Green Tourism

A growing number of hotels are now aiming for accreditation with the prestigious Green Tourism Business Scheme.

Earlier this year, two hotels secured the coveted silver award for their commitment to sound environmental practices, demonstrated in the way they runs their business - the Macdonald Holyrood Hotel in Edinburgh and Gisborough Hall, in North Yorkshire. Properties that already hold a Green Tourism award include The Highland Hotel, The Academy Hotel, and the luxury Macdonald Highland Lodges within the Macdonald Aviemore Highland Resort in the Cairngorms.

The prestigious Green Tourism Business Scheme evaluates a number of areas such as:

• energy saving
• waste reduction
• how they communicate environmental actions to customers
• purchasing policy - ensuring they use environmentally friendly goods and services
• transport - minimising visitors' car use by promoting public transport, cycle hire and walking options
• the business' impact on wildlife - on site measures aimed at increasing biodiversity

Both hotels gained a credit in every section of the strict criteria.

Macdonald Gisborough Hall Hotel, a 71-bedroomed four star country house manor hotel, particularly impressed judges of the Green Tourism Business Scheme in the areas of energy saving and improved marketing and management with an eye to environmental issues. They also gained full marks for energy - very important as this is where most of the CO2 is generated within the hotel industry.

The 156-bedroomed four star Macdonald Holyrood hotel particularly impressed judges of the Green Tourism Business Scheme in the areas of energy saving, the in-house 'Green Team', and improved marketing and management with an eye to environmental issues.

One of only four hotels in Edinburgh and the Lothians to secure the prestigious Silver Star, The Macdonald Holyrood Hotel is committed to being a green, environmentally friendly hotel and reducing its carbon footprint.

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