Weston (Fort Lauderdale), Florida, November 2014 … An array of environmental initiatives recently won the Bonaventure Resort & Spa a coveted Three Palm rating from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Green Lodging program.

Launched in 2004, the Florida Green Lodging Program is a voluntary initiative of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection that designates and recognizes lodging facilities, which make a commitment to conserve and protect Florida’s natural resources. The program’s environmental guidelines allow the state’s hospitality industry to evaluate its operations, set goals and take specific actions to continuously improve environmental performance.

Bonaventure Resort & Spa is set on the edge of the Florida Everglades, the world’s largest wetlands. “This is an exceptional resource for the state and for the resort,” says Charles Reece, Bonaventure’s general manager. “We have an obligation to help protect that resource and use it responsibly.”

The resort has a number of policies and programs in place to maintain a sustainable, “green” environment. The grounds include a unique Nature Trail where guest can observe the area’s flora and fauna – tropical birds and fish, swans and more.

Guests at the resort can participate in tours of the Everglades, conducted by tour operators committed to sustainability and protection of the ‘Glades.

The natural beauty of the Florida Everglades inspires and informs the treatment products used at the resort’s acclaimed aLaya spa. All the ingredients used in aLaya’s spa treatments are from OSEA, which stands for Ocean, Sun, Sea and Earth. Since the Everglades are fully protected, aLaya uses OSEA’s products that are based on natural plants and soil found in the Everglades but sourced from other locations around the world. These include marine ingredients and organic algae extracts, Cypress, plant and nut oils, mud, clay and natural fruit extracts, organic essential oils and botanical antioxidants.

Bonaventure Resort & Spa is also a proud participant of Clean the World®, an organization that recycles and distributes hand soap to children all over the world who are suffering from a variety of diseases that are prevented by simple hand washing. All used hand soaps are collected by the hotel and sent to Clean the World. In addition to contributing to the “World Hygiene Revolution,” this process helps to eliminate waste and reduce items going to landfills.

Additionally, Bonaventure Resort & Spa has earned the “Greenleader” designation from TripAdvisor®.

Bonaventure Resort & Spa, a Benchmark Resort® and member of Summit Hotels & Resorts, is a top South Florida resort featuring 400 spacious guest rooms plus an amazing 100 suites! The Four Diamond resort features award-winning cuisine and recreation amenities, and is easily accessible by land (I-95) and by air via the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (FLL) and Miami (MIA) International Airports. Bonadventure Resort & Spa is close to the activities and excitement for which travelers come to sunny South Florida.