Sister hotels scoop the considerate hotel awards pool

Clare Wright of the Lancaster and Sally Beck of the Landmark

Lancaster gets two top green awards, Landmark gets green team award

The Considerate Hotel of the year award sponsored by Gilchrist & Soames Ltd., was presented to Lancaster London last Friday. The previous week the same hotel got the Green Star Award from the Green Tourism Business Scheme.

The hotel received the CHA’s highest accolade for being the best ‘all-rounder’ establishment to have been considered by the judges as having succeeded in a wide range of environmental and social initiatives – with a special emphasis this year on food waste.

The CHA judging panel were most impressed by Lancaster London’s achievements. Head Judge Professor John Forte OBE – CHA Ambassador and renowned hospitality industry environmental and food safety consultant – said: "Lancaster London has covered all the required aspects for the award in a most commendable fashion, but I was most swayed by their communication and spreading the environmental message to suppliers, guests and staff, as well as their willingness to share their experiences with their competitors."

CHA awards judge Dr Richard Swannell – Director of Design and Waste Prevention at WRAP – added: "Lancaster London performed well in a highly competitive category. They were strong in all areas, saving money and reducing environmental impact in these difficult economic times. Achieving zero waste to landfill – through waste prevention, procurement changes, re-use and recycling – was particularly impressive."

Lancaster London’s short-listed challengers for this category were: The Green House, Bournemouth; The Strand Palace Hotel, London; La Moinerie Hotel, Sark, Channel Islands; Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Great Milton, Oxfordshire; Alexandra Hotel and Restaurant , Lyme Regis, Dorset; Radisson Blu Portman Hotel, London; Crowne Plaza  London – The City; Park Plaza County Hall London; The Savoy, London; and Trenython Manor Country Estate, St Austell, Cornwall.

The Lancaster’s sister hotel – the Landmark in Marylebone won the Considerate Green Team of the Year’, sponsored for 2011/12 by Beacon Purchasing,

The award is presented to the establishment or accommodation operation that, in the opinion of the judges, has – by virtue of the work undertaken by their Green Team – made the most difference in 2011.

The Considerate Sustainable Food Award’, supported for 2011/12 by Sustain (the alliance for better food and farming) and Fairtrade, went to Montagu Arms Hotel, Beaulieu, Hampshire. The award is presented to the hotel or accommodation operation which, in the opinion of the judges, has gone ‘that extra mile’ in 2011 to support its local food producers; to produce and/or purchase ethically, seasonally and sustainably.

‘The Considerate Small Accommodation Provider of the Year Award’, sponsored for 2011/12 by Gilchrist & Soames Ltd., was won by Hotel Petit Champ, Sark, Channel Islands.

The winner of ‘The Considerate Green Champion of the Year’, sponsored for 2011/12 by GRAM UK (Commercial), was Clare Wright, Director of Procurement, Lancaster London.

The National recipient of this year’s ‘Considerate National Supplier of the Year Award’ is Sunlight textile rental and laundering service, nominated by The Strand Palace Hotel, London.

The Local recipient of this year’s ‘Considerate Local Supplier of the Year Award’  is SEM (Sark Estate Management) Market Garden

‘Best Green Marketing Initiative for 2011/12’ has been won by Lasswade Country House and Restaurant at Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys in Wales.

‘Considerate Hoteliers Lifetime Achievement Award’ was  presented to Mike LeRoy, who recently retired from being Environmental Policy Manager, Westminster City Council (WCC).

Rounding off the 2011/12 Considerate Hotel of the Year Awards was the third ever presentation of the special ‘Considerate Good Egg of the Year Award’, which this year went to Gary Lohan, Chief Engineer/Sustainability Manager, One Aldwych, London.

Commenting on Gary Lohan’s award, CHA Director and Association Secretary John Firrell said: "Gary has been at the forefront of innovative and positive thinking on the environmental front for many years. Known at One Aldwych as the ‘Green Guru’ or the ‘Hotel Hippy’, he has been instrumental in reducing energy, water and other utility costs whilst introducing equipment, programmes and procedures that apply a much lighter impact on the Earth’s valuable resources.

Summing up the success of the ‘Considerate Hotel of the Year Awards 2011/12’, John Firrell concluded: "Despite all the challenges presented by these straitened times, excellent hoteliers are combining the skills of great guest care and a strong business ethic with the application of responsible practices and initiatives. Much progress has been made and continues to be made in the field of sustainability within the hotel industry. With these practices in place, we are all winners through the efforts of these fine establishments and individuals. Guests can now book with confidence – knowing the ‘considerate’ hotelier is alive and well and, more importantly, making a difference. It makes me very proud to see what they have achieved.

"Considerate Hoteliers must now look to the future. As we look to new horizons, we hope that what to date has been consistent growth will gather pace. In keeping with our intent to represent everything a ‘considerate’ hotelier should stand for, we will be adding accessibility as a new award category in 2013. In addition, we are setting our sights on Europe and beyond. Watch this space!"

Valere Tjolle

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