ECOCLUB Ecolodge™ is a genuine recognition for genuine Ecolodges! It is offered to eligible accommodation facilities following a stringent and transparent Audit process and a democratic assessment. You may find the facilities currently recognised as ECOCLUB Ecolodges™ here.
Our service is unique:
(a) avoids greenwashing: proof is required and displayed.
(b) transparent: all questions and answers are public.
(c) avoids all conflicts of interest: it is free of charge
(d) assessment combines expertise and democracy
The conditions, criteria and procedures of the ECOCLUB Ecolodge™ programme are:
BENEFITS
1. Recognition as an ECOCLUB Ecolodge™
2. Personalised Logo with the name of your Ecolodge, Country and the current year for use in your website and brochures.
3. Listing in the ECOCLUB Ecotourism Directory, in the 'Ecolodges' and 'Ecoclub Recommended' sections.
4. Promotion on ECOCLUB and our social media networks.
CRITERIA
The ECOCLUB Ecolodge™ recognition is offered according to specific Eligibility and Impact Criteria as follows:
A. Eligibility Criteria (Minimum Criteria for being eligible to apply for recognition):
The Accommodation facility should:
1. Be legally licensed as a Hotel, Lodge or other accommodation type that can legally offer a full range of services to guests.
2. Comply with all local legislation, including labour, tax and environmental laws.
3. Be open for at least four months every year in the same location.
4. Have completed 1 full year of operation as an accommodation facility under the current ownership in the present location.
5. Do not feature or promote captive wild animal displays, nature-consumptive leisure activities (such as game hunting or sport fishing), animal riding, or swimming with marine mammals.
6. Not be currently listed for sale.
7. Not be part of a hotel chain.
B. Impact Criteria (Criteria to be assessed by the Audit):
- Political: Respects Human Rights and Labour Rights. Workers/employees participate in organizational decision-making and have the right to join and form unions. Operates with the democratic consent of the local community. It is owned or partly-owned by the workers/employees or the community.
- Environmental: Minimises its environmental impact, respects animal rights. Uses renewable energy, practices reducing, reusing, recycling, upcycling. Supports conservation while fully respecting the rights of indigenous people and/or the local community.
- Economic: Workers/employees receive living wages, enjoy good working conditions and receive full health & insurance coverage. Maximizes benefits to the local community. Helps eliminate poverty, meets real local needs & aspirations.
- Educational: Increases knowledge and intercultural understanding. Supports and participates in scientific research, cultural activities and heritage preservation.
AUDIT PROCESS
last revision: 15 May 2026
STAGE 1: Application & Eligibility Check
The Accommodation Owner or the head of the company that legally owns the accommodation ("Applicant") completes the Application Form. The ECOCLUB Team ("Team") decides if the Accommodation meets the Eligibility Criteria and may ask the Applicant to provide supporting evidence. If the Eligibility Criteria are met, and there is no clear indication that the Accommodation fails to meet the Impact Criteria, we proceed to step 2.
STAGE 2: Audit Questionnaire - Text
The Applicant is asked to complete the ECOCLUB Ecolodge™ Audit Questionnaire ("Questionnaire") which contains detailed questions divided into four sections corresponding to the four Impact Criteria. The Questionnaire must be completed and signed by the Applicant. It is the responsibility of the Applicant to collect all necessary information and evidence and to present it in an orderly fashion. Stage 2 involves only Text answers.
STAGE 3: Audit Quetionnaire - Photos & Videos & Clarifications
The Team reviews the Questionnaire and asks the Applicant for specific photo and video evidence as well as clarifications.
STAGE 4: Auditor Appointment & Auditor Inspection
The Team issues a call among the Professional Members of ECOCLUB for a volunteer Auditor ("Auditor"). The Auditor is ideally located as close to the Accommodation as possible, to minimise carbon footprint, and is willing to travel to the Accommodation for an inspection ("Inspection"). The Auditor reviews the evidence provided in the Questionnaire, compares it with Inspection findings and makes a detailed written recommendation ("Auditor Report") in private to the Team. Based on the Auditor Report, the Team may ask the Applicant for additional clarifications or additional pictorial and video evidence ("Additional Evidence").
STAGE 5: Audit Report Preparation
If the Team is satisfied that information provided in the previous stages is sufficient, the Team prepares the ECOCLUB Ecolodge™ Audit Report (see an example) ("Audit Report") for the Accommodation. The Team reserves the right to make edits for grammar, typos, clarity and space but will not make any enhancements or improvements. The Applicant is given a chance to review the final Audit Report for any last minute changes.
STAGE 6: Audit Report Assessment
The Team calls on the Professional Members of ECOCLUB ("The Members") to assess the Audit Report ("Assessment") as follows: each section in the Questionnaire is of equal weight. The maximum score that Members can award in each section is 4, and the minimum 0; when a criterion is fully met, 4 points are awarded, 2 points if it is partly met, and zero points if it is not at all met. The maximum total is 16 points. Members are advised to also take into consideration what is possible at this point in time in the specific destination. The Members submit their Assessment by email to the Team and an average is calculated for each Criterion. If the Applicant has achieved at least a total average of 8 points, and a minimum average of 1 points in every Criterion, the Accommodation is accepted and recognised as an ECOCLUB Ecolodge™ for 3 years. The score for each criterion and the total score is displayed at the bottom of the Audit Report. A table with Member votes is also displayed, with a reference code next to each vote, only known to the voting Member and the Team, for validation, along with the names of all Members who voted. At least 10 Members must vote before the average is calculated. The initial Assessment period lasts a month and may be extended so that at least 10 Members have participated.
IMPORTANT NOTES
1. Our Audit process is designed to be user-friendly for Applicants that really practice what they preach. On the other hand it is meant to discourage cheaters.
2. The Audit Reports of successful Applicants are permanently displayed in full detail.
3. The Audit Reports of successful Applicants will clearly state which criteria have been fully met, and which have been partly met as well as the total points awarded.
4. The ECOCLUB Ecolodge™ recognition is valid for 3 years, counted from the date of the successful completion of the Audit.
5. The ECOCLUB Ecolodge™ Listings in our Directory do not expire as long as the Ecolodge continues to be in operation under the same owner(s). The Audit reports continue to be published online irrespective of the Directory listing. A new logo can only be issued after a new, successful, Audit.
6. When there is a new ECOCLUB Ecolodge™ Audit Report for a property, the old Audit Report will also be displayed for comparison purposes.
7. Successful Applicants may request a new Audit, free of charge, at least 3 years after the previous one. Unsuccessful, eligible Applicants may also request a new Audit, free of charge, 1 year after the previous one as long as they are still eligible and significant improvements have been made. There is a maximum of three unsuccessful Audits in a row, after which no further Audit requests will be accepted.
8. Successful Applicants who wish to display a personalised ECOCLUB Ecolodge™ logo on their website, social media or other online locations should link it, or provide a link next to it, to their Audit page on Ecoclub for verification and transparency purposes.
9. We reserve the right to decline an ECOCLUB Ecolodge™ Application for any reason and/or to cancel and recall an Ecolabel and Logo if credible evidence which contradicts claims in the Application process emerges, or if improper use of the ECOCLUB Ecolodge™ logo is detected. We also reserve the right to suspend the process if there was a significant change in the business details or surrounding area circumstances (e.g. war, civil unrest or violence), or if the business ceases to operate or is sold to new owners. The new owner(s) is/are welcome to apply one full fiscal year after acquiring and operating the property.
FEES
Free of Charge.
TO APPLY
Please complete the ECOCLUB Ecolodge™ Application Form.
NB. If you really meet our criteria and you have the relevant documentation handy the whole process will be easy and quick. If you do not yet meet our criteria, please do not apply yet and focus on making the necessary changes and improvements. (If you cannot be bothered with providing the necessary documentation this free service is not for you, there are many others where you can just tick the right boxes, pay and get approved!)
Do you have any questions before applying? Would you like to recommend someone we should invite? Contact us!
Apply for the ECOCLUB Ecolodge™ Recognition