UK tourism green oscars awarded

Foot Trails won the best activity provider award

Britain’s top sustainable tourism businesses honored by Green Tourism

World leading sustainable tourism accreditation programme honoured Britain’s most environmentally friendly businesses at a national awards ceremony.

The 2013 Green Tourism Goldstar Awards saw more than 2,400 contenders whittled down to a shortlist of 61 businesses nominated for 15 awards at a prestigious event in Bristol (European Green Capital 2015). Keynote speaker was international green campaigner Satish Kumar.

Now in their third year, the annual event honours those businesses and organisations that have done the most to promote sustainability within

The tourism industry by implementing cost-saving practices that help the environment, improve customer services and benefit the bottom line.

The winners of the awards were announced at the annual Green Tourism Conference held at the AT-Bristol Science Centre.

All of the finalists were chosen from over 2400 green tourism companies assessed for their innovation, cost savings and green ambassadorship during 2012-2013.

Winners of the GoldStar Awards 2013 are:

Best Activity Provider

• Goldstar winner: Foot Trails, Bath, Somerset.
• Highly commended: Slapton Ley Field Studies Centre, Kingsbridge, Devon.

Best B&B and Guest House

• Goldstar winner: Hedgehog Corner Guest Accommodation, Axminster, Devon.
• Highly commended: Upper Middle Road Farm, Brecon, Powys.

Best Holiday Park and Camping Site

• Goldstar winne: Woodovis Park, Tavistock, Devon
• Highly commended: Kelling Heath Holiday Park, Holt, Norfolk.

Best Conference Centre

• Goldstar winner: Wembley National Stadium Limited, Wembley, Middlesex.
• Highly commended: Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Edinburgh

Best Hostel and Bunkhouse

• Goldstar winner: Wern Watkin Bunkhouse, Crickhowell, Powys
• Highly commended: Fraoch Lodge, Boat of Garten, Inverness-shire.

Best Hotel

• Goldstar winner: Winford Manor, Bristol, North Somerset.
• Highly commended: Battlesteads Hotel, Hexham, Northumberland.
• Highly commended: Langdale Hotel, Ambleside, Cumbria.

Best Self-Catering Accommodation

• Goldstar winner: Banceithin Farm and Holiday Cottages, Llanon, Ceredigion.
• Highly commended: Gorge View Cottage, Cheddar,  Somerset.

Best Visitor Attraction

• Goldstar winner Scottish Crannog Centre, Loch Tay, Perthshire
• Highly commended: Highland Safaris, Aberfeldy, Perthshire.
• Highly commended: Nevis Range, Fort William, Inverness-shire.

Best Campus Accommodation

• Goldstar winner: University College Durham University, Durham, County Durham.
• Highly commended: Devonshire Hall University of Leeds, Leeds, West Yorkshire.

Best Corporate Office

• Goldstar winner: Maximillion Events, Edinburgh, Midlothian.
• Highly commended: Forest of Bowland AONB, Dunsop Bridge, Lancashire.

Best Restaurant / Café

• Goldstar winner: Gylly Beach Cafe, Falmouth, Cornwall.
• Highly commended: Drovers Rest Restaurant With Rooms & Cooking School, Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys.

Green Tourism Destination Award

• Goldstar winner: Brecon Beacons
• Highly commended: Forest of Bowland
• Highly commended: The Broads.

Tour Operator of the Year

• Goldstar winner: Rabbies Trail Burners, Edinburgh, Midlothian.
• Highly commended: Scot Mountain Holidays, Boat of Garten, Inverness-shire

Best Tourism Information Centre / Visitor Information Centre

• Goldstar winner: Once Brewed TIC, Hexham, Northumberland.
• Highly commended: Poole Tourist Information Centre, Poole, Dorset.

People’s Choice Award

• Goldstar winner: Malkin Tower Farm, Blacko, Lancashire
• Highly commended: Devonshire Hall University of Leeds, Leeds, West Yorkshire

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 were shortlisted for the Goldstar Awards this year. The finalists represent the top 3 per cent of Green Tourism businesses in the UK."

One new category introduced this year was the Green Tourism Destination Award.

Andrea Nicholas added: "We 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."

This year’s conference and awards ceremony was sponsored by Triodos Bank, Ecover, NIBE, SaveMoneyCutCarbon and Kimberly-Clark Professional.

Green Tourism, considered one of tourism’s most rigorous schemes, was launched 16 years ago and is now is the biggest of its kind in the world.  The organization has helped 10,000 businesses to improve their commitment to sustainability. It 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.

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