Green Key Eco-Rating Program - Frequently Asked Questions

The following is a list of the most frequently asked questions we receive regarding the Green Key Eco-Rating Program. If you don’t find the answer to your question here or elsewhere on this site then please send us an email and we’ll be happy to assist you.

Do I need to be a member of a lodging association to participate in the Green Key Eco-Rating Program?

The program is open to all hotels regardless of whether the hotel is a member of a lodging association.

Does the Green Key Program take limited-service properties into consideration?
Understanding that not all hotels offer Food & Beverage Services or Meeting Facilities, a participating property is given the option to opt out of one or both of these sections prior to beginning the self-assessment. The system is designed to adjust its calculations to ensure a hotel’s score is not affected by opting out of these sections.

Can the following lodging properties participate in the program: Motels, B&Bs, Inn, Fishing/Hunting Lodges, Campgrounds?
When the program was originally developed it was designed to cater to lodging facilities with approximately 30 or more rooms. For this reason smaller facilities may find that certain aspects of the self-assessment (particularly within the Engineering section) are not relevant to their operations. While some questions in each section do have “not applicable” as a possible answer, others do not and the system will not permit you to leave questions unanswered.

I would like to receive a copy of the Green Key Self-Assessment questions.
Click here to download an overview of the Green Key Self-Assessment questions.

How long does the self-assessment take to complete?
This depends on a number of factors: the size of the property; if it is a full-service or limited-service property; the number of relevant staff involved and their availability; and programs already in place. In general, completion of the self-assessment will take a property anywhere from 2 – 5 days.

How are the ratings determined?
The Green Key Self-Assessment consists of approximately 150 questions related to various areas of sustainable hotel operations. Each question has been assigned a specific point value based on the environmental and social impacts a particular action has and its associated impact on guests, employees, management, and the local community. For more detailed information visit the Green Key Ratings page on this website.

Can you tell me the point value assigned to each question in the self-assessment?
We do not divulge the points assigned to each question. Because the online self-assessment is a self-directed assessment of a property’s environmental efforts, providing the points would compromise the integrity of the program; therefore, a hotel only receives their score as a percentage with that percentage’s associated Green Key Rating.

Do I need to complete the entire questionnaire at once?
No – you can save your current answers and come back to the self-assessment at any time. Just hit the “Save Progress” button at the bottom of each section before you log out of the system.

Which hotel employees should be involved in completing the online self-assessment?
Members are strongly encouraged to involve their Green/Environmental Committee (if applicable), as well as the head of each major department i.e. Head Housekeeper, Director of F&B, Head Engineer, Purchasing, etc. Involving these individuals ensures that the answers provided are consistent and accurate across the entire self-assessment.

How do I edit my answers in the self-assessment?
As long as you continue to “Save” your progress you may update/edit your answers at any time. Once you hit the “Submit & Lock” button though you will no longer be able to make changes. If you made an error in a section and have already hit “Submit & Lock”, please contact the program administrator for assistance.

I forgot my login information / I’ve taken over from someone else: how do I access the system?
Not a problem – give us a call or send us an email. We’ll ask you a couple of quick questions and forward your login information to you.

How often can a lodging property update its self-assessment to see if its rating has improved?
Properties are provided with the opportunity to update their self-assessment once per year, usually at the time of their annual renewal.

How do I renew my Green Key membership?
Your Green Key membership expires one (1) year from the time your property completes the self-assessment unless otherwise arranged. Approximately 60 days prior to your expiry date, you will be issued a renewal reminder along with instructions for keeping your membership up-to-date.

How often are on-site inspections of hotels conducted?
On-site inspections are conducted in order to verify a hotel’s rating. Approximately 20% of rated hotels will be inspected annually. If your hotel is selected for an inspection, you will be contacted by the inspector at least one (1) week prior to their visit in order to establish a mutually beneficial time.

How do I find a Green Key Rated hotel?

To find a Green Key Rated hotel near you, click here.

How many hotels are currently active in the Green Key Program?
The number of active hotels in the Green Key Program changes almost daily. Only hotels that have completed the self-assessment and received their Green Key Rating are listed on the Find Green Key Hotels page. For current numbers, please contact Green Key Global.

I recently stayed at a Green Key rated property and don’t feel they live up to their rating. Who do I speak to?
The Green Key Eco-Rating Program is a voluntary, self-administered self-assessment designed to assist a hotel in determining its current environmental footprint. How a hotel chooses to use the information and recommendations presented in their final report is left to their discretion (see also “How often are on-site inspections of hotels conducted?”). Ask to see the hotel’s environmental policies – if they do not have one, you can ask what types of initiatives they are currently undertaking with respect to reducing their ecological footprint. Many hotels also have some type of feedback/comment form available to guests – take advantage of this and provide the hotel with your own helpful suggestions and feedback.

What is the history of the Green Key Eco-Rating Program?
The concept for the Green Key Eco-Rating Program came as a result of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development itself, which was held in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992. As concern for the environment quickly grew in importance the lodging industry recognized the need for a National Program. During the mid 90’s the Hotel Association of Canada partnered with Environment Canada to begin addressing how hotels could improve in the area of environmental performance. A working committee made up of hoteliers and environmental groups was formed and the result was the launch of the program in 1997. In late 2005 the program was updated, re-branded as the Green Key Eco-Rating program and re-launched in its current on-line format.

How often do you revise/update the questions?
The Green Key Eco-Rating Program was last revised in late 2005. The next anticipated program revision will occur in 2011.

Is the program available in other languages?

At this time a large portion of the Green Key Eco-Rating Program is available in French. Hotels wishing to complete a French version of the self-assessment will be provided with a PDF version as the online self-assessment is currently only available in English. Any web content written for specifically for the program will appear in French. Any resources, links, etc. from outside sources will be posted in their language of origin.