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UNIT 3: ENVIRONMENT LAW, VOLUNTARY INITIATIVES AND PRINCIPLES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Examples of Good Practice
Created in 1992, the International Hotels Environment Initiative (IHEI) is a nonprofit,
charity programme developed by the international hotel industry for the
benefit of hotels and the environment. The IHEI aims to promote the advantages
of environment management as a fundamental part of running a successful and
efficient hotel operation.
Representing more than 8,000 hotels around the world, the IHEI’s key objectives
are to:
• Raise environment awareness in the hotel industry and to promote good
practice internationally, working with governments, non-governmental
organisations, hotel associations, tourism bodies and hotels;
• Facilitate access to environmental information to help all hotels
implement their environment programmes;
• Position the hotel sector as a leader on the
environment within the tourism sector;
• Work with partners who can help to multiply the
reach and impact of the Initiative.
In a joint initiative, the IH&RA, UNEP and IHEI published
an Environment Action Pack for Hotels in 1995 (updated
1998). This user-friendly guide is intended for use
by all hotel employees and helps them to develop a practical and effective
environment programme. (For further information, please visit the IHEI website,
www.ihei.org, or the IH&RA website, www.ih-ra.com). This pack has been
adapted and translated by a number of IH&RA member associations worldwide.
The IH&RA’s annual Green Hotelier and Restaurateur Environmental Award
serves a triple purpose: to promote what the industry is doing internationally, to
raise industry standards through identification of best practice, and to promote
awareness of what still remains to be done. This award has been sponsored by
American Express since its launch in 1991.
Judged by IHEI and UNEP DTIE, applicants must show evidence of:
• A comprehensive environment management system;
• Continuous environmental improvement and the
revision of environmental targets and objectives;
• Measuring and monitoring of environmental
performance;
• Internal environment communication and staff
engagement;
• Communication of environmental performance and
raising the environmental awareness of guests;
• Improving the quality of the local environment;
• Commitment to sharing the benefits of tourism with
the local community.
The IH&RA uses illustrations of applications to highlight industry efforts in
achieving the UNEP’s goal of sustainable development in tourism, and to
produce best practice publications. Examples from the submissions have also
been used in this manual.
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