Green tourism event for hoteliers

Eco active is inviting Jersey hoteliers to find out more about how their businesses can benefit from introducing green practices.

More than sixty hotels have been invited to attend a free event on the benefits of running a more sustainable business and opportunities to help hotels reduce costs and gain competitive advantage. 

The lead speaker is Andrea Nicholas of Green Tourism, the largest sustainable certification programme in the world with more than 2,000 members in the UK, Ireland and Canada.

The event is being organised by Department of the Environment. Its eco active business network has more than 150 members but just two of these organisations are hotels. Director of Environment, Willie Peggie hopes more hotels will work with the scheme following the event. He said "Hotels are a target area for the eco active business team due to their relatively high use of energy and resources.

"There are clear examples, both locally and from the UK, of hotels making significant cost savings and improving their environmental credentials through introducing green initiatives. We hope this event will act as a first step for hotels to engage and work proactively with eco active in the future."

Industry statistics suggest that customer choice is changing, with 79 per cent of travellers regarding eco-friendly practices as important in their choice of lodging. Adam Caerlewy-Smith from Visit Jersey will also speak at the event highlighting the relevance of eco-tourism to Jersey as a destination.

Adam said "Green practices can deliver cost-savings that benefit the bottom line. This inaugural event presents an opportunity for local industry to hear direct from those businesses already participating in the scheme".

Reduce total energy use
The Radisson Blu hotel was chosen to host the event as it has already put in place a number of environmental improvements. Since 2011 the hotel has managed to reduce total energy use by 17 per cent. The hotel's Responsible Business representative, Sven Wiltink, said "Our growth success story would not be complete without responsible business. It’s in our DNA and the Green Tourism accreditation is proof of this. It guarantees guests that our hotel operates in a ‘think planet’ way."

The seminar is free to attend and will be held at 2pm on 14 October at the Radisson Hotel. Hoteliers interested in attending the event should contact eco active.

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