As the UK gears up for a low-carbon economy based on sustainability & corporate responsibility, terms like “green credentials” & “environmentally-friendly” have become hip corporate mantras. But how many hotels can actually back up these buzz words & pleasing rhetoric with proof & action? To discover which of London’s hotels could lay claim to being the capital’s greenest, we consulted an objective indicator: the official Visit Britain Green Tourism Business scheme. Under the scheme, independent inspections are carried out & certified by the International Centre for Responsible Tourism. Independent auditors assess each hotel on the basis of 150 rigorously defined criteria.
It is a conscientious & reliable indicator of a hotel’s green credentials. The Cavendish on Jermyn Street is one of only three hotels in London to have been awarded the scheme’s ‘Gold’ rating. Since it was also the first to win the award, we decided to take a closer look. With an enviable location close to Piccadilly Circus, the Cavendish is an ideal choice for shopping & sightseeing in the capital. To help offset the carbon emissions of these popular tourist activities, the hotel provides guests with bicycles. It also gives out walking routes with which you can explore London, encouraging visitors to avoid having to rely on taxis during their stay. However, the “devil is in the detail” & the same can definitely be said for the Cavendish’s green measures. A close look at the hotel’s day to day running reveals why it has won Visit Britain’s Gold Accolade, & also the Institute of Travel Management’s Icarus Environmental Awards for 2008 & 2009. Some of the myriad measures taken include energy-efficient lifts, eco-conscious boilers, a dedicated recycling unit, local & organic restaurant meals and much more. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4346057
