Tree planting for your hotel and sustainability have never been more meaningfully connected than they are through Hotels for Trees, a nonprofit foundation that gives hotel guests a simple, powerful way to contribute to global reforestation every single time they travel. Founded in May 2021, Hotels for Trees has grown into an international movement operating across 31 countries, partnering with 257 hotels, and driving 45 active reforestation projects around the world. The concept is straightforward, the impact is measurable, and the participation barrier is almost zero. When a guest chooses to skip their daily room cleaning during a hotel stay, a tree is planted in their name through one of Hotels for Trees established reforestation partners. That is it. No donation required. No app to download. No complicated opt-in process. Just a small behavioral shift that adds up to something genuinely significant for the planet.
How Tree Planting for Your Hotel Actually Works
The mechanics behind Hotels for Trees are elegantly simple, and that simplicity is a big part of why the program works so well. When a hotel joins the Hotels for Trees network, it agrees to redirect a portion of the operational savings generated by reduced housekeeping into tree planting. Every time a guest declines daily room service, the hotel saves on labor, water, cleaning products, and energy. Instead of those savings disappearing into a general operating budget, they are channeled directly into funding tree planting through vetted reforestation partners around the world.
Guests are informed of the program at check-in or through in-room materials. The choice is always voluntary. There is no pressure, no guilt, and no compromise on comfort. Guests who want fresh towels and a made bed every day are free to request standard housekeeping. But for guests who are willing to reuse their towels for one more day and let their room go without a full clean, a tree gets planted. The program has reported guest participation rates of around 30 percent, which is a remarkable figure given that participation requires nothing more than a small, temporary adjustment to routine.
The reforestation partners that Hotels for Trees works with are carefully selected to ensure that trees are planted in areas where they will thrive and where they will deliver the greatest ecological benefit. Projects are located in regions that have experienced significant deforestation, where new tree cover can restore biodiversity, stabilize soil, improve water cycles, and sequester meaningful amounts of carbon dioxide over time. Each project is tracked, and Hotels for Trees maintains transparency about where trees are being planted and how those forests are developing.
Hotels for Trees and the Business Case for Sustainability
One of the most compelling aspects of the Hotels for Trees model is that it does not ask hotels to sacrifice profitability in the name of sustainability. In fact, the program is designed so that sustainability and operational efficiency reinforce each other directly. Reduced housekeeping means lower labor costs, less water consumption, reduced use of cleaning chemicals, and lower energy expenditure from washing machines and dryers. These are real, measurable savings that hotels generate every time a guest opts in.
By converting those savings into tree planting, Hotels for Trees creates a system where doing less of something that costs money also does something genuinely good for the environment. This is not a charity model where hotels are asked to donate from their profits. It is a structural realignment of existing operational economics so that efficiency and ecological responsibility point in the same direction. For hotel operators, this means that joining Hotels for Trees is not a financial burden. It is a smarter way to manage costs while building a brand identity that resonates with a growing segment of environmentally conscious travelers.
The hospitality industry is one of the most resource-intensive sectors in the global economy. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, commercial buildings including hotels account for a significant share of total energy consumption in the United States. Programs like Hotels for Trees demonstrate that even incremental changes in daily operations, when multiplied across hundreds of hotels and thousands of guests, can produce outcomes that are far from incremental. They can be genuinely transformative.
Why Travelers Are Ready for Tree Planting for Your Hotel
Consumer behavior data consistently shows that travelers, particularly in North America and Western Europe, are increasingly motivated by sustainability when making travel decisions. A growing number of hotel guests actively seek out properties that demonstrate a real commitment to environmental responsibility, not just properties that display a recycling bin in the corner of the room and call it green. Travelers want to see that the hotels they choose are taking meaningful action, and they want to feel that their own stay is contributing to something positive.
Hotels for Trees meets travelers exactly where they are. The program does not ask guests to sacrifice comfort, pay more, or go out of their way. It simply offers them a choice that feels good and produces a real outcome. Skipping a room clean is not a hardship for most travelers staying two or more nights. It is a minor convenience adjustment that most people are perfectly happy to make when they understand that a tree will be planted as a result. That combination of low effort and high meaning is exactly what drives the 30 percent participation rate that Hotels for Trees has reported.
Recent consumer preference research supports this trend broadly. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has documented the growing consumer demand for greener products and services across industries, and hospitality is no exception. When travelers can see a direct, tangible connection between their behavior and a measurable environmental outcome, engagement goes up. Hotels for Trees provides exactly that connection, and it does so without adding friction to the guest experience.
Hotels for Trees and the Science of Reforestation
Tree planting is not a silver bullet for climate change, but it is one of the most well-documented and widely supported tools available for carbon sequestration, biodiversity restoration, and ecosystem recovery. When trees are planted in the right places, with the right species, and with proper long-term management, they deliver compounding ecological benefits over decades. A single tree can absorb hundreds of pounds of carbon dioxide over its lifetime, provide habitat for wildlife, stabilize soil against erosion, regulate local water cycles, and contribute to the overall health of surrounding ecosystems.
Hotels for Trees works with reforestation partners who understand these nuances. The program is not about planting trees in random locations to hit a number. It is about supporting projects that are scientifically grounded, geographically appropriate, and managed for long-term success. The 45 active projects currently underway through the Hotels for Trees network span multiple continents and ecosystems, reflecting a commitment to diversity and ecological integrity in the reforestation work being done.
The U.S. Forest Service has published extensive research on the role of forests in carbon sequestration and climate resilience, reinforcing the scientific foundation that programs like Hotels for Trees are built on. Reforestation is not a feel-good gesture. It is a legitimate, evidence-based climate strategy, and Hotels for Trees is making it accessible to the hospitality industry in a way that is practical, scalable, and financially sustainable.
Hotels for Trees: The Role of Edwin Schaerlaeckens and the North America Team
Hotels for Trees operates with a lean, dedicated team of professionals who are genuinely passionate about the mission. Edwin Schaerlaeckens serves as the Tree Planting Officer and Regional Manager for North America, and he is the primary point of contact for any hotel operators, travel professionals, or organizations in the region who want to learn more about the program, ask questions, or explore a partnership. Edwin can be reached directly at edwin@hotelsfortrees.com or by phone at 651-592-7930.
The broader Hotels for Trees team works collaboratively with a network of partners, reforestation organizations, and hospitality professionals across the globe. Their shared vision is dedicated to reducing CO2 emissions through the hotel industry, one tree at a time. That vision is not abstract. It is backed by operational data, real partnerships, and a growing network of hotels that have chosen to make sustainability a core part of their guest experience rather than an afterthought.
For hotel operators in North America who are considering joining the program, Edwin and the team provide full onboarding support, marketing materials, and guidance on how to communicate the program to guests in a way that feels natural and authentic. The goal is to make participation as easy as possible for hotels of all sizes, from boutique independent properties to larger branded hotels that want to add a meaningful sustainability layer to their existing operations.
Hotels for Trees: What 31 Countries and 257 Hotels Tell Us About Scale
The geographic reach of Hotels for Trees is one of the most impressive things about the program. Operating in 31 countries with 257 participating hotels is not a small pilot project. It is a functioning international network that has proven the model works across different cultures, regulatory environments, and hospitality markets. The fact that Hotels for Trees has achieved this scale in just a few years since its founding in May 2021 speaks to both the strength of the concept and the genuine appetite that exists within the hospitality industry for programs that deliver real sustainability outcomes.
Each of the 257 participating hotels represents a decision made by a hotel operator or ownership group to align their brand with something meaningful. These are not hotels that are simply greenwashing their image with vague sustainability language. They are hotels that have made a structural commitment to converting operational savings into ecological action. That distinction matters enormously to travelers who have become increasingly skeptical of sustainability claims that are not backed by concrete, verifiable action.
The 45 active reforestation projects currently supported by the Hotels for Trees network represent a diverse portfolio of ecological work happening in real places around the world. These projects are not theoretical. They are active, managed, and producing results in the form of trees in the ground, carbon being sequestered, and ecosystems being restored. For hotel guests who participate in the program, knowing that their choice to skip a room clean is connected to one of these real projects gives the experience a sense of tangible impact that is rare in the world of corporate sustainability initiatives.
Hotels for Trees and the Broader Shift in Hospitality Industry Values
Hotels for Trees exists within a broader transformation that is reshaping the hospitality industry from the inside out. Sustainability is no longer a niche concern for a small segment of eco-conscious travelers. It has become a mainstream expectation that is influencing booking decisions, brand loyalty, and the long-term competitive positioning of hotels around the world. Hotels that fail to demonstrate genuine environmental commitment are increasingly at a disadvantage in a market where travelers have more information and more choices than ever before.
What Hotels for Trees offers the industry is a model that is both credible and accessible. It does not require hotels to undertake expensive infrastructure upgrades or overhaul their entire operation. It asks them to redirect savings they are already generating into something that matters. That accessibility is what makes the program scalable, and scalability is what makes it genuinely impactful at the level the climate crisis demands.
Hospitality professionals occupy a uniquely powerful position in the consumer economy. Hotels interact with millions of guests every year, and each of those interactions is an opportunity to model and reinforce eco-conscious behavior. When a guest participates in Hotels for Trees and sees that their small choice resulted in a tree being planted somewhere in the world, that experience shapes how they think about sustainability in their daily life beyond the hotel stay. The hospitality industry has the power to normalize environmental responsibility at a scale that few other industries can match, and Hotels for Trees is one of the clearest examples of what that power looks like in practice.
Hotels for Trees: How to Join as a Hotel Partner
For hotel operators who want to bring the Hotels for Trees program to their property, the enrollment process is designed to be straightforward and well-supported. Hotels can visit HotelsforTrees.com to learn more about the program, review the partnership structure, and begin the enrollment process. The website provides detailed information about how the program works, what is expected of participating hotels, and how the reforestation component is managed and verified.
For North American hotels specifically, Edwin Schaerlaeckens is available to walk operators through the program in detail, answer any questions about implementation, and help hotels understand how to communicate the program to their guests in a way that drives participation. The goal is always to make the program feel like a natural extension of the hotel’s existing hospitality values rather than an add-on that feels disconnected from the guest experience.
Hotels that join the program gain access to marketing support, guest communication materials, and the ability to promote their participation in a globally recognized sustainability initiative. In a competitive hospitality market, that kind of credible, verifiable sustainability credential is increasingly valuable. It gives travelers a concrete reason to choose one property over another, and it gives hotel staff a genuine source of pride in the work they do every day.
As the environmentalist and explorer Robert Swan has said, “The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.” Hotels for Trees is built on the opposite belief: that everyone has a role to play, that small actions matter, and that the hospitality industry is in a uniquely powerful position to turn millions of small actions into something the planet can actually feel. Planet Media is proud to support Hotels for Trees and the work they are doing to make sustainable travel a reality for guests and hotel operators around the world.
To learn more, visit HotelsforTrees.com, connect with the team on LinkedIn, or reach out directly to Edwin Schaerlaeckens at edwin@hotelsfortrees.com or 651-592-7930 to explore a hotel partnership.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hotels for Trees and how does it work?
Hotels for Trees is a nonprofit foundation that partners with hotels to plant trees whenever guests choose to skip their daily room cleaning. The operational savings from reduced housekeeping are redirected into funding reforestation projects around the world. The program launched in May 2021 and now operates across 31 countries with 257 participating hotels.How does skipping room cleaning result in a tree being planted?
When a hotel guest declines daily housekeeping, the hotel saves money on labor, water, energy, and cleaning supplies. Hotels for Trees channels those savings directly into tree planting through vetted reforestation partners. The guest does not pay anything extra, and no donation is required.How many hotels participate in Hotels for Trees?
As of the most recent reporting, 257 hotels across 31 countries participate in the Hotels for Trees program. The network supports 45 active reforestation projects around the world. Guest participation rates across the network average around 30 percent.Where are the trees planted through Hotels for Trees?
Trees are planted through carefully selected reforestation partners in regions that have experienced significant deforestation and where new tree cover can deliver the greatest ecological benefit. Projects span multiple continents and ecosystems. Each project is managed for long-term success and tracked for transparency.Is Hotels for Trees a legitimate nonprofit?
Yes, Hotels for Trees is a registered nonprofit foundation established in May 2021. The organization operates with full transparency about its reforestation partners and project locations. Hotels for Trees and its hotels trees model have been verified through international hotel partnerships and active ecological projects.Who is the Hotels for Trees contact for North America?
Edwin Schaerlaeckens serves as the Tree Planting Officer and Regional Manager for North America at Hotels for Trees. He can be reached at edwin@hotelsfortrees.com or by phone at 651-592-7930. Edwin supports hotel operators through the full enrollment and onboarding process.How do hotels benefit from joining Hotels for Trees?
Hotels benefit by reducing operational costs through lower housekeeping frequency while simultaneously building a credible sustainability credential that appeals to eco-conscious travelers. The hotels trees program provides marketing support and guest communication materials to help properties promote their participation. It strengthens brand identity without requiring major capital investment.What percentage of hotel guests participate in Hotels for Trees?
Hotels for Trees has reported guest participation rates of approximately 30 percent across its network. This is a strong figure given that participation requires only a minor adjustment to routine, specifically choosing to skip daily room cleaning. The low barrier to entry is a key reason the program achieves consistent engagement.How does Hotels for Trees support the hotels trees mission with science?
Hotels for Trees works with reforestation partners who follow scientifically grounded practices, planting species appropriate to each region and managing forests for long-term ecological health. The U.S. Forest Service has published extensive research confirming that well-managed reforestation delivers measurable carbon sequestration and biodiversity benefits. The hotels trees model is built on this evidence-based foundation.How can a hotel enroll in Hotels for Trees?
Hotels can enroll by visiting HotelsforTrees.com and reviewing the partnership structure and program details. North American hotel operators can also contact Edwin Schaerlaeckens directly at edwin@hotelsfortrees.com or 651-592-7930 for personalized guidance. The enrollment process is designed to be straightforward and fully supported by the Hotels for Trees team.Related Articles
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Kurt Whitt
Planet Media
Founder and CEO of Planet Media, a sustainability focused marketing agency. 25+ years helping purpose driven brands grow through strategy, storytelling and design.
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