New Eco-Hotels to Consider

Consider one of these five eco-hotels for your next travel escape, including one destination with a LEED certified spa and another within a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Beyond Green was launched in 2021 by Preferred Travel Group, and now consists of 31 luxury hotels, resorts and lodges across 18 countries.

The newest additions are –

Edgewood Tahoe Resort, Lake Tahoe, Nevada

Set along the shores of South Lake Tahoe and surrounded by snow-capped mountains, the award-winning LEED Silver Certified resort (pictured above) blends upscale accommodations reminiscent of historic Alpine lodges of the American West. The 154-room resort includes an expansive spa, three dining areas and recreation facilities.

The renowned Edgewood Tahoe Golf course and additional outdoor adventures on the lake are just moments away.

The resort’s commitment to a legacy of land stewardship and environmental development began prior to groundbreaking and opening in 2017.

There are electric car charging stations, recycling and community clean-up programs, a reduction of water and chemical usage, increasing wildlife habitat at the Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course, and the ongoing realignment and daylighting of Edgewood Creek to allow native fish passage and spawning habitat.

Inn by the Sea, Cape Elizabeth, Maine

Located on a mile of unspoiled sandy beach on the coast of Maine, minutes from the trendy town of Portland, this boutique-sized in offers 62 modern guest rooms and one- or two-bedroom suites with private exterior entrances, serving as a year-round coastal sanctuary to explore the rugged New England coast.

The seaside property has been a hospitality destination dating back to 1950, known for its quintessential New England charm in a cozy, contemporary way. There’s an intimate spa with sea-inspired services, and local and sustainable cuisine is served in the ocean view dining room, Sea Glass.

Inspired by its natural coastal surroundings, The Inn blends luxury and service with environmental preservation through eco-friendly initiatives and a focus on all things local.

The landscape is designed to be attractive to butterflies and guests, with indigenous nectar gardens and milkweed planted for endangered butterflies, while also continually working to restore habitat for endangered New England Cottontail Rabbits.

Guests enjoy natural room amenities and reusable glass water bottles while activities include beach ecology walks with a naturalist or morning yoga in the LEED certified spa.

The Palms Hotel & Spa Miami Beach, Fla.

A tranquil tropical Art Deco oasis in the heart of vibrant Miami Beach, the 251-room family-owned resort offers sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean and direct access to the iconic beach.

Inspired by nature, the oceanfront resort places a unique emphasis on health and total wellness, with green practices and environmental awareness at the center of every experience. That includes holistic Ayurvedic spa treatments and mindfully sourced cuisine with seasonally rotating specials highlighting locally grown produce and farmers.

Sharing its delicate oceanfront home with sea turtles and other wildlife, the hotel is operating with close to zero disposable plastics throughout the property, a fully automated in-room energy management system to control lighting and A/C, as well as comprehensive recycling and beach clean-up programs to help conserve its environment.

Lefay Resort & Spa Dolomiti, Pinzolo, Italy

Set in Italy’s iconic Dolmites, this is one of the most scenic places to stay within the region, balancing beautiful and integrative architecture with an atmosphere designed to energize physical activity while also encouraging rest and relaxation.

It opened in 2019 with 88 spacious suites and 21 residences are set amid the mountain scenery of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

There are two gourmet restaurants and bars, one of the largest spas in the Alps at almost 54,000 square feet, and all-season access to mountain sports and activities like skiing, trekking, cycling, and more.

The ClimaHotel-certified CO2 free resort is dedicated to containing its energy consumption through a high level of insulation, and an investment in state-of-the-art technologies that create renewable energy sources with high production systems such as its biomass furnace and a co-generation plant.

Lefay Resort & Spa Lago di Garda (Gargnano, Italy)

Nestled high atop a hill hugging the western shores of Italy’s Lake Garda, Lefay Resort & Spa Lago di Garda stuns travelers with panoramic views of the Riviera dei Limoni and its famed citrus groves, olive trees, and one-of-a-kind lakeside landscape.

Guests are greeted by a pair of elegant gates which swing open to reveal a park-like estate dotted with shady woodlands and sweeping lawns leading up to one of northern Italy’s most beautiful wellness retreats.

The five-star resort opened in 2008 with 96 suites, a 46,000-square-foot spa, two restaurants and bars with a focus on healthy, seasonal Mediterranean dishes, and holistic hospitality tailored to each guest.

Designed to blend seamlessly with the natural surroundings with minimal environmental impact, the property maintains that the well-being of every person is connected to environmental well-being.

Lefay Resorts is the first Italian tourism company to sign an agreement with the Ministry of the Environment for projects aimed at neutralizing CO2 emissions. It has been completely offsetting its carbon emissions since 2013, making it the first tourism facility in southern Europe to obtain the prestigious Green Globe certification – that’s the European version of LEED certification.

Rewards Program

Each of these new member hotels participate in I Prefer Hotel Rewards, Preferred Travel Group’s points-based loyalty program with more than 4.5 million travelers enrolled globally.

it is FREE to join, and members earn points redeemable for cash-value Reward Certificates, Elite status, and other value-rich benefits from eligible stays at more than 650 participating hotels and resorts worldwide. For more information, visit www.StayBeyondGreen.com.

Thanks to our friends at the trade publication Insider Travel Report for alerting us to this news.

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is a journalist with 20+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter, and author of guidebooks and smartphone apps – all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer.

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter currently serves as President of the International Motor Press Assn. (IMPA), a former Board Member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and a current member of the North American Travel Journalists Assn. (NATJA).

Contact me at evelyn@ecoxplorer.com.