Considerate Hoteliers unveil two new awards

Considerate small accommodation provider of the year and considerate supplier of the year new awards launched

Celebrating the Best in Environmental, Sustainable and Socially Responsible Performance – Open to All Hotels and Small Accommodation Operations in the UK

The Considerate Hoteliers Association (CHA) has announced two brand new award categories for its prestigious ‘Considerate Hotel of the Year Awards 2010/11’ – launched today and open to all UK hotels; and small accommodation operations ranging from B&Bs and Guest-Houses, to pubs/inns/restaurants with rooms. The closing date for entries will be Thursday, 31 March 2011.

For the first time, the CHA’s highly acclaimed annual awards – celebrating the best in environmental, sustainable and socially responsible performance – will include ‘The Considerate Small Accommodation Provider of the Year Award 2010/11’ for establishments with ten bedrooms or less – such as B&Bs, Guest-Houses and restaurants/pubs/inns offering overnight accommodation; and ‘The Considerate Supplier of the Year Award 2010/11’, to be sponsored by Beacon Purchasing, which will enable hoteliers and small accommodation providers to nominate the supplier they believe most embodies eco-concerns within their products. The chosen supplier can be international, national, regional or local.

Commenting on the new categories, Considerate Hoteliers Association Director and Secretary John Firrell said: "I believe we have made the ‘Considerate Hotel of the Year Awards 2010/11’ even more interesting by adding the ‘Considerate Supplier of the Year’ and the ‘Considerate Small Accommodation Provider of the Year’ categories. Firstly, the ‘Supplier of the Year’ category allows a hotel to enter the awards in ‘partnership’ with a supplier who the hotelier believes ‘has it all’; and is dedicated, ethical, and passionate when it comes to the environment, sustainability and social responsibility.

"Now there is something for everybody and we look to hoteliers and accommodation operators the length and breadth of the UK, regardless of whether they are CHA members or not, to begin putting their award applications together – they have until close of play on Thursday, 31 March 2011 to submit their entries.”

The 2010/11 Considerate Hotel of the Year Awards will be presented in May/June 2011, at a special Gala Lunch at one of the world’s most renowned hotels – The Savoy, London. The six CHA Award categories and criteria include:

The Considerate Hotel of the Year 2010/11’: sponsored for a second year in 20010/11 by Gilchrist & Soames Ltd and presented to the hotel or accommodation operation that is considered by the judges to have been the best all-rounder during 2010 re: succeeding in a wide range of environmental initiatives, from energy and water conservation, waste reduction and support for sustainable food, to marketing, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). In short, they will need to demonstrate that they run their business ethically, with a conscience and hopefully a strong bottom line to become the ultimate Considerate Hotel for 2010/11.

‘The Considerate Supplier of the Year Award 2010/11’: sponsored by Beacon Purchasing and presented to the supplier, nominated by a hotelier or accommodation provider, who is considered by the judges to have best met the environmental needs and ethos of the nominating accommodation business in 2010. Hoteliers need to nominate the supplier they believe most embodies eco-concerns within their products (taking account of everything from sourcing, ingredients/content, sustainability and social responsibility, to value for money and quality of service) – in short, a supplier that is a great all-rounder in these respects. The nominated supplier can be international, national, regional or local.
 

‘The Considerate Small Accommodation Provider of the Year Award 2010/11’: presented to the small accommodation operation (10 bedrooms or under such as B&Bs, guest-houses, or restaurants and pubs with rooms) which is considered by the judges to have made the most significant achievements and proved most inspirational in terms of their green journey during 2010, without all the trappings and resources of big business. This will give entrants the opportunity to relate the positive results (anything from energy saving and CSR, to creating innovative environmental initiatives and communicating their green messages to their guests), and lessons learnt during this 12 month period that highlight eco-friendly and socially responsible experiences that could act as an inspirational tale for others.

The Considerate Sustainable Food 2010/11 Award’: supported for a second year in 20010/11 by Sustain (the alliance for better food and farming)  and presented to the hotel or accommodation operation which, in the opinion of the judges, has gone ‘that extra mile’ in 2010 to support its local food producers; to produce and/or purchase ethically, seasonally and sustainably; and then to proudly demonstrate to their guests and restaurant users – through marketing and via the menu, great food and hotel staff – why they are doing so.

‘The Considerate Green Team of the Year 2010/11’: presented to the hotel or accommodation operation which, in the opinion of the judges, has – by virtue of the work undertaken by their Green Team – made the most difference in 2010. What’s more, they will have had fun doing so and been innovative and inspiring. Green Teams come in all shapes and sizes; and the award could be won by a dedicated green team of just two people or twenty.

‘The Considerate Green Champion of the Year 2010/11’: presented to the individual, nominated by fellow hoteliers and accommodation operators, who by sheer dedication has inspired others to raise the green standard to unprecedented heights. The individual may exist in a specific hotel, guest-house or within the hotel industry generally – whoever they may be, CHA wants to know so they can be properly recognised.

Valere Tjolle

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Valere Tjolle is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite: EXTRA SPECIAL OFFER at: www.travelmole.com/stories/1144671.php