THREE of the world’s leading international environmentally-conscious corporations have been named as headline sponsors of the 2013 Green Tourism GoldStar Awards.
Global banking giants, Triodos; green cleaning product company, Ecover; and Kimberly-Clark Professional, the safety and hygiene product manufacturer, are supporting this year’s prestigious highpoint of the sustainable tourism industry.
The annual ceremony, now in its third year, honours those businesses and organisations that have done the most to promote sustainability within the industry by implementing cost-saving practices to help the environment, improve customer services and benefit the bottom line.
This year’s event on November 8, to be held at the AT-Bristol Science Centre, is the biggest and best yet, with 63 shortlisted finalists selected from more than 2,400 contenders vying for one of 15 coveted accolades.
The prestigious ceremony marks the highlight of a week of events across the UK to mark Green Tourism Week between November 4th and 10th, including the first ever Green Tourism Conference.
More than 250 of the UK’s leading environmentally-conscious businesses and organisations are expected to attend the seminar at the Bristol venue which will be streamed live via the internet to a global audience.
Andrea Nicholas, director of Green Tourism, said: “We are delighted that Triodos, Ecover and Kimberly-Clark Professional have agreed to sponsor the GoldStar Awards this year.
“Green Tourism is the biggest sustainable tourism accreditation programme in the world with thousands of members in the UK and an influence which stretches from central Europe and Scandinavia to Canada and New Zealand.
“We are the only certification programme independently validated by the International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT) on behalf of VisitEngland, VisitWales and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, and endorsed by VisitScotland and Failte Ireland.
“These awards are a recognition of the best of the best in Britain when it comes to creating and maintaining a thriving sustainable tourism industry. Every year, the list of entries gets longer and the task of deciding the winners more and more difficult, especially as the finalists represent the top three per cent of Green Tourism businesses in the UK.”
Triodos Bank is a global pioneer of sustainable banking with more than 30 years experience investing in and supporting positive social, environmental and cultural change.
Kate Lewis, assistant relationship manager with Triodos’ Food, Farming and Trade team, said: “Triodos is very pleased to be sponsoring the GoldStar Awards for the third year running.
“In previous years, the awards have enabled us to connect with many inspiring and like-minded businesses which has resulted in new leads for the bank.
“This year’s conference is a fantastic opportunity for us to meet more of these businesses and showcase what we do to those who don’t already know about us. We look forward to the event and the exciting prospects it will undoubtedly create.”
Steve Mitchell, UK sales manager for Ecover, said: “We are delighted to once again sponsor the GoldStar Awards and to underline and build on the partnership between Ecover and Green Tourism.
“Tourism and hospitality is a cornerstone of the UK economy and GTBS members are leading the way in showing how businesses in this vital sector can operate in a successful and sustainable way, enhancing the visitor experience whilst minimising their impact on the environment.”
His comments were echoed by Lori Shaffer, sustainability marketing manager of Kimberly-Clark Professional.
She said: “We are pleased to be working with GTBS as they have adopted a similar lifecycle approach to sustainability. Together, we can make a difference, by proactively evaluating each stage of the product/service lifecycle and identifying ways to reduce environmental impact.”
Sponsorship opportunities are still available for any green suppliers, companies, organisations that want to support the conference or the Green Tourism Awards, especially the individual categories.
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For further information on the GTBS, the GoldStar Awards and Green Tourism Week, please visit www.green-business.co.uk or www.facebook.com/greentourismweek
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Contact: Tracy Kilsby
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Website: http://www.green-business.co.uk
