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Travel briefs
Thursday, April 24, 2008 | No comments posted.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia tourism officials are promoting environmentally friendly attractions with a new Web site, http://www.VirginiaGreenTravel.org.
The site is a guidepost to “certified green” tourism businesses, such as lodging facilities, parks and other attractions.
The site also has links to outdoor adventure programs, the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail, eco-friendly events and travel tips.
To be certified “green,” a business must commit to waste-reducing activities such as recycling, purchase environmentally friendly products, and take other steps that are kind to the environment.
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality manages Virginia Green, a program that awards certification to tourism-related business that take voluntary actions to reduce harmful impacts on the environment.
“It’s smart business sense for Virginia and will help preserve and protect our natural heritage for future generations of citizens and tourists,” Alisa Bailey, president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation, said in a news release.
Virginia Green worked with the Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association to educate businesses such as hotels, inns and B&Bs about the benefits of green practices. The program has grown to 140 lodging facilities, 23 restaurants, 20 conference centers, two convention centers and six attractions.
Booking green travel online
NEW YORK (AP) — A couple of travel booking Web sites are trying to make it easier for consumers to be environmentally friendly.
Orbitz is featuring energy-efficient hotels at http://www.eco.orbitz.com. These properties have earned an “Energy Star” label from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency because they use nearly 40 percent less energy than average buildings and emit 35 percent less carbon dioxide. The Web site also makes it easy to book hybrid car rentals, take a volunteer vacation or purchase carbon offsets for your travel.
Expedia has a new “Going Green” store, scheduled to launch on Earth Day (Tuesday). The online store at http://www.expedia.com/gogreen also allows customers to browse for environmentally friendly hotels, hybrid car rentals, and carbon offsets.
Beach resorts for families
NEW YORK (AP) — More beach resorts are offering pools with water slides, no-cost children’s programs and other amenities that make them attractive, affordable alternatives for families looking for one-stop vacations, according to Parents magazine.
The magazine evaluated more than 200 beach resorts in the U.S. and the Caribbean, based on room rates and other costs, quality of children’s programs, variety of family activities, pool and beach area and other factors.
The May issue of Parents lists the 10 resorts the magazine deemed to best meet those criteria.
The resorts are Sheraton Grand Bahama Island Our Lucaya, Bahamas; Club Med Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; South Seas Island Resort, Captiva Island, Fla.; Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas; Disney’s Vero Beach Resort in Florida; Beaches Negril Resort and Spa, Jamaica; Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu, Hawaii; Ocean Edge Resort & Spa, Brewster, Mass.; Loew’s Coronado Bay Beach Resort & Spa, San Diego; and Rio Mar Beach Golf Resort Casino & Spa, in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.
Details at http://www.parentsmag.com.
Online registration for mountain climbs
DENALI NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE, Alaska (AP) — Online registration is now available for mountaineers attempting climbs of Mount McKinley or Mount Foraker.
Park officials say the system is a quick, safe way for climbers to register with park officials.
All climbers attempting McKinley or Foraker are required to pre-register with Denali National Park and Preserve at least 60 days in advance of the climb.
As of mid-April, more than 730 mountaineers had registered to climb McKinley this year. Ten climbers have registered for Mount Foraker.
The site is a guidepost to “certified green” tourism businesses, such as lodging facilities, parks and other attractions.
The site also has links to outdoor adventure programs, the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail, eco-friendly events and travel tips.
To be certified “green,” a business must commit to waste-reducing activities such as recycling, purchase environmentally friendly products, and take other steps that are kind to the environment.
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality manages Virginia Green, a program that awards certification to tourism-related business that take voluntary actions to reduce harmful impacts on the environment.
“It’s smart business sense for Virginia and will help preserve and protect our natural heritage for future generations of citizens and tourists,” Alisa Bailey, president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation, said in a news release.
Virginia Green worked with the Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association to educate businesses such as hotels, inns and B&Bs about the benefits of green practices. The program has grown to 140 lodging facilities, 23 restaurants, 20 conference centers, two convention centers and six attractions.
Booking green travel online
NEW YORK (AP) — A couple of travel booking Web sites are trying to make it easier for consumers to be environmentally friendly.
Orbitz is featuring energy-efficient hotels at http://www.eco.orbitz.com. These properties have earned an “Energy Star” label from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency because they use nearly 40 percent less energy than average buildings and emit 35 percent less carbon dioxide. The Web site also makes it easy to book hybrid car rentals, take a volunteer vacation or purchase carbon offsets for your travel.
Expedia has a new “Going Green” store, scheduled to launch on Earth Day (Tuesday). The online store at http://www.expedia.com/gogreen also allows customers to browse for environmentally friendly hotels, hybrid car rentals, and carbon offsets.
Beach resorts for families
NEW YORK (AP) — More beach resorts are offering pools with water slides, no-cost children’s programs and other amenities that make them attractive, affordable alternatives for families looking for one-stop vacations, according to Parents magazine.
The magazine evaluated more than 200 beach resorts in the U.S. and the Caribbean, based on room rates and other costs, quality of children’s programs, variety of family activities, pool and beach area and other factors.
The May issue of Parents lists the 10 resorts the magazine deemed to best meet those criteria.
The resorts are Sheraton Grand Bahama Island Our Lucaya, Bahamas; Club Med Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; South Seas Island Resort, Captiva Island, Fla.; Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas; Disney’s Vero Beach Resort in Florida; Beaches Negril Resort and Spa, Jamaica; Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu, Hawaii; Ocean Edge Resort & Spa, Brewster, Mass.; Loew’s Coronado Bay Beach Resort & Spa, San Diego; and Rio Mar Beach Golf Resort Casino & Spa, in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.
Details at http://www.parentsmag.com.
Online registration for mountain climbs
DENALI NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE, Alaska (AP) — Online registration is now available for mountaineers attempting climbs of Mount McKinley or Mount Foraker.
Park officials say the system is a quick, safe way for climbers to register with park officials.
All climbers attempting McKinley or Foraker are required to pre-register with Denali National Park and Preserve at least 60 days in advance of the climb.
As of mid-April, more than 730 mountaineers had registered to climb McKinley this year. Ten climbers have registered for Mount Foraker.
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