and style that many tourists desire.



Another way to tell if a resort is committed to the environment is by looking at the meals that they offer. Often, an environmentally friendly resort will focus highly on healthful meals that are made from produce grown on the resort's grounds. This minimizes the fuel used to transport produce from one area to the next. Additionally, the owners can ensure that it is organic.

Some accommodation properties are noted for their extensive use of products and technologies that are environmentally friendly and make a lighter footprint on our fragile northern environment. The resort may have gone as far as to set environmental standards that the resort will operate within. This is a way that the property preserves the unspoiled beauty of the natural wilderness for generations to come.

Whether a resort property relies on site-friendly septic systems or solar-powered buildings and electric boat motors, their commitment to the environment should be evident in every decision they make. Another significant choice that environmentally friendly resorts employ is the use of Bullfrog Power, the first 100% green electricity retailer in Ontario. This is significant because the resort will essentially pay a premium for renewable electricity. Yet due to the fact that resorts such as these place a high degree of importance on the environment, this is a price they are willing to pay.

The final way that most eco-friendly resorts show their commitment to the environment is by supporting local conservation efforts. This may include working with local charities, employing a significant number of local people, protecting the environment beyond their local property by reaching out to the community in which they serve.

Unfortunately, many resorts claim to be green or eco-friendly and have very little impact. As a result, if this is something that you find of particular interest, and insist upon when staying at a resort, it is important to ask yourself several questions including:

-What percentage of the property's produce and services come from local sources?

-How do they treat water waste? What methods are used to preserve water?

-What energy sources do they use, and is it renewable energy?

-What recycling and re-use methods do they employ?

By ensuring that the resort you stay at is environmentally friendly, you are doing your part to support businesses that share similar values. Additionally, resort owners will realize that their "green" resort is having more than just a positive impact on the environment. It will also encourage guests to enjoy the beauty of the resort and gain an added appreciation for the environment in which we live.