Green Certifications
Photo Credit: Golden Rock Resort & Dive Centre, St. Eustatius (GreenKey certified) AND a winner of the 2026 International Sustainability Awards
The Caribbean has long been defined by its breathtaking natural beauty — turquoise waters, lush rainforests, vibrant coral reefs, and pristine beaches that stretch as far as the eye can see. Protecting that beauty is not just a priority for the islands themselves, but increasingly for the hotels and resorts that call the Caribbean home. Across the region, a growing number of properties are going beyond good intentions, submitting to rigorous independent audits and earning internationally recognized eco-certifications that hold them accountable for their environmental and social impact. From reducing energy and water consumption to eliminating single-use plastics, sourcing food locally, and investing in coral restoration and community programs, these hotels are proving that world-class hospitality and genuine sustainability can go hand in hand.
The certifications they pursue — Green Globe, GreenKey, LEED and EarthCheck — each measure performance differently, but all share the same fundamental message: that the Caribbean’s greatest asset is worth protecting, and that the most forward-thinking properties in the region are committed to doing exactly that.
**Please note that most of these certifications are subject to annual renewal and independent re-auditing, and certification status can change from year to year. We encourage you to check directly with individual properties to confirm their current certification standing.
Green Globe
Green Globe is one of the world’s most widely recognized sustainability certification programs for the travel and tourism industry, active since 1999 and built around 44 core criteria supported by over 380 compliance indicators spanning sustainable management, social and economic responsibility, cultural heritage, and environmental performance. Properties are assessed against these criteria annually by independent auditors, and certification is confirmed each year when more than 50% of the criteria’s related indicators are achieved, with mandatory onsite and desktop audits conducted in alternating years. The program is particularly well-rooted in the Caribbean, with over 60 certified hotels and resorts across the region — more than any other eco-certification program. Caribbean hotels with Green Globe certification.
Learn More about the three Green Globe Certification Levels.
The Three Green Globe Certification Levels:
Certified — The foundational level, awarded to members that meet all requisite criteria within the Green Globe Standard. Green Globe reserves the right to grant or withhold certification based on overall performance.
Gold — Awarded after 5 consecutive years of certification. Gold membership is not automatically granted upon meeting this requirement; it follows a review of overall performance across the full five-year period to confirm that continuous effort has been made across all key themes.
Platinum — The highest designation, awarded after 10 consecutive years of certification. As with Gold, Platinum status is not automatic — it requires a review of the full decade of performance to confirm sustained, continuous improvement across all criteria. Green Globe reserves the right to elevate members to Platinum.
GreenKey
GreenKey is an international eco-certification for hotels and tourism establishments, founded in 1994 and operating as a non-governmental, non-profit program under the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. A GreenKey certificate signals that an establishment has undergone an assessment process, including an on-site audit, to verify conformity with the applicable criteria — a process based on documented evidence, regular assessments, and periodic renewal requirements to support continuous improvement. The program is built around criteria covering 13 different sustainability categories, developed for six types of establishments — from bunk-bed hostels to five-star luxury hotels — and certifies properties in all price ranges. The certificate represents a commitment to operate according to environmental and social sustainability criteria aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Caribbean hotels with GreenKey certification.
Learn More about Green Key’s certification criteria.
GreenKey Certification Levels:
Unlike Green Globe or EarthCheck, GreenKey operates as a single certification rather than a tiered progression system. Criteria are divided into two types: imperative criteria, which are non-negotiable and must be met in full from the very first application, and guideline criteria, which must be met in increasing numbers the longer an establishment has held the award. This means the standard effectively deepens year over year — the longer a property holds GreenKey, the more it is required to do. Certification is valid for one year, after which establishments must apply for recertification, ensuring ongoing compliance rather than a one-time achievement. In this way, longevity within the program itself serves as the marker of a property’s depth of commitment.
LEED
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the world’s most widely used green building rating system, developed and administered by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Spearheaded in 1993 as a way to define “green buildings,” LEED was founded in the U.S. but is used and recognized globally. Unlike the other certifications on this list — which focus on how a hotel operates day-to-day — LEED evaluates the physical building itself: its design, construction, and engineering. USGBC analyzes building performance related to integrative processes, location and transportation, sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. LEED is a rigorous, third-party verification process in which everything from construction materials to carbon emissions is evaluated and measured via specific sustainability standards, resulting in a scorecard. It is considered the most stringent of the four certifications and remains rare in the Caribbean, with only a handful of properties having achieved it. LEED is still rare in the Caribbean. Caribbean hotels with LEED certification.
Learn More about the four LEED Certification Levels.
The Four LEED Certification Levels:
All four levels are determined by a 100-point scale, and a hotel must earn a minimum of 40 points to qualify for the lowest level of certification.
Certified — 40 to 49 points. The entry-level designation, confirming the building meets the foundational requirements for sustainable design and construction.
Silver — 50 to 59 points. Recognizes a meaningful step above baseline, reflecting stronger performance across energy, water, materials, and site sustainability.
Gold — 60 to 79 points. A prestigious designation demonstrating high-level commitment to green building across most performance categories. This is the level held by Bucuti & Tara in Aruba and Jade Mountain in St. Lucia.
Platinum — 80 points or higher. The highest designation LEED offers, requiring 80 points or more in green building features and strategies. Only a handful of hotels in the world have earned Platinum status.
EarthCheck
EarthCheck is the world’s leading scientific benchmarking and certification organization for the travel and tourism industry. Established over 30 years ago and rooted in research developed at James Cook University in Australia, EarthCheck independently verifies hotel sustainability claims against a rigorous, science-based global standard — measuring energy use, water consumption, waste management, greenhouse gas emissions, and community engagement. Unlike certifications based on a scorecard approach, EarthCheck requires full yearly compliance with all criteria and an independent third-party audit every year.
Caribbean hotels with EarthCheck certification.
Learn More about the Five EarthCheck Certification Levels.
The Five EarthCheck Certification Levels:
Bronze (Benchmarked) — The entry point, recognizing an organization’s commitment to measuring and monitoring its sustainability performance. The property submits operational data, establishes a baseline, and develops a sustainability management system. This process typically spans 8–10 months.
Silver — Awarded after successful completion of an independent on-site audit, typically within 10–13 months of beginning the process. Silver status confirms the property is actively managing and improving on its benchmarked performance.
Gold — Awarded after 5 consecutive years of maintaining certification, demonstrating sustained long-term commitment to environmental improvement rather than a one-time achievement.
Platinum — Awarded after 10 consecutive years of certification, recognizing a decade of uninterrupted compliance and continuous improvement. This is the level held by many of the Caribbean’s most sustainability-focused resorts.
Master — The highest designation, awarded for over 15 years of continuous certification. Sandals Negril in Jamaica holds the distinction of being the first resort in the world to achieve EarthCheck Master Status. It represents the pinnacle of sustainable hospitality — a property that has embedded environmental excellence into the very fabric of its operations for well over a decade.
| Antigua and Barbuda | Curtain Bluff Resort- Platinum Hermitage Bay – Gold Blue Waters Resort & Spa – Certified Members Galley Bay Resort – Certified Members LambLion Holiday Apartment – Certified Members |
| Aruba | Bucuti Beach Resort- Platinum Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa- Platinum Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba – Certified Members |
| Bahamas | Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach – Certified Members |
| Barbados | Little Arches Boutique Hotel- Gold |
| Curaçao | Morena Eco Resort- Gold |
| Dominica | Fort Young Hotel & Dive Resort – Certified Members Secret Bay – Certified Members |
| Grenada | Blue Horizons Garden Resort- Platinum True Blue Bay Resort – Platinum Mount Cinnamon Beach Resort – Gold Spice Island Beach Resort – Gold |
| Guadeloupe | Club Med La Caravelle – Platinum |
| Jamaica | The Tryall Club – Platinum Hyatt Ziva & Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall – Gold Rockhouse Hotel – Gold Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa – Certified Members Hope Royal Botanical Gardens – Certified Members Jamaica Inn – Certified Members Jewel Grande Montego Bay Resort & Spa – Certified Members Hideaway at Royalton Blue Waters – Certified Members Royalton Blue Waters Montego Bay – Certified Members |
| Martinique | Club Med Les Boucaniers – Gold Hotel Bambou & Spa- Certified Members |
| Saint Lucia | BodyHoliday – Certified Members |
| Saint Martin | Grand Case Beach Hotel – Certified Members |
| St. Eustatius | Golden Rock Dive & Nature Resort – Certified Members |
| Turks & Caicos Islands | Club Med Turkoise – Certified Members Ocean Club – Certified Members Ocean Club West – Certified Members Wymara Resort Turks & Caicos – Certified Members |
| Aruba | Ritz-Carlton Machebo Beach Resort & Spa |
| Cayman Islands | Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman |
| Curaçao | LionsDive Beach Resort Morena Eco Resort |
| Guadeloupe | Gîtes Soleil Couchant Habitation Samana Beauséjour Bellevue Gites Zénitude Hôtel-Résidences Le Salako Iguana House Villas & Micro Spa Nid Kreyol |
| Martinique | Hotel La Pagerie Eden Paradise Spa Ecolodge Village Pierre & Vacances Hôtel French Coco |
| Saint Martin | Karibuni |
| St. Eustatius | Golden Rock Dive & Nature Resort |
| St. Kitts | Park Hyatt St. Kitts |
| Turks & Caicos Islands | The Ritz-Carlton |
| Aruba | Bucuti Beach Resort |
| Jamaica | Courtyard by Marriott in Kingston |
| Saint Lucia | Jade Mountain |
| Anguilla | Belmond Cap Juluca – Silver |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Sandals Grande Antigua – Master |
| Aruba | Amsterdam Manor – Master La Cabana BRC – Master Hyatt Regency – Platinum Hilton Aruba – Gold Renaissance – Gold Marriott – Gold Divi Resorts – Silver |
| Bahamas | Sandals Royal Bahamian – Master |
| Barbados | Sandals, Maxwell Costs – Gold |
| Grenada | Sandals Grenada – Gold |
| Jamaica | Beaches Negril – Master Couples San Souci, Ocho Rios – Gold Karisma Negril – Silver Moon Palace, Ocho Rios – Bronze |
| Saint Lucia | Sandals Gros Islet – Master Sandals Halcyon – Master Sandals La Toc – Master |
| Saint Martin | Belmond La Samanna – Silver |