Travel Green Wisconsin
From cost savings and increased marketing opportunities to providing a positive environmental impact and supporting local businesses, the benefits of being Travel Green Wisconsin certified are abundant.
New! Revised TGW Application with Online Capability
Travel Green Wisconsin continues to push forward with programmatic improvements. Our newest includes a revised and updated TGW application that flows more smoothly and is faster to complete thanks to online capability. The application can now be filled out, saved, and submitted online, keeping with the program's mission to reduce waste and meet industry requests. In addition to making the application computer friendly, other revisions include elevating innovation points and the ability to receive certification points for supporting other programs with similar interests, such as UW's Green Masters program and the DNR's Endangered Resources program. We have also brought more focus on agricultural and culinary tourism as these areas are growing and have a strong tie to green travel.
The revision was completed through valuable input provided by the industry, existing members, the DNR, and the Travel Green Wisconsin Committee. We're excited to share the new application, we believe it is more clear, inspiring, and of course easier to complete. We have provided more tools and resources as well as ideas for how to acquire points. In particular, we are making a stronger push for Innovation Points as those tend to showcase the impressive creativity of our industry, and we've put more emphasis on Local Community Benefits so members can better support local businesses.
You can download the new TGW application from this page; all program materials are located at the upper right under Program Downloads. Sign up, get Certified, enjoy the rewards!
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Newly Reduced Fee for Travel Green Wisconsin!
As we continually strive to improve and enhance Travel Green Wisconsin, we have implemented a new fee structure for Travel Green Wisconsin certification, effective January 1, 2012. For all new applications, regardless of size or number of employees, there is now a flat fee of $95. Renewals will occur every other year, instead of every year, for a flat fee of $75. It is now less than $50/year to become certified, and the promotional benefits have also improved!
This is a substantial savings for both new and renewing businesses and addresses the #1 obstacle that prevented more tourism businesses from participating in the certification. The new fee structure was adopted after a focus group of sustainable tourism leaders met to provide the Department with input and recommendations. So now is truly the best time to join the ranks and become Travel Green Wiscsonsin certified!
Online TGW Renewals Now Available
We are excited to announce that Travel Green Wisconsin members can now renew their certification online. Members requested the renewal be made available online rather than as a pdf. We listened. Click the link above and to the right under Program Downloads, TGW Online Renewal Form and a suvery will come up. Your information will automatically be submitted to the Department. We are also continuing to offer renewals via a PDF version, just keep in mind you can not save if you get interupted. Just one more way we're making it the best time to become TGW certified!
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What is Travel Green Wisconsin?
Travel Green Wisconsin is a voluntary, affordable certification that reviews, certifies, and recognizes tourism businesses that have made a commitment to continuously improve their operations in order to reduce their environmental impact. This certification program allows tourism businesses to evaluate their operations, set goals, and take specific actions towards environmental, social, and economic sustainability. To be certified as a Travel Green Wisconsin business, complete the online TGW Application Form located to the right under Program Downloads. On average, it takes less than 2 hours to complete the application.
How does a business become TGW certified?
To be certified as a Travel Green Wisconsin business, you will need to complete the application (link found above right).
The application contains Basic Requirements and nine different sections:
A. Communication and Education (Customers, Employees, Public) 7 Points Required
B. Waste Reduction, Reuse, and Recycling
C. Energy Efficiency, Conservation, and Management
D. Water Conservation and Wastewater Management
E. Air Quality
F. Wildlife and Landscape Conservation and Management
G. Transportation
H. Purchasing
I. Local Community Benefits
To qualify for certification, each applicant must earn a minimum of 35 points from the application. First, the applicant must fulfill the Basic Requirements and must meet the minimum point requirements in Section A, Communication (7 points). The remaining 30 points can be earned from any combination of additional application sections.
To receive points, the business may check the examples listed in each category and describe an innovative best practice that is not listed. By checking the box, the business is either stating that they have already implemented the practice or are making a commitment to implement it. If they are committing to implement the practice it must be within 6 months of submitting the application. Applicants are encouraged to go above and beyond the minimum point total to achieve further sustainability. After the application is completed, the applicant should make a copy for their own use and mail the original along with the certification fee to the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, attn: Travel Green Wisconsin.
Applications will be reviewed on a first come first served basis and the applicant will be notified about their certification status within 5 weeks. Certified businesses receive the Travel Green Wisconsin logo to use in promotional materials, added marketing benefits, and Web site listings. Certification is valid for a two-year period from the date of issuance.
Why apply?
• Becoming Travel Green Wisconsin certified can improve your overall bottom line through utility savings.
Certification reaches an increasingly popular traveler demographic that includes travelers looking to stay, eat and visit places where “going green” is truly important.
• AAA Wisconsin recognizes TGW certification and includes the TGW symbol in its guides.
• There are numerous marketing benefits including: regular promotion in Department marketing initiatives, inclusion of the TGW symbol on directory listings, travel items at TravelWisconsin.com and in Department publications, online advertising, and promotion of the program through the Secretary’s presentations.
• Travel Green Wisconsin is designed to give the state and hospitality business participants a marketing edge, promote smart business practices, reduce costs and energy consumption, educate travelers and employees, preserve our resources, support the Wisconsin brand, and protect the beauty and vitality of Wisconsin’s landscape.
• The peace of mind and satisfaction that you are doing the right thing by protecting and preserving Wisconsin’s natural resources.
History of TGW
In 2005, the Department of Tourism created a Sustainable Tourism Ad Hoc Committee of leaders representing tourism industries, non-profit organizations and government agencies with the mission of helping tourism organizations adopt more sustainable business practices. Travel Green Wisconsin launched as a pilot program in 2006 in several key communities where tourism businesses went through the certification process and provided feedback used to fine-tune program elements. The program was introduced statewide in 2007. Currently over 345 Wisconsin tourism businesses and organizations have been certified as Travel Green Wisconsin businesses.
Frequently Asked Questions