Best accommodation for the environment

A hotel, lodge or accommodation run with an innovative approach to water reduction in a destination.

This could be a B&B, tipi, hotel, camp site, ecolodge, cave hotel, organic farm, homestay, renovated barn, ski lodge, hostel, treehouse, villa, chalet or any other type of accommodation.



2011
Winner: Battlesteads Hotel & Restaurant, UK
"Originally an 18th century farmhouse, this net zero carbon neutral, three-star hotel impressed the judges with its range of initiatives and achievements in the last six years. To name just a few: a biomass boiler supplied by a sustainable forestry, and solar thermal panels providing all heating and hot water, charging points for electrical vehicles, and enough rainwater collection to supply water for 2 acres of land, including the two polytunnels used to grow their own food!"

Highly commended:
Campi Ya Kanzi, Kenya
Kasbah du Toubkal, Morocco

Previous winners

2010
Winner: Hotel Mocking Bird Hill, Jamaica
"Proof that indulgence doesn't have to be at the expense of the environment, Mockingbird Hill is a small locally-owned luxury hotel that drives innovation, ensures that good practices are identified and monitored and add value to the local community. The judges were impressed by the scale and depth of their ability to measure impacts - including energy consumption, economic impact for local partners, and recording biodiversity. They list the short distance from their local suppliers down to the last kilometre - impressive in Jamaica where the reliance is typically on imports. They have driven innovation - conducting in-house recycling in an area without the infrastructure for it, and encouraging their suppliers to improve environmental performance."

Highly commended:
Bedruthan Steps Hotel & Spa, UK

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Best large hotel / accommodation

Awarded between 2006 and 2009, this category was for a hotel, lodge or accommodation with more than 50 rooms, with a positive impact on local communities and the environment.

2009
Winner: YHA Wellington City, New Zealand
“With a host of innovative initiatives in place YHA Wellington goes above and beyond regular hotel practice to engage and communicate with their guests around issues of sustainability in an upbeat and inspiring way, putting the onus back on the guest to exercise, and even enjoy, responsible practices. Their Green Footprint Project includes a ‘Tree Planting Day’ for guests, they invite school groups to take part in a sustainable living quiz, and host the annual National Youth Environment Forum.”

2008
Winner: Kingfisher Bay Resort, Fraser Island, Australia
“For demonstrating that a large resort accommodating 60,000 guests per year and with 100,000 day visitors can be managed to have a low environmental impact; and for educating its guests about conservation, engaging positively with the indigenous people enabling them to share their culture and skilling them for employment.”

Highly commended:
Hotel Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
Frangipani Langkawi Resort & Spa, Malaysia

2007
Winner: Apex Hotels Ltd, UK
For their efforts in urban regeneration, converting office blocks on brown field sites into hotels and ensuring that they are as environmentally friendly as possible.

Highly commended:
Evason Phuket & Six Senses Spa, Thailand
Radisson SAS Hotel, Edinburgh

2006
Winner: The Orchid Hotel, Mumbai
For providing a responsible tourism model for other business hotels to follow. A ‘zero garbage’ hotel with multiple innovations to be more energy efficient, they also stood out for their strong outreach programme within the local community.

Highly commended:
Hotel de la Paix, Cambodia
Bedruthan Steps Hotel, Cornwall