UK tourism ‘Green Oscars’ unveiled

Green Tourism Business Scheme to honour Britain’s most environmentally friendly businesses at a national awards ceremony to mark the culmination of Green Tourism Week.

More than 2,400 contenders whittled down to a shortlist of 63 businesses nominated for 15 awards.

Now in their third year the annual awards aim to honour those businesses and organisations that have done the most to promote sustainability within the industry by implementing cost-saving practices that help the environment, improve customer services and benefit the bottom line.

The winners of the awards will be announced at the first Green Tourism Conference to be held at the AT-Bristol Science Centre on 8th November as one of the highlights marking a week of events across the country between November 4th and 10th  to mark Green Tourism Week.

All of the finalists, which include 34 from England, 23 from Scotland, five from Wales and one from the Channel Islands, were chosen from over 2400 green tourism companies assessed for their innovation, cost savings and green ambassadorship during 2012-2013.

The categories for the GoldStar Awards 2013 include:

Best Activity Provider. Nominations: Slapton Ley Field Studies Centre, Kingsbridge, Devon. Kindrogan Field Centre, Enochdhu, Perthshire, Foot Trails, Bath, Somerset.

Best B&B and Guest House. Nominations: Tordown B&B Healing Centre, Glastonbury, Somerset. Seaview, Fionnphort, Isle of Mull. Lowthwaite B&B, Penrith, Cumbria. Upper Middle Road Farm, Brecon, Powys. Signal Rock Cottage B&B, Ballachulish, Argyll. Orchard Lodge B&B, Boscastle, Cornwall. Hedgehog Corner Guest Accommodation, Axminster, Devon.

Best Holiday Park and Camping Site. Nominations:  Kelling Heath Holiday Park, Holt, Norfolk. Glenmore Caravan & Camping Site, Aviemore, Inverness-shire. Woodovis Park, Tavistock, Devon

Best Conference Centre. Nominations: Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Edinburgh, Midlothian.Green Directions, Sheffield, South Yorkshire. Wembley National Stadium Limited, Wembley, Middlesex.

Best Hostel and Bunkhouse. Nominations: Wern Watkin Bunkhouse, Crickhowell, Powys. Fraoch Lodge, Boat of Garten, Inverness-shire. Woodland Valley Farm, Truro, Cornwall.

Best Hotel. Nominations: Strattons Hotel, Swafham, Norfolk. Isle Of Eriska, Hotel, Spa and Island, Oban, Argyll. Gleneagles Hotel, Auchterarder, Perthshire. Dixcart Hotel, Sark, Isle of Sark. Dartmouth Golf and Country Club, Dartmouth, Devon. Winford Manor, Bristol, Avon. Burleigh Court, Loughborough, Leicestershire. Battlesteads Hotel, Hexham, Northumberland. Langdale Hotel, Ambleside, Cumbria.

Best Self-Catering Accommodation. Nominations: Caldertop Cottage, Preston, Lancashire. Malkin Tower Farm, Blacko, Lancashire. Glencoe Cottages, Glencoe,  Argyll. Wheeldon Trees Farm Holiday Cottages, Buxton, Derbyshire. Gorge View Cottage, Cheddar,  Somerset. Cottage in the Dales Ltd, Leyburn, North Yorkshire. Banceithin Farm and Holiday Cottages, Llanon, Ceredigion. Coombe Farm Trust/Coombe Woodland Trust, Tiverton, Devon.

Best Visitor Attraction. Nominations: Highland Safaris, Aberfeldy, Perthshire. Waddow Lodge Garden, Clitheroe, Lancashire. Cairngorm Mountain Ltd, Aviemore, Inverness-shire. Scottish Crannog Centre, Loch Tay, Perthshire. Nevis Range, Fort William, Inverness-shire. Glenlivet Estate, Tomintoul, Banffshire. Harehope Quarry Project Ltd, Frosterley, County Durham. Romney Marsh Eco Centre and Local Nature Reserve, New Romney, Kent

Best Campus Accommodation. Nominations: Josephine Butler College, Durham, County Durham. Devonshire Hall, Leeds, West Yorkshire. University College, Durham, County Durham. University of Edinburgh Accommodation, Edinburgh, Midlothian.

Best Corporate Office. Maximillion Events, Edinburgh, Midlothian. Forest of Bowland AONB, Dunsop Bridge, Lancashire. Arnside and Silverdale AONB,  Carnforth, Lancashire. Shetland Amenity Trust, Lerwick, Shetland.

Best Restaurant / Café. Nominations: Captain’s Galley Seafood Restaurant, Scrabster, Caithness.Drovers Rest Restaurant With Rooms & Cooking School, Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys. Gylly Beach Cafe, Falmouth, Cornwall.

Tour Operator of the Year. Nominations: Scot Mountain Holidays, Boat of Garten, Inverness-shire, Rabbies Trail Burners, Edinburgh, Midlothian.

Best Tourism Information Centre / Visitor Information Centre. Nominations: Once Brewed TIC, Hexham, Northumberland. Poole Tourist Information Centre, Poole, Dorset. Crickhowell Resource and Information Centre, Powys, West Glamorgan. VisitScotland Braemar VIC, Braemar, Aberdeenshire. VisitScotland Portree VIC, Portree, Isle of Skye. VisitScotland Inverness VIC, Inverness, Inverness-shire.

There is also a People’s Choice Award and a Green Tourism Destination Award.

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 have been shortlisted for the GoldStar Awards this year out of more than 2,400 entries. The finalists represent the top 3 per cent of Green Tourism businesses in the UK."

Kate Lewis, Assistant Relationship Manager with Triodos’ Food, Farming and Trade team, said: "Triodos is very pleased to be sponsoring the GoldStar awards for the third year running.

"In previous years, the awards have enabled us to connect with many inspiring and like-minded businesses which has resulted in new leads for the bank.

"This year’s conference is a fantastic opportunity for us to meet more of these businesses and showcase what we do to those who don’t already know about us. We look forward to the event and the exciting prospects it will undoubtedly create."

Valere Tjolle

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