25 July 2008

Businesses told 'go green, save money'

Visit London has urged the capitalÃ¢â¬â¢s hotels, guesthouses and venues to make substantial savings to their businesses by joining the Green Tourism for London scheme.

Speaking to tourism industry leaders at Kew Gardens this week, Visit London chief executive James Bidwell said: Ã¢â¬ÅâœWe all need to play a part in tacking climate change and the tourism industry is no exception.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœIndeed, as the worldÃ¢â¬â¢s number one city destination for international travel, London needs to take the lead on climate change to ensure our capital is sustained and sustainable for future generations.Ã¢â¬~

Since the Green Tourism for London scheme was launched by the London Development Agency in October last year, just over 50 businesses have joined, including The 02, The Royal Lancaster Hotel and Kew Gardens.

The scheme has three main aims: to help businesses improve their resource and energy management, to help cut costs and, by awarding a Bronze, Silver or Gold award, to help visitors assess the true green credentials of a business before booking.

For the first two years the LDA is offering a subsidised rate to the first 150 businesses to join.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœWorking with the London Development Agency and our industry partners, Visit London is committed to minimising the capitalÃ¢â¬â¢s carbon footprint. Cutting carbon emissions is an opportunity to create a stronger and better branded tourist sector and saving energy saves money for all businesses,Ã¢â¬~ added Bidwell.

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Your Comments (3)

NOT SO GREEN - JUST CAREFUL...

Robyn Griffith-Jones Director, Plan Communications Ltd lists as a PR Client the LDA! No doubt Ms Griffith-Jones has read the Wheatcroft report into the goings-on at the LDA commissioned by the new Mayor. Personally I have no views about the outgoing Mayor Ken Livingstone and during his tenure as leader of the GLC, interviewed him for the BBC, many times over. The fact remains that until the LDC has been completely rehabilitated, we need to concentrate on commercial survival rather than putting up wind turbines attached to Nelsons Column in Trafalgar Square(well something like that..oh come on it's a joke....) Always happy to debate issues..but perhaps the sectional interest should have been openly declared before commenting perhaps? Regards julian Bray http://www.eventandroadshowplanners.com

By JULIAN BRAY, Saturday, July 26, 2008
Green tourism scheme excellent

It is worth clarifying that Green Tourism for London is run for the LDA by the excellent Green Tourism Business Scheme which now has 1400 business in the UK and is the first green scheme approved by VisitBritain. And whatever you think of the last Mayor, the LDA and Visit London seem pretty committed to improving the environmental performance of tourism businesses in the capital.

By Robyn Griffith-Jones, Friday, July 25, 2008
LONDON DEVELOPMENT AGENCY BUDGET SLASHED

Since the Green Tourism for London scheme was launched by the London Development Agency in October last year, just over 50 businesses have joined, including The 02, The Royal Lancaster Hotel and Kew Gardens. I think it should be made clear that the new Mayor of London Boris Johnson has chopped the budget of the LDA citing it as former mayor Ken Livingstones' "personal piggy bank", further cuts are also likely, so if the LDA is so discredited why would anyone want to be publicly associated?

By JULIAN BRAY, Friday, July 25, 2008