Green tourism week begins

The Green Tourism Business Scheme is to recognize its highest achievers of the last 12 months with new categories of awards as part of its Green Tourism Week awareness campaign (21-27 May 2012) http://www.green-business.co.uk

"We wanted an opportunity to reward our best businesses and provide an opportunity for others to aspire to achieve the highest standards at the Gold level of the GTBS." Says Andrea Nicholas, Manager of GTBS. "It is a testament to the commitment of the shortlisted businesses and the success of the advice and support provided by the programme that over 50% of them have been a Gold member for more than 5 years and 30% for over 3 years."

"Following the success of our inaugural Green Tourism Week in 2011, there has been significant interest for this year and we hope to widen the scope and profile of the week by inviting the general public to vote for The People’s Choice award"

The Green Tourism Business Scheme is the only tourism certification program in the UK endorsed by VisitEngland, VisitScotland and VisitWales and has been validated by the International Centre for Responsible Tourism since 2008.

Operated by a not-for-profit organisation, Green Business, there are over 2,400 GTBS members through the UK and Ireland. Businesses are graded by qualified environmental assessors and can benefit from significant marketing advantage and reduced running costs of up to 20%. www.green-business.co.uk

The Green Tourism Business Scheme recognised the greenest businesses in the UK with Goldstar Awards announced during Green Tourism Week (21-27 May 2012). The leading eco-label, which features over 2400 members in the UK and Ireland, is organising the week to highlight the bottom-line benefits of green-mindedness to tourism businesses.

A total of eight GoldStar Awards will be presented to those companies who have demonstrated the highest levels of green ambassadorship, innovation and cost savings over the last year. The eight GoldStar categories are for Greenest Activity Centre, Greenest B&B and Guest House, Greenest Hostel and Bunkhouse, Greenest Holiday Park and Camping Site, Greenest Conference Venue, Greenest Hotel, Greenest… Visitor Attraction and Greenest Self-catering. The judging panel for the Goldstar awards will include experts in the field of Sustainable Tourism and will be announced shortly.

A ninth award "The People’s Choice" will be presented to the shortlisted business that achieves the highest number of votes from the general public.

The shortlist has been compiled from the highest scoring Gold graded businesses from 2011 representing the greenest 2% of the total GTBS membership. The awards will be announced at a ceremony to be held in Edinburgh on Friday 25th May.

Valere Tjolle

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