The tourism industry’s interest in sustainable management has increased in exponential proportions over the past year. Substantial amounts of space in industry journals are devoted to issues such as sustainability, energy management, green building design, waste reduction, water saving practices and other topics related to social responsibility (International Tourism Partnership, 2007). CEO’s of major corporations have identified sustainable management practices as critical to the success of their business (examiner.com, 2008). Top management focus on sustainability may be partially driven by consumer demand. A recent survey of the members of Travelocity revealed that 80% of the respondents were willing to spend more on eco-friendly destinations or businesses (Reuters, 2008).

Managers anxious to meet consumer expectations are actively seeking knowledge on how to green their business (The term green is being used here to incorporate all aspects of sustainability and corporate social responsibility). They want to know what actions they can take. There is a plethora of information available. However, most non corporate properties do not have the resources to research and identify actions they can take. Managers lack a tool they can use to help them readily assess their position and select strategies to improve their performance. The purpose of this research is to synthesize the many resources available for tourism related businesses and develop a list of practical actions businesses can take to manage more sustainably.