@visitlauderdale
From our pristine beaches to the lush Everglades, Visit Lauderdale wants to ensure that our area’s natural charm is protected for generations to come. By prioritizing green initiatives, conservation programs, eco-conscious partnerships, and responsible travel, we not only make travel more rewarding for visitors, but also protect our unique environment.
Getting to Greater Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
Conscious travel starts with how you get to a destination. Many flights coming into Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport offer the option of purchasing carbon credits to offset part of their carbon footprint. Airlines like Alaska Airlines, JetBlue, and more partner with organizations like CarbonFund.org to support projects that reduce carbon emissions in the United States.
Port Everglades
Port Everglades is one of the busiest ports in the world, that’s why its commitment to sustainability is so important. Port Everglades recently upgraded to energy-efficient equipment and has a clean energy plant dedicated to reducing CO2 emissions. By 2027, the port plans to use shore energy for its eight cruise terminals. This will allow cruise ships to use electricity while idle at the port instead of fuel.
Staying in Greater Fort Lauderdale
Many hotels and resorts in Greater Fort Lauderdale have adopted green practices. These include energy-efficient systems, waste-reduction programs, and the use of eco-friendly products.
Pelican Grand, the hotel operates with at least 30% recycled content or above and has implemented a pallet recycling program to reduce additional waste, underlining its commitment to sustainability.
The Conrad Fort Lauderdale has a certified energy management system dedicated to making the property more sustainable, which includes an energy conservation program, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, lighting, thermostats, water faucets, toilets, and showers.
Four Seasons Hotel & Residences Fort Lauderdale also has an extensive list of sustainable initiatives including vegan and vegetarian menus, bicycle rentals, water-efficient landscaping, energy-saving guest room controls, and donations in the community.
All Hilton hotels have a Travel with Purpose goal which includes water stewardship, waste reduction, and energy-efficient appliances and layouts. Here are some Hilton hotels in Greater Fort Lauderdale:
- Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina
- Tru by Hilton Dania Beach
- Doubletree by Hilton Sunrise-Sawgrass Mills
- Tru by Hilton Pompano Beach Pier
- Hilton Garden Inn Fort Lauderdale SW Miramar
- Tru by Hilton Fort Lauderdale Downtown/Flagler Village
- Hilton Garden Inn Fort Lauderdale Airport Cruise Port
- Homewood Suites by Hilton Fort Lauderdale Airport-Cruise
Several establishments participate in the Florida Green Lodging Program, which certifies properties that make a commitment to conserve and protect Florida’s natural resources:
- B Ocean Resort
- Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach
- Doubletree by Hilton Deerfield Beach
- Doubletree Resort by Hilton Hollywood Beach
- Embassy Suites by Hilton Fort Lauderdale 17th Street
- Fort Lauderdale Marriot Coral Springs Hotel & Convention Center
- Fort Lauderdale Marriot Harbor Beach Resort & Spa
- Gallery One
- Hampton Inn Hallandale Beach Aventura
- Hampton Inn & Suites Fort Lauderdale West – Sawgrass/Tamarac Hotel
- Hampton Inn Pembroke Pines – Fort Lauderdale West
- Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort
- Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina
- Home2Suites by Hilton Miramar Fort Lauderdale
- Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort
- Maritime Hotel Fort Lauderdale Cruiseport
- The Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale
- Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
- Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach
Restaurants
The culinary scene in Greater Fort Lauderdale is increasingly focused on sustainability. Many local restaurants prioritize sourcing ingredients locally to reduce transportation emissions and support local farmers, as well as incorporate vegetarian, vegan and plant-based options. Additionally, several establishments have implemented waste reduction practices such as no single-use plastic straws, compostable food containers and cutlery, and eco-friendly packaging.
For sustainable sea-to-table seafood, Sea Salt Fish Market sources only the freshest, most responsibly harvested seafood available, much of it from local fishermen. Fresh chef-prepared entrees are available for on-site dining or to take away, along with dips, salads, and sauces. You can also pick up fresh-caught fish to prepare yourself.
If you dine on Hollywood Beach, you won’t find any cups, lids, straws, or utensils made with non-biodegradable materials. The City of Hollywood banned businesses east of the Intracoastal Waterway from using plastic and foam products. Meanwhile, the City of Fort Lauderdale banned local businesses from using plastic straws and is encouraging them to reduce the use of plastic and Styrofoam containers through community initiatives.
Tiki Tiki in Hollywood also collects all the oyster shells served to guests and gives them to the Urban Farming Institute to create new oyster beds, which helps to create new habitats for marine life, reduce erosion of our shorelines and mitigate storm surges.
Beach House Pompano sits right next to the Pompano Beach pier and hosts beach cleanups on the third Saturday of every month at 10 a.m. Guests get a free drink card for participating in the beach cleanup.
Meetings & Events
Whether visiting Greater Fort Lauderdale for business or pleasure, the choices each traveler makes have a big impact on our community. Together, we can help to preserve the natural resources our area has to offer for future generations and promote Greater Fort Lauderdale as a green events destination.
Choose to Plan-it Green for your next meeting. This voluntary carbon offset program aims to make events in Greater Fort Lauderdale carbon neutral. Contributions to the Plan-It Green fund support local projects that reduce carbon emissions, including tree planting to reduce soil erosion, mitigate climate change, and provide shade and habitat for native species.
Things to Do
There are plenty of attractions and things to do in Greater Fort Lauderdale that keep sustainability in mind. Watching a popular concert or a Florida Panthers hockey game at Amerant Bank Arena is fun, but did you know that the arena also works closely with local organizations to reduce their waste? The arena has been able to divert more than 87 tons of recyclables from landfills thanks to a partnership with Waste Management. The arena also donates unused food to local homeless shelters and has collected more than 21,000 pounds of food to date.
Butterfly World in Coconut Creek established the North American “Bring Back the Butterflies” Campaign in 1988. The goal of this program was to educate and supply free butterfly gardening materials specific to each region, to anyone interested. Wildly successful, it has become a phenomenon, resulting in thousands of new butterfly habitats, and an increase in butterfly populations across the continent.
One of the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint during your trip is by camping at our local parks, some of which feature campgrounds for RVs and/or tents. Markham Park in Sunrise offers both. Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach has tents and teepees available to rent.
Turtle nesting season takes place from March 1 to October 31 when female turtles lay their eggs on the beach at night. Later in the summer, the baby turtles hatch and must immediately make the journey down the beach to the water. Explore on your own or join a guided moonlight turtle walk organized by Fort Lauderdale’s Museum of Discovery and Science, which hosts walks with an expert guide on Fort Lauderdale’s beach between June and July. You must reserve a spot in advance.
Sightsee on two wheels. Instead of sightseeing by car, hop on a bike. Find bike rentals everywhere from Fort Lauderdale’s Riverwalk and Hollywood’s Broadwalk to area parks like Hugh Taylor Birch State Park in Fort Lauderdale, which features nature biking trails.
For additional ideas on eco-friendly partners & activities, visit https://www.visitlauderdale.com/articles/post/celebrate-earth-day-in-greater-fort-lauderdale/.
Tortuga Music Festival is held on the white sands of Fort Lauderdale Beach Park in April. Rock the Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival is a 3-day, multi-stage music festival featuring some of the biggest names in country, rock and roots music. Working with Rock the Ocean Foundation to increase public awareness about the issues impacting the world’s oceans and to support scientific research, education, and ocean conservation initiatives, Tortuga Music festival has helped give back more than $3.2 million to its Conservation Village partners through ticket sales and donations. The centerpiece of the event, Conservation Village brings 20-plus nonprofits to the festival to educate concertgoers on ocean conservation through virtual reality shark dives, pop-up shows, and interactive activities like eco exchanges, trading beach trash for prizes.