Embargoed till Dec 6: Now then, now then, what have we here?
Sir Jimmy Savile OBE will receive a Gold Award for Green Tourism on behalf of Royal Armouries International as patron of SAVILES Hall, the largest purpose-built conference centre in West Yorkshire.
The award is the highest possible and rewards venues that minimise their impact upon their environment.
“Leeds is a winner, Yorkshire is a winner and Royal Armouries and SAVILES Hall are obviously a winner because they’ve just won the Gold Award,” said Sir Jimmy.
Technical Director of the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) Jon Proctor, who presented the award, praised the work of the RAI team.
"They have an excellent green team and have demonstrated through a lot of good practices that you don’t have to have the latest eco gadgets to be green," he said.
"They have achieved their grading through comprehensive effort from local procurement, to recycling and purchasing recycling materials as well as a strong community ethos."
The GTBS, which has been validated by the International Centre for Responsible Tourism on behalf of VisitEngland, is the largest of its type in the world, and since 1997 has worked to make tourism and the hospitality industry in the UK more sustainable.
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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