Hotels are at the very heart of the tourism industry, and they have substantial influence, especially on their surroundings. The connection between the tourism industry and the environment, underscores the importance for environmental planning and sustainable tourism development.

In 2000, the Bali Hotels Association cooperated with an NGO, The Wisnu Foundation, and other authorities to produce the first localised eco-rating guide for hotels in Bali.

Bali Hotels Association took the initiative to retain the services of Bali Fokus Foundation to conduct a structured audit of the 32 member hotels in 2000-2001.

The results of this audit were communicated to each participating hotel, along with a list of recommended actions.

Following the audits a publication was compiled by Bali Fokus, funded by Bali Hotels Association, containing an Eco-Rating Guideline and "Best Practices" obtained from the surveyed hotels. This information was shared with the relevant government departments and other interested parties.

The purpose behind Bali Hotels Association's effort to make Bali the most desirable tourism destination in Asia through environmental initiatives