Want to Become an Ocean Friendly Hotel?

*Notwithstanding the mandatory criteria, the Surfrider Foundation maintains full discretion to exclude a hotel for any reason, including that a hotel's facility and/or operations violate Surfrider Foundation's mission or any one of its five primary initiatives. While the Ocean Friendly Hotels program is primarily focused on reducing plastic pollution, if a hotel property conflicts with any Surfrider initiative, including but not limited to Surfrider's coasts and climate initiative, beach preservation policy, beach access, and policy on artificial reefs, Surfrider in its sole discretion may exclude the hotel from the program, at any time.

A small fee is required to join the Ocean Friendly Hotels Program and receive incredible member benefits like marketing collateral, access to national vendor discounts, and association with a nationally recognized nonprofit.

The program fee is based on the size of the hotel:

Very small (0-10 rooms): $150
Small (11-25 rooms): $275
Medium (26-100 rooms): $450
Large (101-300 rooms): $625
Very large (301 rooms & above): $800

An Ocean Friendly Hotel membership is good for 1 year and requires annual renewal.

Ocean Friendly Hotels marketing collateral including signage and table tents.
Use of Ocean Friendly Hotels logos for websites and other hotel marketing materials.
Hotel listed on Surfrider national and chapter websites.
Hotel included in Ocean Friendly Hotels national map on Surfrider national website.
Launch parties with your nearest Surfrider chapter.
Access to national vendor discounts on sustainable restaurant and to-go products.
Tax-deductible donation opportunity.
Association with a nationally recognized nonprofit with thousands of members and supporters working hard to keep our ocean healthy and protected!

Hotel Benefits

Ocean Friendly Hotels marketing collateral including signage and table tents.
Use of Ocean Friendly Hotels logos for websites and other hotel marketing materials.
Hotel listed on Surfrider national and chapter websites.
Hotel included in Ocean Friendly Hotels national map on Surfrider national website.
Launch parties with your nearest Surfrider chapter.
Access to national vendor discounts on sustainable restaurant and to-go products.
Tax-deductible donation opportunity.
Association with a nationally recognized nonprofit with thousands of members and supporters working hard to keep our ocean healthy and protected!

Plastic is a problem before it reaches the beach. Extraction, production, consumption, and disposal all carry serious environmental and humanitarian consequences. Single-use plastic is particularly detrimental as bags, bottles, straws, expanded polystyrene foam, and food wrappers consistently top the list of items our volunteers collect at cleanups. Researchers estimate up to 11 million metric tons of plastic waste is entering the ocean every year and that by 2025, 11 billion metric tons will have accumulated in the environment.* This pollution is impacting our marine ecosystems and wildlife including seabirds, dolphins, fish, turtles, and whales. Plastic fragments are even displacing plankton as the base of the food chain. It's not just ocean life at stake - plastic contains toxic chemicals that can transfer from containers, cups, cutlery, and straws directly into the food we eat. Not to mention the hundreds of thousands of microplastics we're exposed to on a daily basis through our food, water, and air.* *sources can be found on Beachapedia

While the problem may be complex, the solution is simple - we need to stop plastic at the source! The Surfrider Foundation’s Ocean Friendly Hotels program does just that. We recognize hotels that are committed to cutting out wasteful single-use plastic and offer a simple, straightforward framework to help them make sustainable choices for our ocean. The result is a community of like-minded hotels that we can promote, support, and lift up as examples of success to influence plastic reduction legislation. The larger we grow our network of Ocean Friendly leaders, the more mainstream the concept of plastic-free becomes.

Bars
Cafe/Bistro
Cafeteria/Dining Hall
Fast Casual
Fast Food / Takeout
Fine Dining
Food Trucks

star_border: Denotes a Platinum Level Ocean Friendly Restaurant that meets all of our program's criteria.

Restaurant Information

{{ highlighted['ocean_friendly_business_name'] }} starPlatinum Level

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Ocean Friendly Practices

check_circle_outline Only reusable foodware is used for onsite dining. info
check_circle_outline Paper straws are provided only upon request. info
check_circle_outlineNo expanded polystyrene use (aka Styrofoam™).
check_circle_outlineNo plastic bags are used for takeout or to-go orders.
check_circle_outlineSingle-use utensils, straws, condiments, and other accessory items are provided only upon request for takeout and to-go orders.
check_circle_outlineBeverages are not sold in plastic bottles.
check_circle_outlineProper recycling practices are followed.

Additional Ocean Friendly Practices

check_circle_outlineA discount is offered for customers with a reusable item (e.g. cup, container, bag).
check_circle_outlineVegetarian and vegan food options are offered on a regular basis.
check_circle_outlineAll seafood is ‘Best Choice’ or ‘Good Alternative’ as defined by Seafood Watch, or no seafood is served.
check_circle_outlineWater conservation and pollution mitigation efforts are implemented.*
check_circle_outlineEnergy efficiency efforts are in place.**
check_circle_outlineConcessions and pre-packaged food items are not sold in plastic packaging.
check_circle_outlineComposting efforts are in place for food waste.
check_circle_outlineNeither single-use plastic nor bio-based plastic containers are used for takeout or to-go orders, reusable containers are preferred.

Mandatory Criteria
All 7 Required

No plastic beverage bottles or plastic bags are sold or used onsite.
No expanded polystyrene is used anywhere onsite (aka Styrofoam).
Cups, utensils, straws, condiments, and other accessory items in rooms are reusable or made from naturally occuring materials and are not packaged in plastic.¹
Toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, lotion, etc.) are not packaged in small plastic bottles.²
Water refill stations are available for guests onsite.
If applicable, restaurants or cafes onsite are Surfrider Ocean Friendly Restaurants.³
Proper solid waste recycling procedures are followed and bins are amply provided for guest use.

Optional Criteria
Choose At Least 3

Coffee and tea stations do not use single-use pods or plastic packaging in rooms.⁴
Concessions and pre-packaged food items are not sold or distributed in plastic packaging, including in room mini bars.
Room keys are reusable or made from naturally occuring materials.
Energy efficiency efforts are in place.⁵ At minimum, rooms must have signage that reminds guests to turn off lights and air/heat when leaving the rooms.
Water conservation and pollution mitigation efforts are implemented.⁶ At minimum, rooms must have signage which asks guests to consider using their towels and linens more than once in the rooms.
Inspired by Surfrider Kauai Chapter’s Ocean Friendly Visitors Program, solo trash cleanup kits are available for guests.
Onsite gift shops only sell or provide sunscreen that is reef friendly.⁷
Light pollution is minimized by all outdoor lighting following Dark Sky practices.⁸
Hotel landscaping follows Surfrider's Ocean Friendly Garden Program criteria or there is an Ocean Friendly Garden onsite.⁹

A small fee is required to join the Ocean Friendly Hotels Program and receive incredible member benefits like marketing collateral, access to national vendor discounts, and association with a nationally recognized nonprofit.

The program fee is based on the size of the hotel:
- Very small (0-10 rooms): $150
- Small (11-25 rooms): $275
- Medium (26-100 rooms): $450
- Large (101-300 rooms): $625
- Very large (301 rooms & above): $800
- Ocean Friendly Hotels marketing collateral including signage and table tents.
- Use of Ocean Friendly Hotels logos for websites and other hotel marketing materials.
- Hotel listed on Surfrider national and chapter websites.
- Hotel included in Ocean Friendly Hotels national map on Surfrider national website.
- Launch parties with your nearest Surfrider chapter.
- Access to national vendor discounts on sustainable restaurant and to-go products.
- Tax-deductible donation opportunity.
- Association with a nationally recognized nonprofit with thousands of members and supporters working hard to keep our ocean healthy and protected!

Want to Become an Ocean Friendly Hotel?

How To Participate

No plastic bottles or bags used onsite

No expanded polystyrene use (aka Styrofoam)

No mini toiletry bottles

Restaurants onsite are Ocean Friendly Restaurants

Water refill stations are available

Proper recycling practices are followed

Foodware and accessories in rooms are reusable or made from naturally occuring materials and are not packaged in plastic

No single-use coffee or tea pods

Pre-packaged items not sold in plastic

Energy efficiency efforts in place

Trash cleanup kits available

Minimal outdoor light pollution

Ocean Friendly Garden onsite

Rooms keys are reusable or made from natural materials

Onsite gift shops sell reef-friendly sunscreen

Water conservation and pollution mitigation efforts are implemented

Explore Our Quick Guide

Explore Our Quick Guide

Hotels that meet all of the criteria are recognized as a Platinum Level Ocean Friendly Hotel!

Program Fee

Hotel Benefits

Do you own or manage a hotel that you would like to signup as an Ocean Friendly Hotel?

Stop Plastic Pollution At The Source

Find an Ocean Friendly Restaurant Near You

505 restaurants and counting!

Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

Interested in becoming a Surfrider Ocean Friendly Hotel Member?

Are you located in the Great Lakes region?

Want to learn more about the program?