A champion for eco-friendly tourism in Tobago: Shepherd’s Inn shines bright during the 2024 Blue Flag NOM

Posted Nov 14, 2024

In 2021, Shepherd’s Inn became one of the island’s pioneering properties in the prestigious Green Key programme - a leading standard for excellence in the field of environmentally responsible and sustainable tourism. Today, the hotel now stands as a beacon for eco-friendly tourism in Tobago, adopting greener practices while inspiring other properties to do the same.

Green Key and Blue Flag are two globally renowned certifications that are spearheaded by Denmark’s Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and administered in Tobago by Green T&T, in partnership with the Tobago Tourism Agency Limited (TTAL). While Green Key fosters environmentally responsible and sustainable tourism among hotels, restaurants and other tourist properties, Blue Flag pursues this cause among beaches, marinas and boats. These programmes are in keeping with the island’s brand of ‘Tobago Beyond Ordinary’, particularly Tobago’s positioning as an unspoilt and untouched Caribbean destination of unparalleled natural beauty and authenticity. In fostering a more responsible and sustainable tourism landscape, TTAL has been working actively with stakeholders such as Shepherd’s Inn to engender a greater sense of eco-consciousness across the industry while raising the standard and quality of the island’s tourism products through Blue Flag and Green Key. 

Shepherd’s Inn is one of nine properties on the island that have participated in the Green Key programme. During the 2024 Blue Flag National Operators Meeting which brought delegates from over thirty countries to the shores of Tobago from in October 2024, the hotel welcomed the stewards of the Green Key and Blue Flag programmes, including representatives from FEE, Blue Flag International and Green Key Global, for a special dinner at the property, demonstrating Tobago’s warmth, hospitality and the commitment of Shepherd’s Inn to eco-conscious tourism.

At the event, Mr. Colin Shepherd, owner of Shepherd’s Inn, expressed his appreciation for the partnership between TTAL and Green T&T in administering Green Key and Blue Flag in Tobago, both of which continue to enhance the reputation of the destination among eco-conscious travelers worldwide. Sharing his personal testimony about the Green Key programme, Mr. Shepherd also signaled his commitment to working with TTAL to bring about a safer and greener destination, adding:

“In the beginning, we saw how this programme (Green Key) can change not just the mindset of people on a whole, but all together it changed us, it changed me as an individual. Today, I am so proud that everything that I do is all about safety, about the environment…I am going to make sure that my staff and I do everything in our power to reduce our carbon footprint, conserve energy…while making sure that we introduce this programme to other people.”

From reducing the hotel’s carbon footprint through the installation of solar panels and energy saving air conditioning units, to the implementation of recycling and waste reduction systems, Mr. Shepherd continues to lead by example while encouraging his staff and colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Daniel Schaffer, Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) which leads the Green Key and Blue Flag programmes globally, commended the efforts of Mr. Shepherd at the event, saying “it is the champions that make the difference, they show us the way and pave the road…and we want to thank you for your commitment, hard work and championship to others in showing them how it can be done.”