To celebrate Earth Month, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) and Green Key Global, operators of North America’s leading green lodging certification program, have created a special offer for AH&LA members.

AHLA;
From April 1–April 30, independent hotels that are AH&LA members can enroll in the Green Key Eco-Rating program at special AH&LA discounted rates and qualify for additional benefits.

Participants in the Earth Month promotion are eligible for:

* a chance to win a free 2012 membership renewal
* recognition in The Green Scene, Green Key’s quarterly members-only publication.
* a chance to receive a site visit and environmental consultation from Pat Maher, AH&LA’s Green Guru. Maher will help the selected property better understand its Green Key performance, maximize the benefits received from the Green Key performance report, and help identify ways to save money and improve environmental performance immediately.

Green Key consists of a comprehensive 150-question self assessment that covers a broad range of hotel operations. The answers are tabulated and the property is awarded a ranking of 1 to 5 Keys, as well as a comprehensive performance report that includes recommendations, best practices, and potential areas for improvement and savings. Participating properties receive marketing materials, a listing on www.greenkeyglobal.com, and are recognized through a network of marketing partners, including AAA, Travelocity, and Expedia.

In 2010, AH&LA announced that it partnered with Green Key, making Green Key the de facto green certification program of the lodging industry in the United States. The program currently has more than 2,100 members in North America.

“Many independent hotels, who make up a large percentage of our membership, don’t have the resources to create a comprehensive green strategy,” said AH&LA President/CEO Joseph McInerney, CHA. “Green Key provides a turnkey and highly-respected program to get them started or to elevate their performance. A certification program validates your green efforts and consumers are certainly expecting hotels to operate in an environmentally-responsible fashion.”

Celebrate Earth Month and register for Green Key certification online; special AH&LA discounted rates save hotels as much as 40 percent off the regular membership fees, but are available exclusively to AH&LA members. To learn more about the benefits of AH&LA membership and how to join, visit www.ahla.com/membership or call (800) 252-2462; for more information on Green Key, visit www.GreenKeyGlobal.com or call (888) 752-7061.