Luxury, sustainability, adventure, flash sales and more converge during Earth Month (and beyond!) as properties, tour operators and destinations worldwide elevate their conservation efforts beyond standard practices. We’ve rounded up some meaningful experiences for your eco-conscious clients that deliver.
Bellevue Ups the Sustainability Ante for Public Transport
Visit Bellevue has added three 2025 Kia EV9 electric vehicles to BellHop, the city’s complimentary shuttle service. This upgrade places Bellevue among the first Circuit programs nationwide to incorporate these advanced EVs into free public transportation. The 8-vehicle fleet now includes three Kia EV9s alongside five Waev GEMs.
The new vehicles deliver practical benefits for visitors: reduced charging time keeps shuttles in service longer; improved climate control provides comfort year-round; and faster travel speeds result in quicker pick-ups. Visit Bellevue is also exploring expanded service areas and enhanced ADA accessibility options.
Since launching in Aug. 2023, BellHop has provided over 134,000 rides while covering more than 113,407 miles. The program has prevented 59.46 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
For more information, visit visitbellevue.com.
Island Sustainability in the Galapagos with Ecoventura
Ecoventura has launched an Earth Day flash sale available April 17-30. Clients receive 20 percent savings on select summer 2025 departures aboard their 20-passenger yachts—the only Relais & Chateaux-ranked vessels in the Galapagos.
The operator’s sustainability efforts extend beyond the archipelago’s strict regulations. Their partnership with Avianca ensures no waste ends up in Galapagos landfills. New recycling machines compress waste for transport to mainland Ecuador—a significant improvement over the nine tons typically landfilled annually in the islands.
Ecoventura’s 7-night itineraries include daily excursions with certified naturalists where clients swim with sea turtles and observe blue-footed boobies. The company’s plant-a-tree initiative supports Giant Tortoise habitat restoration on Santa Cruz Island, with a goal of 1,100 trees planted by June 2025, and local sourcing practices support regional economies while reducing carbon footprint.
For more information, visit ecoventura.com.
Sandos Caracol Eco Resort, Riviera Maya, Mexico
Sandos Caracol Eco Resort in Mexico’s Riviera Maya is an eco-conscious all-inclusive where conservation meets vacation experience. The property sits between Caribbean waters and a jungle habitat where coatis and spider monkeys roam freely. The resort addresses typical all-inclusive sustainability challenges through comprehensive initiatives. Plastic water bottles have been eliminated and replaced with in-room water coolers. The property runs primarily on solar power and utilizes on-site water treatment facilities to minimize environmental impact.
The resort offers nature-focused programming and maintains a rescue animal sanctuary. During their stay, guests participate directly in conservation through mangrove replanting activities. This is a budget-conscious, environmentally aware choice for advisors.
For more information, visit sandos.com.
Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico
Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico is on a protected peninsula in Rio Grande at the base of El Yunque National Rainforest—the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. Forest system. The location offers clients access to diverse ecosystems, including coastal areas, marine environments and mangrove forests.
The resort collaborates with National Park Rangers and local ecologists on conservation initiatives supporting biodiversity, endangered species protection and environmental research. This destination delivers rainforest exploration without passport requirements for clients seeking domestic travel with international appeal.
For more information, visit hyatt.com.
Hotel Three Sixty, Costa Rica
Hotel Three Sixty, a luxurious adults-only boutique property in Costa Rica, has elevated its environmental commitment for Earth Month. During April 2024, bookings made for stays through October will result in five tree plantings per night—up from the standard one tree through their ongoing partnership with One Tree Planted.
Use the promotion code SEEDS to offer your clients 25 percent savings on April bookings. They will also receive complimentary digital bird guides and Swarovski Optik rentals for wildlife observation.
The property’s location in the Costa Rican rainforest provides panoramic vistas of jungle and Pacific Ocean—think on-site hiking trails, yoga sessions with Scarlet Macaws overhead and infinity pool relaxation.
For more information, visit hotelthreesixty.com.
Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa, Mexico
At Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa, clients can participate in sea turtle conservation, which is especially significant to local Huichol culture. In 2005, when Ridley Sea Turtles faced extinction, the resort established a permanent beach nursery and employed a dedicated biologist to oversee protection efforts.
These conservation measures have helped move the species from endangered to vulnerable. Guests participate in evening turtle releases, a particularly popular activity for families as children name their turtles before setting them free at sunset.
The program operates throughout turtle season as nature permits. The resort’s location between the Sierra Madre Mountains and Banderas Bay provides an appropriate setting for this wildlife conservation experience. A key part of this vacation is connecting guests to local cultural traditions while providing meaningful environmental education.
For more information, visit marriott.com.
Casa Palopo, Guatemala
Casa Palopo, one of only two Relais & Chateaux properties in Guatemala, offers clients travel with purpose through its Pintando Santacatarina initiative. This Guatemalan and woman-owned boutique hotel overlooks Lake Atitlan and provides a distinctive voluntourism opportunity. The program invites guests to help transform Santa Catarina Palopo village by painting murals inspired by traditional Mayan textiles. This ongoing community development project employs art and cultural preservation to create economic opportunities for local artisans.
Participants paint alongside villagers, allowing clients to enjoy authentic cultural immersion with tangible community impact.
For more information, visit casapalopo.com.
The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Florida
The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour has created an Earth Day marine conservation initiative that appeals to environmentally aware travelers seeking premium experiences. The property’s Artisan Beach House offers the “Mana-tea” cocktail ($24), created with sustainable Flor de Caña Rum. The carbon-neutral, Fair Trade-certified spirit is produced using renewable energy, with 20 percent of proceeds supporting Florida’s marine mammal conservation.
Clients enjoy globally inspired cuisine and fresh seafood while overlooking the Atlantic Ocean—the very waters their purchase helps protect. This alignment of luxury with conservation creates a compelling selling point when discussing the property with clients interested in responsible travel options. The exclusive setting between the Atlantic and Intracoastal Waterway provides both privacy and a natural connection to the marine environment the property is working to preserve.
For more information, visit ritzcarlton.com.
Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, Hawaii
Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa on Kaanapali Beach is hosting a Treecovery Ceremony on April 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., allowing clients to participate in restoration following the Lahaina fires. The ceremony centers on a living cutting from the historic Lahaina Banyan Tree that will eventually help regenerate the original landmark. For a $25 donation per room, guests participate in planting activities alongside traditional Hawaiian cultural elements, including chants and storytelling.
This event transforms a standard Hawaii vacation into an opportunity for meaningful engagement with the island’s recovery efforts. It connects travelers to Hawaiian culture while supporting tangible conservation work.
For more information, visit marriott.com.
The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch, California
The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch offers an extraordinary seasonal opportunity available only March 1 through mid-May. This 55-acre working flower farm in North San Diego County features dramatic Giant Tecolote Ranunculus blooms minutes from the Pacific Ocean. The property’s sustainability initiatives include a Demonstration Garden created with local Master Gardeners, featuring native plants and pollinator-friendly spaces. Educational programs provide hands-on learning about regional agriculture and its historical significance.
Their agritourism approach merges environmental education with visual appeal, supporting local economic development while offering visitors an agricultural experience beyond typical attractions. Wellness classes and live performances extend the visit experience. F
For more information, visit theflowersfield.com.
Backland Luxury Camping, Arizona
Backland Luxury Camping offers premium eco-lodging just 20 minutes from Williams, Arizona, in a high-elevation setting that provides cooler temperatures during teh warmer months. Set on 160 acres at 7,000 feet elevation and surrounded by National Forest, the property features ten luxury tents while maintaining 95 percent open space. Its proximity to the Grand Canyon is a plus.
Sustainability practices include energy-efficient accommodations, water conservation technology and extensive local food sourcing. On-site dining complements the experience while minimizing environmental impact. The property balances luxury with conservation—a priority for outdoor enthusiasts seeking comfort without ecological compromise. Complimentary electric car charging appeals to environmentally conscious travelers exploring the region.
For more information, visit travelbackland.com.
Grand Velas Resorts, Mexico
Grand Velas properties across Mexico have created distinctive Earth Day programming for your environmentally conscious clients.
At Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit, guests can explore “Bonita,” a walk-through inflatable whale that showcases the annual migration to Banderas Bay. The resort also partners with conservation organization AZPER for honey extraction experiences from on-site bee apartments, followed by beeswax craft workshops. The property is a critical rest stop for bees, supporting crop production and biodiversity for over 100,000 residents on Mexico’s Pacific Coast.
Casa Velas offers a Sustainable Gardening Workshop in its Botanical Garden. Participants learn organic techniques and create gardens using recycled materials.
Nearby, Velas Vallarta coordinates a community tree-planting initiative at Marina Vallarta Golf Club. The resort’s gardening team guides guests and staff in planting over 100 locally appropriate trees, benefiting the broader Puerto Vallarta environment.
Grand Velas Riviera Maya focuses on family programming, including recycled t-shirt decorating workshops and a pre-Hispanic night show celebrating Mayan traditions. The resort’s meliponarium houses native stingless bees, and honey tastings highlight the conservation of this endangered species.
Grand Velas Los Cabos hosts a Kids Fashion Recycle Design Workshop, where young guests create outfits from recycled materials. The workshop is complemented by eco-activities throughout the day.
For more information, visit velasresorts.com.
EF Ultimate Break
EF Ultimate Break has updated its collection of responsibly designed Italy tours for Gen Z and Millennial travelers. The company’s 25+ tours across Italy now implement key sustainability principles, including smaller group sizes, carbon mitigation strategies and community support initiatives.
In Venice specifically, EF Ultimate Break has adapted to new regulations by creating more intimate guided experiences that utilize public transportation via the Venice Unica card. Tours now venture beyond crowded areas to less frequented neighborhoods like the Jewish Ghetto and the Church of the Greeks in Castello.
Local partnerships feature prominently, including with Rosa Salva, a family-run Venetian bakery operating since 1870, and Row Venice, a non-profit supporting traditional Venetian women rowers.
Tours like Ultimate Italy (17 days, 6 cities), Venice, Florence & Rome (10 days, 3 cities), and Taste of Italy (12 days, 5 cities) are currently on sale with discounts up to $800.
For more information, visit efultimatebreak.com.
