Green Tourism Awards for three Plymouth businesses

Plymouth businesses are flying the flag for the city’s sustainability mission, celebrating fresh success with more Green Tourism awards.

A further three businesses have been recognised for their commitment to the initiative – a partnership between Green Tourism and Destination Plymouth – which supports Plymouth’s position as a leader in sustainable tourism and helps businesses across the area achieve sustainable growth.

Among the latest to be accredited are Destination Plymouth members, The Cottages at Blackadon Farm at Moorhaven, Ivybridge – the first to win Gold in the Green Tourism awards. The business has since been shortlisted in four categories of the Devon Tourism Awards, including the Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable section.

Co-owner Ryan Lynch said: “Our location, just outside Plymouth and in Dartmoor National Park, is very special and means we have a strong desire to be stewards for the environment. The scheme has allowed us to understand the progress we’ve made to be green, identify ways to share ideas and best practices with others and continue our journey to do more for the planet. Kudos to Plymouth for driving this initiative and setting an example to other cities around the country!”

Plymouth’s first luxury hotel, the historic The Duke of Cornwall, and Plymouth Boat Trips were both awarded Bronze status.

Peter Adams, general manager of the Duke of Cornwall Hotel said: “We are delighted to have been awarded a Bronze Award for Green Tourism and Green Meetings!

“It’s very important to us that we do what we can to protect our environment, so it was an easy decision to engage with the Green Tourism Accreditation Programme to achieve this award. It’s encouraging to see so many other Plymouth businesses do the same, as it’s an extremely strong and positive message to promote to help us drive domestic and business tourism visitors to Plymouth, Britain’s Ocean City!

“This year the hotel celebrates its 160th anniversary, so whilst it can be challenging with the age and size of our building to achieve greater energy efficiency; we have been able to identify areas for change and improve processes where we can, and has now been proven, to be more sustainable. We are now working towards Silver!”

Plymouth Boat Trips’ owner Dom Squire said: “As a business operating within the National Marine Park and at the forefront of zero-emission vessel design, it is important to us that we do all we can to reduce our impact on the environment. This award is part of an ongoing sustainability journey for Plymouth Boat Trips and will help us benchmark our position and monitor progress as we endeavour to reduce emissions and work towards a greener Ocean City in the future.”

Almost 50 businesses across Britain’s Ocean City’s tourism, leisure, cultural, heritage and hospitality sectors have signed up for the internationally-recognised Green Tourism programme. The Mariners Guest House, Jury’s Inn (now Leonardo Hotel), Bovey Sand Lodge Holiday Park and the New Continental Hotel were the first to achieve accreditation. And for others interested in joining, the opportunity to take advantage of fully-funded registration onto the programme was extended until the end of 2022.

Those taking part receive free expert support to help them reach their sustainability goals and gain the internationally-recognised Green Tourism Standard.

The programme includes a series of webinars with Green Tourism showing the benefits of enhancing sustainability practices to attract the rapidly expanding, green-minded tourism and corporate events sector.

More participants are currently in line for green accreditation but businesses which have applied are being urged to ensure they have submitted their green check assessments by the deadline in order to ensure they are considered for awards and receive the benefit of a fully funded second year too.

Amanda Lumley, Destination Plymouth’s chief executive, said: “The more businesses that sign up, the better for Plymouth. Not only does each business benefit by becoming more sustainable but the reputation of the whole city and surrounding area is enhanced as a sustainable destination. We want to help as many businesses as possible to achieve the internationally recognised Green Tourism Standard and encourage all those who are considering the scheme to join us in striving for the highest standards possible.“

Plymouth Sound is also home to the UK’s first National Marine Park, which enables a new collaboration between ocean, heritage and City. The National Marine Park will foster positive behaviours for individuals and businesses alike and aims at transforming the lives of every single person in the community of Plymouth through engagement with the city’s maritime heritage, landscape and nature and in turn promote sustainability and protect and conserve the marine environment.

For businesses wishing to find out more about this important environmental and sustainable opportunity and to apply directly, please visit www. visitplymouth.co.uk/green-tourism