Does the hotel employ local workers and pay them more than the minimum required by law? If a hotel doesn't pay a fair living wage, the community will derive little benefit from its presence.

Are hotel facilities ever made available to the public? Some properties make computers available to local students on weekends or exhibit the work of local artists in lobbies and other public spaces.

Does the hotel have any employee-training programs? Language instruction, food-preparation classes, and other job-related training give employees the skills they need to move up within the hotel and increase their earnings.

What local organizations does the hotel support? Donations to schools, clinics, and nongovernmental relief agencies demonstrate a commitment to the community.

To learn more about responsible tourism and hotels that are contributing to the communities in which they're located, visit rainforestalliance.com, responsibletravel.com, and sustainabletravelinternational.org.

Who's Responsible
Readers share opinions about high-priced hotels in low-income areas

Luxury hotels in poor areas should contribute to the local community:
I completely agree 58.2%
I somewhat agree 31.8%
I somewhat disagree 6.5%
I completely disagree 3.5%

Impoverished communities resent luxury hotels and the affluent travelers who stay in them:
I completely agree 10.0%
I somewhat agree 49.1%
I somewhat disagree 32.7%
I completely disagree 8.2%

Luxury hotels are already making an adequate contribution by creating employment:
I completely agree 9.9%
I somewhat agree 45.5%
I somewhat disagree 38.4%
I completely disagree 6.2%

Luxury hotels can help eliminate poverty:
I completely agree 17.4%
I somewhat agree 49.8%
I somewhat disagree 22.7%
I completely disagree 10.0%

I would be more likely to stay at a hotel or resort that supports the community than one that does not:
Completely agree 43.4%
Somewhat agree 39.5%
Somewhat disagree 11.3%
Completely disagree 5.9%

Given a choice between a luxury hotel that does not support the local population and a slightly less luxurious property that does, how much more likely would you be to choose the second option?
Much more likely 38.1%
Somewhat more likely 38.1%
Not much more likely 16.7%
Not at all more likely 7.1%