Three certifications, one commitment: a better welcome for every guest

More and more travellers choose their hotel based on their values. They want to know whether the property manages its waste responsibly, supports local businesses, and whether they will truly feel welcome, regardless of who they are. These are legitimate questions, and the answers should be clear, concrete and verifiable.

Hotel Ruby Foo’s holds three independent certifications that address exactly these questions: 5 Green Keys, Biosphere and Rainbow Registered. Each one represents a real audit conducted by an external organization, going well beyond statements of intent. Here is what they mean for you.

What you don’t see, but what matters

When you walk into your room, sustainability is not necessarily visible, and that's okay. This is where the value of a certification like Green Key lies: it confirms that the decisions made behind the scenes are serious ones. The cleaning products used throughout the hotel are environmentally-friendly. Waste sorting is integrated in the kitchen, on every floor and in common areas. Water and energy consumption are actively monitored and continuously optimized.

The bath products in our rooms are biodegradable and made in the Eastern Townships by Oneka. Our coffee capsules are selected for their recycling and composting program. Our four-season skating rink,The Shooting Stars, operates without refrigerants or water, on a fully recyclable synthetic surface lit with LEDs. We have also installed electric vehicle charging stations on site. These are deliberate operational decisions, built into how the hotel runs, not symbolic gestures.

For travellers who care about their footprint

If you track your kilometres, choose your restaurants carefully and favour local businesses over large chains, your hotel does the same. The 5 Green Keys certification is the highest level of the program, achieved by few properties in Quebec. It is validated by an independent third-party audit and reassessed every three years, ensuring the commitment does not erode over time.

For event planners and business travellers

Many organizations now have social responsibility policies that apply to their spending, including events and travel. Choosing a Green Key certified hotel means meeting those requirements directly, without having to conduct your own verification process. It also simplifies reporting for teams that track the environmental footprint of their meetings and corporate travel.

A hotel that belongs to its community

The Biosphere certification goes further than environmental management. It evaluates a property’s relationship with its broader ecosystem: local communities, suppliers, social practices and accessibility for all. It is built around the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which provide a global framework for more balanced development. In this context, a hotel is not seen as an isolated entity, but as an organization that is an active part of its neighbourhood, its city and the territory that hosts it.

We take that seriously. When guests decline daily housekeeping, we donate $5 per night to local causes. In 2025, that added up to over $5,600 distributed to four organizations: Les Petits Frères, la Société québécoise de la schizophrénie, MultiCaf and La Guignolée des médias. A small gesture on your part that translates into tangible support for the community around you.

What this means for you as a traveller

When you stay with us, your spending contributes directly to the local Montreal economy. The products you consume are sourced from local producers as a priority. The team you interact with is part of an organization that has made a deliberate choice to invest in its community. For many travellers, this is exactly the kind of distinction that tips the balance between two hotels of comparable quality.

For organizations that measure their impact

If your organization publishes a CSR report or track the impact of its travel and events, staying at a certified hotel means you can integrate those practices into your own accountability framework.

Travelling without having to wonder if you are welcome

For many 2SLGBTQI+ travellers, choosing a hotel involves an extra step: making sure the property will be genuinely welcoming. Symbols of inclusion can be reassuring, but they are not a substitute for concrete practices. The Rainbow Registered accreditation was designed to provide a reliable reference, grounded in clear policies, staff training and verified practices.

At the Ruby Foo’s, our staff receive training on welcoming and understanding the realities of 2SLGBTQI+ travellers. Our non-discrimination policies are clear, known to the entire team and integrated into our daily practices. You can arrive here with your partner, your family or on your own, knowing you will be received with the same respect and attention as every other guest.

An accreditation renewed every year

What sets Rainbow Registered apart from a simple statement of principle is its annual renewal process. The accreditation must be maintained and updated each year, which keeps properties accountable and encourages ongoing improvement rather than a one-time declaration. Hotel Ruby Foo’s is listed in the national Rainbow Registered directory, a trusted reference used by 2SLGBTQI+ travellers when planning their trips with confidence.

For teams and organizations that value inclusion

If you are organizing a team retreat, a seminar or a corporate event, the venue you choose sends a message. Ruby Foo’s allows you to welcome your colleagues in an environment where inclusion is part of the property’s verified, day-to-day practices. That matters to members of your team, and it can make a real difference in how your event is experienced.

What these three certifications have in common

All three are verified by independent organizations. They cover complementary commitments: the environment, the community and inclusion. And all three require periodic renewal, which ensures they reflect the hotel as it actually operates today, not a snapshot of the past.

For you, this simply means you do not have to take our word for it. The commitments we describe here are confirmed by external organizations that evaluate and verify our practices.

“Providing high-end services to our guests while enabling them to reduce their ecological footprint as travellers and have a positive impact on local communities through our various sustainability programs.”  — The Ruby Foo’s mission

Whether you are planning a personal stay, a business meeting or a group event, our team is available to answer any questions you may have about our sustainability practices.

Book at hotelrubyfoos.com and travel in line with your values.