Lancaster London gets top green honours

Top honours achieved by the hotel that just keeps on getting better! Writes John Firrell

The Considerate Hotel of the Year 2012 is the Lancaster London

When one has been involved with CHA as long as I have – it seems like 22 years and it is! – you are in the privileged position of seeing fledgling hotels grow their green wings, take to the air and eventually emerge into the sunlight a fully mature grown up, joined up member setting the standards that present day fledglings aspire to. So it is into that sunlight emerged the Lancaster London to take top honours in this year’s CHA 2012 Awards. Enormous congratulations to Stephen Kyjak-Lane and his team – Thoroughly deserved and a splendid example to us all.

The Lancaster London has had some amazing environmental and community focused achievements during 2011.  These innovative developments have proven the hotel to be both an industry leader in the eco market, and to have serious dedication to green policies, that entitled it to be considered for the title of Considerate Hotel of the Year 2012.

It is not just the actions of Lancaster London that should be recognised, but also its very ethos. "To walk softly on the planet" is the Lancaster London’s motto, and this is filtered through every aspect of the hotel, from purchasing, to the refurbishment, to its interaction with guests.  The hotel is genuinely passionate about preserving the environment so that the grandchildren of its guests will also have a world to be proud of.  This philosophy in itself is something to be rewarded.

This commitment to environmental practices is present at every level of the hotel staff, from the General Manager Stephen Kyjak-Lane, who is an ardent supporter of green initiatives and drives a low CO2 emission Smart car, right through to every member of the housekeeping staff.  It is reinforced through regular staff "Green Days", induction training and the monthly newsletter.  Each and every member of staff works incredibly hard to achieve these results, and winning the title of "Considerate Hotel of the Year 2012" would be a valid recognition of their efforts. 

John Firrell

John Firrell is Director of the Considerate Hoteliers Association and a lifetime hospitality practitioner

In its own words…Lancaster Initiatives:

• We always care about our impact on the Environment
• Energy monitoring and reduction – We monitor our energy usage weekly, this ensures that we are constantly aware of our energy consumption and can take appropriate action to achieve energy reduction.  We have implemented a number of energy reducing initiatives such as changing to LED lights, occupancy sensors and installing inverter units on our pumps and motors. The hotel has set the energy consumption reduction target of 5% year on year. Our gas and electric combined consumption for our hotel budget year 2009-2010 was 14,004,067 kwh and for the year 2010-2011 was 13,212,749 kwh. This gives us year on year gas and electrics combined kwh reduction of 5.7% which is enough energy to power a microwave continously for 120 years! This means a carbon reduction of 4.2% year on year.
• Water reduction – The hotel has installed water saving devises for the showers and basin taps; we have also introduced urinal sensors in the public toilets.  
•  Waste reduction, recycling and reusing products – The hotel has achieved zero landfill by working together with our waste management company.  All glass paper, plastic and cardboard are recycled and we are working toward a food waste to energy scheme.
• Pollution – We are mindful to only use water based paints for all our decoration works.  We use the correct disposal procedure for all our electrical and electronic waste under the WEEE directive.  We have a capital investment to replace all our refrigeration units which uses R22 gas.
•  Environmental team – The hotel has an enthusiastic Green Team made up of representatives from all departments.  The team meets on a regular monthly basis where we discuss departmental initiatives and future ideas.
• Sustainability – The Purchasing procedures at the Lancaster London support the hotel’s sustainable procurement strategy. This includes food, beverages and all products as far as reasonably possible.
• Our Honey Bees – The Rooftop Honey Farm was a result of the green team initiative to support the urban honey bee population.  The first hives were installed on the office roof in July 2009 and completed to our current ten in the summer 2010. The honey produced has been used by the chefs and is also given as gifts to guests and clients alike.  
•  In October 2011 Lancaster London launched London’s first Honey Show and ‘crowned’ the London Beekeeper of the Year.  This event was supported by the London Beekeepers Association.
• Food mileage – Most food is sourced through local London suppliers except where we require special products, for example our traditional Thai Restaurant.
• The Lancaster London is mindful of the number of deliveries and is working towards eliminating all packaging waste.
•  The hotel cares for the well being of its employees by providing a well balanced diet in the Canteen, with choice of freshly prepared dishes using local produce.

Lancaster Awards:  Gold Award in the Green Tourism for Business 2011; Considerate Hoteliers Green Marketing Initiative of the Year 2010; and AA Eco Hotel of the Year 2011,

LANCASTER IS THE VENUE FOR THE SUSTAINABLE TOURISM MASTERCLASS DETAILS HERE