Sustainability
Sustainability is built into our DNA, and we pledge to honour that commitment. Our directors came from a background of eco-tourism, setting up i-escape as a shop window for small-scale, locally-run, sub-radar hotels & guesthouses which reflect - and preserve - their environment. We deliberately shun large all-inclusive resorts and internationally-owned chain hotels. Instead, we select hotels and homes which we judge to be models of good tourism, in harmony with their environment.
What do we mean?
We select places which are sensitive to their eco-system, and which contribute to their community.
Here are some of the specifics we look for:
Essentials
- small guesthouses rather than big hotels (our average hotel size is 18 rooms)
- local staff, employed on a fair and long-term basis
- recommending local eateries and services, so that tourist dollars spread through the community
- avoiding environmental destruction during and after the build (fragile habitats, woodland, marine ecosystems)
- using natural and sympathetic building materials
- avoiding excessive use of water or other scarce commodities (no lawns or pools in arid landscapes, for example)
Bonus
- committing funds or support to local projects or charities, such as local education, beach clean-ups, art & cultural projects
- having a clear towel- (and bedding) policy so that only dirty ones are washed
- using refillable containers for toiletries and breakfast items (jams, butter etc)
- offering (filtered) tap water rather than bottled water
- green waste policy, including separated recycling, composting food waste (or feeding farm animals), and reusing brown water for gardens
- green energy supply, ideally using local solar or heat pumps
- air-con that switches off automatically when you leave the room (or have a window open)
- low energy (or solar) lighting
- an honesty bar or shared fridge with local drinks and snacks, rather than lots of whirring minibars stuffed with Pringles
How do we know?
We visit all our selected hotels & homes in person, so that we can see with our own eyes how effectively they have implemented their claims, and how deep their commitment to sustainability runs. We drill down on vague claims, such as “locally sourced where possible” or “a proportion of our profit” (without saying how much). We talk to staff, tour the grounds, check the recycling, and generally make a nuisance of ourselves.
How do you know?
Our unique Eco star rating system grades all our hotels and villas with up to 3 stars, which you can see on each review page. If you hover over the Eco stars, we also publish a short summary of why we awarded that grade (see our example below). Our list of Eco Hotels & Lodges (or any listings page filtered on Eco) shows our highest-eco-rated properties first.