Comfort Inn now Green Key certified

COMFORT Inn and Suites has achieved Green Key certification. On July 26, the hotel joined six other properties in Tobago that hold the designation.

Green Key is reportedly recognised internationally as the leading standard for excellence in the field of environmental responsibility and sustainable operation in the tourism industry. Certified operators must maintain strict environmental practices set by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) to have their certification renewed annually.

At a presentation ceremony at the hotel in Orange Hill, Scarborough, Green TT director Willard Harris presented the certificate, a plaque and flag to the general manager of the hotel, Maria Yip-John, who is also vice president of the Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association (THTA).

Harris said the evaluation criteria encompassed environmental management and energy efficiency, waste reduction and water conservation. Successful candidates, he said earn certification valid for a year, with eligibility for renewal after subsequent evaluation.

The primary objective, he said is to collaborate with hospitality providers to secure Green Key as well as Blue Flag certification, recognising its numerous advantages, outcomes such as reduced environmental impacts, financial savings from energy and waste-management practices and market differentiation that captivates eco-conscious travellers.

“The certification of Comfort Inn in Tobago represents our first large hotel in Tobago to receive Green Key status, which is very significant. It highlights the hotel’s commitment to sustainable operations and sets an example for others, so you are a leader here.”

Yip-John said the certification is especially important as Comfort Inn and Suites is on the cusp of its second anniversary, noting that to be a new hotel and to have such an achievement is very rewarding.

“It’s very emotional for our team.”

The past year, she said, has been a tough journey of dedication and hard work towards the certification. She said Green Key has had a positive impact has had on the hotel, since over the last year she has seen growth in her team members, and is proud of all of them.

“I’ve seen where departments came together and agree to disagree or work together to get things done together, to collaborate. There were so many new ideas that we tried – because of course when we started this journey, a lot of our associates had never heard of Green Key, or maybe they heard of it in passing – they didn’t know what it actually involved. So we started from ground zero and we worked our way along.”

She encouraged all her partners in the sector to “really step up and consider Green Key, because this is the one way we can build a better island, we can improve our communities, we can improve our operations.”

Wendell Walker, director of product development and destination management at the Tobago Tourism Agency, said Green Key enhances the island competitive positioning and is testimony to the commitment to developing Tobago as an eco-friendly destination, adhering to the principles of sustainable tourism.

“In strengthening the brand and reputation of the island, which is represented by Tobago Beyond, Green Key increases the appeal of Tobago among environmentally conscious travellers, which is of key importance, given the established and growing demand for eco-friendly tourist destinations in our UK and German source markets.”