Considerate hotelier winners unveiled

Green House Hotel wins top award

Considerate Hoteliers and Suppliers gathered at The Landmark Hotel, London to celebrate the best in environmental, sustainable and socially responsible performance within the UK’s and also for the first time within the International hotel industry.

The 2013 winners of the nine categories of the prestigious annual Considerate Hoteliers (CH) ‘Hotel of the Year Awards’ – were honored during a Gala lunch highlighting each and everyone’s efforts and initiatives in all areas ‘considerate’.

Out of all the many applications received the judges, who included personalities from all different kinds of sectors within the hotel as well as sustainability arena, had a hard time in choosing the winners as all of them merit recognition for their hard work.

Considerate Hotel of the Year 2013 – The Green House, Bournemouth. Highly commended – The Soho Hotel, London and Trenython Manor, Cornwall

The other nominees were Cavendish London; Draycott, London, Landmark London, Park Plaza County Hall London, Strand Palace, London and The Lovat, Scotland. The category was sponsored by Veolia Environmental Services.

The Green House is an independent luxury 4 star eco hotel, with 32 guest rooms, restaurant, bar and private event facilities. The hotel opened in July 2010 following an 18 month refurbishment of an existing Grade II listed building. Throughout the refurbishment, and since the hotel opening, the environmental impact of every decision has been taken into account. The Green House features many measures and green initiatives including seasonal, local and organic food, an onsite herb garden and soft fruit bushes, honey from its two rooftop beehives, on site EV charger, and Energy Saving Trust certified kettles. Through its energy saving lighting, solar thermal panels and combined heat and power unit, it has significantly reduced electricity (by 6.8% during 2011-2012 and gas use (by 8%). The Green House has also significant measures to reduce waste; total waste per guest was reduced by 7% and only 0.4% of total waste went to landfill during 2011-2012.

Each department is represented by a nominated Green Champion as part of the Green Team, which meets monthly to review progress that has been made against the targets in our annual Environmental Report, and offer suggestions for continuous improvement. As well as purchasing locally, the hotel engages with local schools and the community, including joining forces with the Green Knowledge Network, Bournemouth Accommodation and Hospitality Association and BH Live to promote Bournemouth as a sustainable destination, hosting a free Smarter Business Practices workshop for local businesses as well as a Green Wedding Fayre, which included organic cotton and "recycled" wedding dresses, eco wedding stationary, UK wine producers, and "green gift" ideas. The Green House is a perfect location for an eco wedding on the beach, as Bournmouth beach has the only licensed beach hut in the UK.

The Considerate Small Accommodation Provider of the Year – Bryn Elltyd Eco Guest House, Snowdonia, Wales – a beacon of sustainability at the foot of Snowdon. Has to be seen to be believed! When you are next in the area drop by and see what John and Ceilia Whitehead have achieved in their 6 years of ownership. Award sponsored by Beacon.

The Considerate Green Team of the Year – The Savoy, London (Sponsored by Beacon). Debra Patterson and her Green Team have continued to build on the Savoy’s born-again sustainability agenda and sets the pace for others in the luxury sector to follow suit

The Considerate Green Champion of the Year – Dave Bell, Chief Engineer, Park Plaza Westminster Bridge (Sponsored by Gram, UK). Due reward and recognition for Dave’s hard work over many years, much of it with Park Plaza who continue to blaze a trail towards sustainability.

The Considerate Sustainable Food Award – Montagu Arms, Beaulieu (supported by Sustain). The Montagu Arms who also won this category last year braved the possibility of not winning this year by entering again. Despite being pushed hard by The Cavendish London, they emerged triumphed. Congratulations to Executive Chef Matthew Tomkinson and the support of all at the Montagu Arms ably headed by manager Sunil Kanjanghat.

The Considerate International Hotel of the Year – The Axel Hotel Guldsmeden, Copenhagen, Denmark (Sponsored by Gilchrist & Soames). A chance for our international colleagues to show their mettle and the Axel Hotel were the first winners of this award which is clearly going to be hotly contested in years to come.

The Considerate Accessible Hotel of the Year – Four Seasons London at Park Lane. This hotel braved a mystery shop visit by Arnold Fewell last year and came up smelling of roses. It repeated that success as the winner of this inaugural category by showing it really cares for all.

The Considerate Green Suppliers of the Year – National: Vertue (Beds). Local: Foodspeed Ltd. The first priority of a decent accommodation establishment is to provide a comfortable bed. If it ticks all the environmental boxes then you have the perfect bed and Vertue seems to have made a virtue out of producing that perfection. Foodspeed have been providing London hotels with diary produce that have sound eco-credentials for many years, now recognized by a Royal Warrant and further enhanced by winning the local supplier category at our awards.

Best Green/Considerate Marketing Initiative – Trenython Manor Hotel, Cornwall. Nick Waddington and his team have created a wildlife haven in the depths of Cornwall that serves as a learning platform for the families that come and stay at Trenython. It’s fun, it’s considerate, it’s educational and it works! (Sponsored by Gram, UK).

Additionally the special award ‘The Considerate Good Egg’ in the form of an Emu’s egg in a locally crafted English oak egg cup was presented to Richard Slade, owner of Battlestead’s Hotel & Restaurant in Northumberland. Battlesteads was also the Considerate Hotel of the Year in 2011.This award recognizes those in the hospitality business who have inspired and encouraged others to embrace certain principles of life relating to environmental, sustainable and socially responsible performance. Richard joins previous "Egg" winners, Raymond Blanc OBE, Vanessa Scott (Strattons) and Gary Lohan (One Aldwych).

Valere Tjolle

SUSTAINABLE/REAL TOURISM INFORMATION & OFFERS HERE