At heart, I’m really a label queen—as in job title.  I’ve always been fascinated by them, which is why I love Facebook’s encouragement of broadcasting that label far and wide.  Currently, I’m a “writer & content producer at Poptimistic.com”—which to me sounds super hip and Web 2.3 (or whatever iteration we’re currently experiencing).  So it’s probably no surprise that a couple of years ago while planning the Condé Nast Traveler World Savers Congress, I developed a little crush on the title “Social & Environmental Conscience” that belongs to Arnfinn Oines of Asian-based luxury chain Six Senses Resorts & Spas.  While that job label may sound new age and fluffy, upon meeting Arnfinn and hearing about Six Senses’ vision for the future, I realized his company is on a serious sustainability mission.

Perhaps the thing that impressed me the most about Six Senses was their willingness to tackle head on the hotel industry’s bottled water addiction.  Similar to the shampoo mini-bottles that I keep harping on, bottled water in hotel rooms is incredibly wasteful and environmentally damaging.  And the hotel industry knows it.  But many brands lack the imagination and ambition in creating solutions to the issue.  I hear familiar arguments for the status quo including: “We operate in countries without safe drinking water, so guests insist on bottled water.”  But that didn’t stop Six Senses that operates in countries like Thailand and Viet Nam.

Starting in October 2008, Six Senses replaced imported drinking water with an in-house offering produced at every property using a small reverse osmosis plant and special 3-stage filtration.  Both the still and sparkling water is then bottled in re-usable glass containers and served complimentary in the room.  While there is a charge for the water in the restaurants, bars or spa, 50% of the proceeds go to clean water projects for the local communities in partnership with Water Charity.org, Thirst-Aid.org, and PlayPumps.co.za.  To date, they’ve raised an estimated $300,000, guaranteeing safe drinking water to around 309,000 people.

Six Senses has no intention of just stopping at solving the water issue.  As their inspiring founder and CEO explained at the last World Savers Congress in Singapore, his goal is to make the entire portfolio not just carbon neutral or carbon free, but “decarbonizing.”  What?!  He wants to implement programs on each property that actually absorb carbon.

The best thing for upscale travelers is that none of this comes at the expense of luxury.  Their properties are some of the most sensual and sumptuous resorts in the world.  Now that’s what Green Globe Trekker means about traveling good, staying chic.