Independent UK: How green is your hotel? Now you can find out

[marmar]

How green is your hotel? Now you can find out
By Ian Herbert
Published: 13 August 2007



Amid evidence that British tourists would rather their hotel be sustainably run than have five stars, the UK tourist board VisitBritain wants to create a green marque that will endorsegenuinely green credentials.

Only 4 per cent of holidaymakers would choose to book a five-star hotel over a four-star establishment which is sustainably run, research from the Travel Foundation suggests. The clamour to know that a hotel's green claims are valid has led to VisitBritain's project, due to become a reality in the new year.

Scotland, under the aegis of the VisitScotland body, is considered to be at least five years ahead of England and Wales in its green tourism development, with sustainable "green" hotels and guest houses far easier to find. More than 700 establishments in Scotland, where VisitScotland says it aspires for carbon neutrality across all its hotels, are accredited through the Green Business Tourism Scheme (GBTS), which has become the most successful environmental accreditation body of tourism-related businesses in Europe. Although five of the nine English regions have now signed up to GBTS, only hotels in the South-west have earned accreditation in any great numbers.

To gain the coveted GTBS "leaf" branding, businesses are graded against more than 120 measures of best practice. These cover everything from efficient lighting and heating, to nature conservation, use of produce, renewable energy and community support and involvement.

But the establishment of a green standard for all British hotels may not be easy. Tourism professionals insist that there should be independent assessment rather than self-assessment to ensure the green marque is valued by consumers.

The watchdog Tourism Concern says "greenwashing" is already rife because there is no regulation of what constitutes terms such as "eco-friendly". Harold Goodwin, head of the International Centre for Responsible Tourism at the University of Greenwich, has said "ecotourism" now lacks any use as a label because "people just don't believe it". ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://environment.independent.co.uk/lifestyle/article2859083.ece