Three properties in Northern Ireland’s collection of hotels have received Silver Awards in Green Tourism.
The Grand Central Hotel (pictured), Europa Hotel and Stormont Hotel, part of Hastings Hotels, have each received Silver Awards for Green Tourism. The Europa Hotel has also been awarded Silver accreditation for Green Meetings.
Setting new standards
Green Tourism promotes greener ways for businesses and organisations to operate and the awards certification programme recognises the commitment of tourism businesses which are actively working to become more sustainable. The Green Meetings accreditation has recently been introduced as a new standard specific to meetings and events venues.
What the report had to say
The Silver Awards are in recognition of the work and extensive sustainability initiatives and policies Hastings Hotels has implemented.
This includes: the introduction of environmentally friendly guest amenities including the replacement of plastic water bottles in guest bedrooms with sustainable water containers and the use of environmentally friendly cleaning chemicals.
Internal and external lighting has also been replaced with LED and 100% of food waste diverted from landfill and is transported to anaerobic plant helping to create a net carbon saving estimated at 80 tonnes of CO2.
According to the Green Tourism report, “Hastings Hotels ‘displayed an excellent understanding of sustainability and awareness of opportunities and challenges associated with running a responsible business.”
Raymond Duncan, compliance, operations and procurement manager of Hastings Hotels, said: “We have developed the Hastings Hotels ‘Go Green’ Policy and as a group, we are committed to ensuring that we measure and evaluate our current practices, adopting the most effective policies to minimise our carbon footprint and adhere to sustainable practices wherever possible.
“This is very much part of a long-term sustainability strategy for Hastings Hotels and we are now working towards securing Green Tourism accreditation for the Culloden Estate and Spa, Ballygally Castle and Everglades Hotel.”
Hastings Hotels undertook the process as part of a city-wide sustainable Green Tourism partnership funded by Belfast City Council and delivered by Visit Belfast.
