A SUSTAINABLE tourism accreditation programme is to honour Britain’s most environmentally-friendly businesses at a prestigious national awards ceremony to mark the culmination of Green Tourism Week.
This 2013 Green Tourism GoldStar Awards are the biggest and best yet with more than 2,400 contenders whittled down to a shortlist of 63 businesses nominated for 15 awards.
Says a spokesperson: “Now in their third year, the annual awards aim to honour those businesses and organisations that have done the most to promote sustainability within the industry by implementing cost-saving practices that help the environment, improve customer services and benefit the bottom line.
“The winners of the awards will be announced at the first Green Tourism Conference to be held at the AT-Bristol Science Centre on 8th November as one of the highlights marking a week of events across the country between November 4th and 10th to mark Green Tourism Week.
“All of the finalists, which include 34 from England, 23 from Scotland, five from Wales and one from the Channel Islands, were chosen from over 2400 green tourism companies assessed for their innovation, cost savings and green ambassadorship during 2012-2013.”
The categories for the GoldStar Awards 2013 include:
Best Activity Provider
Best B&B and Guest House
Best Holiday Park and Camping Site
Best Conference Centre
Best Hostel and Bunkhouse
Best Hotel
Best Self-Catering Accommodation
Best Visitor Attraction
Best Campus Accommodation
Best Corporate Office
Best Restaurant / Café
People’s Choice Award
Green Tourism Destination Award
Tour Operator of the Year
Best Tourism Information Centre / Visitor Information Centre
Andrea Nicholas, director of Green Tourism, said: “The GoldStar Awards are a recognition of the best of the best in Britain when it comes to creating and maintaining a thriving sustainable tourism industry.
“A record number of 63 green tourism businesses from across the UK have been shortlisted for the GoldStar Awards this year out of more than 2,400 entries. The finalists represent the top three per cent of green tourism businesses in the UK.”
One new category introduced this year is the Green Tourism Destination Award.
Andrea Nicholas added: “We have introduced the Green Tourism Destination Award this year as we find the support and commitment of the destination organisations so important for encouraging businesses and promoting green tourism to their visitors. We wanted to be able to highlight some of the excellent activities and projects that have been rolled out in these destinations.”
Satish Kumar, editor of Resurgence and Ecologist magazine, is the keynote speaker at this year’s awards ceremony, which is sponsored by Triodos Bank, Ecover and Kimberly-Clark Professional.
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.”
Green Tourism was launched 16 years ago and is now recognised as the biggest of its kind in the world, having helped nearly 10,000 businesses improve their commitment to sustainability.
Says a spokesperson: “It is considered one of the most rigorous of its kind and is 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.
“The organisation has become a world leader in highlighting the importance of protecting environments, respecting local cultures, supporting communities, conserving natural resources and minimising pollution.”
Steve Mitchell, UK sales manager for Ecover, said the bank was delighted to once again sponsor the Goldstar Awards and to underline and build on the partnership between Ecover and Green Tourism.
He said: “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 fellow sponsor Kimberly-Clark Professional.
Lori Shaffer, sustainability marketing manager for the company, 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.”
Ends
Note to Editors.
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
The nominations for each category are:
Best Activity Provider
Slapton Ley Field Studies Centre, Kingsbridge, Devon
Kindrogan Field Centre, Enochdhu, Perthshire
Foot Trails, Bath, Somerset
Best B&B
Tordown B&B Healing Centre, Glastonbury, Somerset
Seaview, Fionnphort, Isle of Mull
Lowthwaite B&B, Penrith, Cumbria
Upper Middle Road Farm, Brecon, Powys
Signal Rock Cottage B&B, Ballachulish, Argyll
Orchard Lodge B&B, Boscastle, Cornwall
Hedgehog Corner Guest Accommodation, Axminster, Devon
Best Campus Accommodation
Josephine Butler College, Durham, County Durham
Devonshire Hall, Leeds, West Yorkshire
University College, Durham, County Durham
University of Edinburgh Accommodation, Edinburgh, Midlothian
Best Conference / Event Venue
Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Edinburgh, Midlothian
Green Directions, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Wembley National Stadium Limited, Wembley, Middlesex
Best Corporate Office
Maximillion Events, Edinburgh, Midlothian
Forest of Bowland AONB, Dunsop Bridge, Lancashire
Arnside and Silverdale AONB, Carnforth, Lancashire
Shetland Amenity Trust, Lerwick, Shetland
Best Holiday Park
Kelling Heath Holiday Park, Holt, Norfolk
Glenmore Caravan & Camping Site, Aviemore, Inverness‐shire
Woodovis Park, Tavistock, Devon
Best Hostel
Wern Watkin Bunkhouse, Crickhowell, Powys
Fraoch Lodge, Boat of Garten, Inverness‐shire
Woodland Valley Farm, Truro, Cornwall
Best Hotel
Strattons Hotel, Swafham, Norfolk
Isle Of Eriska, Hotel, Spa and Island, Oban, Argyll
Gleneagles Hotel, Auchterarder, Perthshire
Dixcart Hotel, Sark, Isle of Sark
Dartmouth Golf and Country Club, Dartmouth, Devon
Winford Manor, Bristol, Avon
Burleigh Court, Loughborough, Leicestershire
Battlesteads Hotel, Hexham, Northumberland
Langdale Hotel, Ambleside, Cumbria
Best Restaurant / Café
Captain’s Galley Seafood Restaurant, Scrabster, Caithness
Drovers Rest Restaurant With Rooms & Cooking School, Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys
Gylly Beach Cafe, Falmouth, Cornwall
Best Self‐Catering Provider
Caldertop Cottage, Preston, Lancashire
Malkin Tower Farm, Blacko, Lancashire
Glencoe Cottages, Glencoe, Argyll
Wheeldon Trees Farm Holiday Cottages, Buxton, Derbyshire
Gorge View Cottage, Cheddar, Somerset
Cottage in the Dales Ltd, Leyburn, North Yorkshire
Banceithin Farm and Holiday Cottages, Llanon, Ceredigion
Coombe Farm Trust/Coombe Woodland Trust, Tiverton, Devon
Best Tour Operator
Scot Mountain Holidays, Boat of Garten, Inverness‐shire
Rabbies Trail Burners, Edinburgh, Midlothian
Best TIC / VIC
Once Brewed TIC, Hexham, Northumberland
Poole Tourist Information Centre, Poole, Dorset
Crickhowell Resource and Information Centre, Powys, West Glamorgan
VisitScotland Braemar VIC, Braemar, Aberdeenshire
VisitScotland Portree VIC, Portree, Isle of Skye
VisitScotland Inverness VIC, Inverness, Inverness‐shire
Best Visitor Attraction
Highland Safaris, Aberfeldy, Perthshire
Waddow Lodge Garden, Clitheroe, Lancashire
Cairngorm Mountain Ltd, Aviemore, Inverness‐shire
Scottish Crannog Centre, Loch Tay, Perthshire
Nevis Range, Fort William, Inverness‐shire
Glenlivet Estate, Tomintoul, Banffshire
Harehope Quarry Project Ltd, Frosterley, County Durham
Romney Marsh Eco Centre and Local Nature Reserve, New Romney, Kent
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Contact: Tracy Kilsby
Email: kilsbytracy@gmail.com
Website: http://www.green-business.co.uk
