The Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS), which assesses businesses on 145 measures of sustainability, has given its highest level award – the GOLD GTBS Award – to all of the hotels in the Radisson Blu Edwardian Group. The award is given to exemplary businesses for outstanding achievements.
Radisson Blu Edwardian worked hard to attain the gold standard and it is testament to the enthusiasm and dedication of the staff and management team. Radisson Blu Edwardian excels in areas relating to customer information and communication, investment in energy-saving design and technology, commitment to becoming more sustainable and carefully juxtaposing the expectations and quality of a luxury brand with the ethics of sustainable tourism.
“Radisson Blu Edwardian Group show a clear understanding and commitment to the green tourism ethos,” said Wendy Fail, grading assessor for GTBS, the only tourism certification program in the UK endorsed by VisitEngland, VisitScotland and VisitWales. “They provide an outstanding customer experience, whilst ensuring a sympathetic approach to the environment. They are one of the most impressive businesses I have graded and their enthusiasm for the scheme and holistic approach to sustainability is to be highly commended.”
“Onsite, the business has undertaken significant measures to reduce energy consumption across all the hotels and the supporting green management structure, including the excellent i-connect, green ideas for staff and innovative energy and cost saving measures help to set them apart from other hotel chains,” she added. “They are an excellent green champion for sustainable good practice”.
Qualified environmental assessors grade businesses by rating their fulfillment of criteria, which include energy and water efficiency, purchasing, waste minimization, management and communication. Businesses can benefit from significant marketing advantage and reduced running costs of up to 20 percent.
The Green Tourism Business Scheme has been validated by the International Centre for Responsible Tourism since 2008. Operated by a not-for-profit organization, Green Business, there are more than 2,300 GTBS members through the UK and Ireland.