An Eco-Airbnb Stay

July 11, 2018

Many of us are familiar with Airbnb. Many of us love the opportunity Airbnb gives us to stay away from home in accommodation that is cheaper and friendlier than a hotel or motel. We love the little things our hosts do to ensure our stay is a good one. The wine (yes, I have been given a bottle of local wine), the stocked fridge and the pointers to local eateries, shops and sights.

Aldona at home — Aldona (Ballarat). Image:

Now, a few hosts have gone a step further and are making their accommodation an Eco Airbnb Stay with Fifteen Trees. For every new guest who books in, we plant a tree.

Petrina at her unit — Petrina (Sapphire Coast)

These eco-hosts also encourage their guests to go eco by:

* turning off lights and heaters before they leave,

* only heating small amounts of water in the kettle (a kettle actually has one of the largest carbon footprints in the home),

* asking guests to separate the recycling,

* where possible use public transport.

Many of the listings have big windows (to reduce the need to have lights on during the day) and organic gardens and orchards that are available for guests. They use eco friendly cleaning products like Ekoworx and provide toilet paper from Who Gives A Crap.

With the Westgate Bridge as a backdrop, the Friends of Westgate Park have planted 4,000 trees supplied by the generous supporters of Fifteen Trees. The group is engaged in a very successful re-vegetation program at the park which involves annual planting of 20,000 trees. As these trees grow, the biodiversity of the area is improving. It is becoming a popular place for people and for the birds and animals that choose to make the park their home. Airbnb trees have been planted at Westgate Park as part of the 4,000.

Tony Flude (Friends of Westgate Park) and Colleen Filippa (Fifteen Trees)

To date, we have planted trees for 4 hosts. We’ve had trees planted for stays in Lorne, Ballarat, Sydney and Sapphire Beach. All up 60 trees for Westgate Park.

Run an Airbnb and want to go eco(er)? Please contact us. To get you started we’ll plant 15 trees (@$4.30/tree) on your behalf and send you a PDF poster you can display outlining your support to your guests. Plus we’ll feature you here so you can link back to your trees from your end.