The Scoring
The inspection for each globe involves three levels
of criteria and scoring- Primary, Secondary and Tertiary.
Hotels applying for certification must satisfy the primary
criterion before an inspection is scheduled. Once it
is evident that all the primary criterion have been
satisfied, inspections – unannounced as well as
guided by the hotel staff - are conducted throughout
the lodging facility to determine if the environmental
programs that the hotel reports to have in place are
actually part of the daily operations. Each department
or function area of the hotel (i.e. main restaurant
kitchen, banquet kitchen, kitchen, front desk and office
area, executive office areas, etc.) is inspected and
scored individually. A percentage score is calculated
for the inspection of each department and each department
must score above a certain level to be awarded the certification.
If any department scores below that level, but above
a minimum threshold, the tertiary criterion can boost
that department's score so that the hotel becomes eligible
for the certification. The tertiary criterion is simply
described as a bonus system. The hotel receives bonus
points for environmental programs discovered in operation
that are not part of the primary criteria, and are considered
to be above ordinary levels of environmental responsibility.
An example of a program that would earn tertiary points
would be the concept of the ‘green button’
in The Orchid, Mumbai and Uppal’s Orchid, New
Delhi. This button is a unique interactive approach
that enables the guest to participate in energy conservation
by increasing the temperature of his room by 2 degrees
and thus conserving energy utilized for air-conditioning.
Based on the hotel's score in each category, the lodging
facility can be awarded from zero to five ‘Ecotel
Globes’, corresponding to each of the five cornerstones.
Hotels that are awarded one or more globes qualify as
Ecotel certified hotels for a period of two years, but
have to agree to re-inspections (announced and unannounced)
at any time during that period.
If the hotel falls short of achieving the certified
status, the Hospitality Valuation Services (HVS) International
inspection team prepares an action plan to help the
management make the necessary changes and prepare for
re-inspection.
THE 5-GLOBE HOTELS IN THE WORLD
1. Miraval, Arizona (this was the first certified 5 globe
Ecotel in the world. Its re-certification is pending)
2. Hilton Tokyo Bay, Japan
3. The Orchid, Mumbai
4. The Benjamin, USA
5. Arco Iris, Costa Rica
6. Lapo Rios, Costa Rica THE 5-STAR
5 GLOBE HOTELS IN THE WORLD
1. Hilton Tokyo Bay, Japan
2. The Orchid, Mumbai
3. The Benjamin, USA
4. The Uppals Orchid Delhi
ECOTEL Membership benefits
Members of the Ecotel collection like Uppal’s
Orchid realize a number of benefits. Primarily, the
value of business improves due to increased exposure
in the market place, higher staff morale and better
control of operating expenses. The Ecotel collection
of hotels caters to a variety of groups including traditional
eco-tourists, discerning business travelers and Fortune
500 companies with advanced environmental programs as
part of their own corporate cultures.
|