Eco hotel of the year unveiled

London half a million honey bee hotel named in the AA Awards

Lancaster London has been named “Eco Hotel of the Year” at the AA Awards 2011-2012,

The award follows a long succession of eco-initiatives from Lancaster London, whose motto is “to walk softly on the planet.”  In 2009, the hotel became the first in London to install half a million honey bees on its roof as a response to the decline in the numbers of British honey bees. 

This year the hotel is stepping up its crusade by hosting the first “London Honey Show” on 10 October 2011. 

Other initiatives that impressed the judges included the hotel cutting its landfill waste by 50% and a reformed purchasing policy.  The recent £10 million refurbishment encompasses state-of-the-art equipment in the kitchens, with a specific focus on becoming as green as possible.  For example, dishwashers with integral heat exchanger pumps, which reheat the water coming into the machines thereby saving energy. 

Lancaster London actively encourages guests to engage in eco-friendly practices, from reminders to turn off taps, to providing jogging maps of Hyde Park.  The hotel has also been heavily involved with local charities including raising £2,443 for the homeless campaign SleepSmart, £1,447.62 for Hospitality Action, and £3,280 for Let’s Go Let’s Grow, in the past 12 months.

The Eco Hotel of the Year Award is the result of a team effort.  The “Environmental Task Force” or “Green Team”, first established in 2005, hold monthly meetings to constantly track and improve the hotel’s progress.  Staff members from each department are involved in this process to ensure a consistent effort throughout the hotel.  Annual “Green Days” are held to keep staff motivated and engaged, and all new staff members receive specific training on the hotel’s green policies.

General Manager Stephen Kyjak-Lane said: “Our team works hard to achieve the highest levels of environmentally friendly practices, and there is an increasing commitment from our guests. We are incredibly proud that our passion and commitment to environmental practices has been recognised.  We are all determined to continue making progress with future eco projects including the introduction of “intelligent bedrooms”, and developing our bee colonies.”

Valere Tjolle
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