Lodge Membership is a unique, free promotion, support & rating package, ideally suited to communities, families, partners & individuals who own & operate small accommodation facilities and practice an ecologically & socially just Tourism. ECOCLUB.com is both an award-winning ecotourism portal (read testimonials) and a global network of real people, including leading practitioners & academics as well as key decision-makers, who believe in and work for social & ecological change through & within Tourism.

Cost: Lodge Membership for Three Years is now free of charge!

LODGE MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

A. Promotion

1. Premium listing in our Country Directory:
   A premium 100-word, prominent listing in the relevant country page, including one link, a photo or logo (80 x 60 pixels, 5 KB max) in one page of our Country Directory (example), in the "Lodge Members" or "Ecolodge Members" section (if rated, see B below). We will also include a location "pin" to pinpoint the exact location of your hotel/office on the country map of that page, with a direct link to your site. [Listing Policy]
2. Inclusion in our Professional Directory:
   Your website link and Organisation name included in our Professional Directory, with a premium 100-word profile and Logo
   (Logo dimensions 80 x 60 pixels, up to 5 KB, Link opens in new window)
3. Your lodge & website showcased (in random rotation) on our entrance page (in the "lodge members" section) with a photo (80 x 60 pixels) and a 40 word description.
4. Special "welcome" in the first available newsletter which is sent by email to our 9,000+ subscribers, with your title, location, photo and link to your website.
5. Ability to organise a public presentation about your Lodge in our Live Chat Centre (with Audio & Video & Text chat), and the presence of a Member of the ECOCLUB Team.
6. Ability to post up to 12 press releases per year (max. one per month) in our public Ecotourism Headlines (Forum & RSS)
   

B. Eco Rating

1. Be eco-rated through the unique, transparent ECOCLUB.com Rating process
   Receive a rating for your accommodation facility based on how well you match our Ecotourism criteria, a dedicated listing for your Lodge and additional promotion [Details]
   
2. Member Logo:
   A Lodge (or Ecolodge Member Logo  - if you receive a rating of 3/5 or above) for use in your website & literature.
   (logo format: jpg or gif graphic)
    
   Important: As of August 2009, an ECOCLUB.com Rating (and the display of the ECOCLUB.com Rating Logo in your website) is compulsory for all new and renewing Lodge Members. To activate (or renew) your Lodge Membership you will be asked to complete our rating questionnaire so that you undergo the ECOCLUB Rating process.

C. Information & Networking

1. Network: Unlimited networking with other verified Members in over 80 countries, for travel, business, research and more!
2. Member Directory: Build your Own Profile, Access other Member Profiles
3. Ecotourism Business Resources Access (projects, awards, consultancy opportunities) [Preview]
4. Ecotourism Real Estate Database Access (specialising in Ecolodges for sale) [Preview]
5. Ecotourism Jobs Database Access [Preview]
6. Policy Forums: Participate in our exclusive forums and discuss ecotourism policy around the world
7. Live Chat Centre Access to interact live with other Members (Text, Audio & Video!)
8. Premium Blog (3 MB) [Example]
9. Premium Photo Album (3 MB) [Example]
10. Ecotourism Library & Bibliography - Online Access, on-request, to select e-papers 

D. Premium Support & Advice

1. On-line Support: Get answers on Ecotourism-related issues at our Member Support Forum by other Members and ECOCLUB staff
2. Priority, private Email Support: Priority, private support by email on Ecotourism-related issues related to: press release editing, introductions to other members, assistance with bibliography (best practices & case studies, 'how-to' manuals, guidelines) assistance with personnel needs.
3. Complimentary Web Presence Evaluation: On request, receive an evaluation of your website & internet presence, spotting errors and offering key recommendations for improvement.

E. Awards - Micro Grants & Other

1. Eligibility for funding for your community & environmental projects through the Annual ECOCLUB.com Ecotourism Awards, only open to ECOCLUB Members!
2. Ability to make special offers to our Members.

We welcome applications from accommodation facilities* which meet the following criteria:
they are currently operating*, small-size*, locally-owned*, independent*, affordable* and accessible*.

*accommodation facilities: Lodges, Inns, Guesthouses, Camping sites, Small Hotels, providing room and board.

*currently operating: fully licensed as Accommodation facilities and in operation for the past 3 months.

*small-size: an accommodation facility that meets the following conditions: up to 30 rooms (or 30 bungalows or room for 50 tents/trailers), up to 100 beds, up to 1,500 sq. metres built up area, up to 20 employees, up to 5 hectares land area in a rural area or village (up to 0.5 ha in a city), up to up to EUR 400,000 turnover (total sales).

*locally-owned: The owner is the local community (or municipality) as a whole (by at least 50%), or a local cooperative, or a local family/couple, or an expat family/couple or group of friends or an individual as long as the owner permanently resides in the community and has done so during the past one year.

*independent: the facility is not owned or managed by a hotel chain, either a private or public chain, or owned by a company owning or managing other facilities or organising package tours (with the exception of ecotours in the vicinity of the facility). The owner does not own more than 1 accommodation facility, with the following exception: if the owner is the local community or municipality, or the properties concerned are partly-owned (by at least 50%) by the local community or municipality. In all cases, there is a maximum of 1 Lodge Membership, covering 1 Facility, per owner.

*affordable: the average double room rate per night including breakfast is not higher than Euros 100.

*accessible: up to 3km from nearest village, and accessible by public transport in cases where public transport exists.

We do not welcome applications from condo hotels, time-shares & investor schemes, villa developments, golf & luxury resorts or resorts owned by chains or multinationals, those that include or promote certain activities such as hunting or game-fishing, those that employ child-labour, exploit 'trainees' and do not provide a fair salary and working conditions.

LODGE PROFILES POLICY

After your Lodge has been rated and accepted as a Lodge Member, the profile description in your Lodge listing will be written by ECOCLUB.com, based on information provided in your blog/website and rating application. We aim to have objective and factual, informative listings rather than advertisements. ECOCLUB.com reserves the right to amend / edit all listing elements at any time and to refuse to grant Lodge Membership for any reason.

Cost: Lodge Membership for Three Years is now free of charge!

Membership Terms

Lodge Membership Terms: (1) "Lodge Membership" is a subscription service offered by our company ECOCLUB S.A. to individuals who are Lodge or small Hotel owners (hereafter Members), who agree with the ECOCLUB Philosophy and make efforts to implement it. (2) Lodge Membership Costs, Benefits and Obligations are as stated on this page, http://www.ecoclub.com/join4.html and may be amended at any time without notice (3) Membership is granted to a specific individual on the basis of 1 Lodge Membership per Lodge, and it is not transferable. You should always display the ECOCLUB.com Rating Logo in a prominent manner on the main page of your website (precise page to be determined by us) with a direct link (no scripts) to your rating page at www.ecoclub.com. You should not share your Membership password otherwise your Membership will be immediately terminated, you will be banned from future use and legal action may be pursued. (4) Members should always act in a way that enhances the unity and strength of ECOCLUB and be ready to assist other Members. (5) Members agree to indemnify ECOCLUB S.A. against any consequence resulting directly or indirectly from being a Member. (6) We make no guarantees as to the quality, non-interruption, availability, performance or benefits of this service. All our services are subject to availability. (7) Members should not compete with ECOCLUB S.A. in offering services to other Members and in particular to our Ecolodge partners, or in any other way, or offer services incompatible with the philosophy of ECOCLUB. (8). We do not guarantee any potential or speculated business profits or benefits attached to you being a Member. (9) Information that appears on the ECOCLUB.com website and email communications and in any Member sections including but not limited to the Projects, Jobs and Real Estate Databases is provided bona-fide, for your own personal and direct use only and it should not be resold in any way, re-transmitted, reproduced, broadcast or copied in any form, without written permission. Violators will be instantly and permanently banned from Membership, while legal action may also be pursued. (10) By becoming a Member you agree to receive email communications from ECOCLUB S.A. (11) You agree not to hold us responsible in relation to any damages caused by failure of participating providers to honour a "Membership Benefit" commitment, as stated at http://www.ecoclub.com/supporterben.html  (12) You are free to resign from your Membership at any time by sending an email notice to ECOCLUB SA. No refund will be made. (13) The provision of fraudulent information by you in your application form will lead to immediate termination of your Membership, with no refund. (14) Failure to meet any of these terms and conditions may lead to the immediate termination of your Membership, with no refund. (15) We may terminate your Membership for any reason and at any time. In this case, and as long as the termination is not a result of a breach of one of the above terms by you, we will refund 1/36th of your Membership Fee for every unused month of your 3 Year Membership. Refund can only be made via PayPal. (16) Upon expiry or termination of your Membership, you will immediately remove and destroy all information and promotional material that identifies you as a Member of ECOCLUB.com. (17) You agree to indemnify ECOCLUB S.A. against all claims made in relation to you or your Company. The payment of such indemnity shall not prevent us from seeking any and all damages suffered by us as a result of your illegal behaviour or breach of contract. (18) These terms can be updated and/or amended at any time by us without notification by posting at this webpage. (19) Any dispute arising from this Agreement will be referred to the Law Courts of Athens, Greece, according to the Greek Laws.

Contact us to Apply for Lodge Membership!