A luxury Windermere hotel has been awarded a top accolade for sustainable practice and care for the environment. The Cedar Manor Hotel was named Considerate Small Hotel of the Year 2015 – National & International at the Considerate Hotels award ceremony in London.
Owner Jonathan Kaye (pictured) picked up the carved elm trophy after being shortlisted along with hotels from Northumberland and the Seychelles.
Created in 1991 in Westminster with initially just London’s flagship hotels, Considerate Hoteliers was one of the first associations worldwide to impart the message that care for the environment and social responsibility should form a major part of a responsible hotelier’s agenda.
In a keynote speech at the ceremony at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, TV presenter and nature documentary film-maker Simon King OBE said that the hotel industry was one which was taking seriously threat to the planet.
In an inspirational and frank address, he said that top hotels had the power to be opinion-formers and role models. “You hold the flag,” he said. And he warned: “We need to pay extra for our food; because cheap is costing us the earth.”
The Considerate Hoteliers organisation encourages the adoption of economically, socially and environmentally sustainable policies and practices among hoteliers in a way which enhances the viability of their businesses, the environment and the quality of the experience on offer to their guests, staff and visitors. Member hotels are expected to protect and improve the environment locally – and thereby nationally and globally – by taking action in a number of different ways.
The Cedar Manor already holds the Green Tourism Business Scheme Gold Award and the Cumbria Business Environment gold award. Jonathan Kaye is a Trustee of Nurture Lakeland, which inspires people to care for and contribute to the natural environment of the Lake District through a visitor giving scheme. He said: “We are really thrilled to win this award and to see our efforts recognised. We make sure that relevant environmental legislation and regulation is understood and complied with, reducing energy and water usage wherever possible and by implementing increased efficiency.
“We are careful to use raw materials in a way that avoids producing waste where possible, and by reducing, re-using or recycling waste whenever possible.
“We use environmentally friendly materials whenever possible and appropriate, raising the awareness of staff and customers so that everyone may be involved in looking after our environment and the National Park, and use locally sourced and fair trade produce whenever possible.”
Jonathan encouraged other hotels to become members of the CH organisation. “It gives us access to industry leading advice on sustainability in the hotel sector. Case studies, reports, research, management templates and best practice examples are all available to us.”
The hotel shared a table with industry leaders including Professor John Forte, independent environmental and food safety consultant to the hotel and catering industry, and former Cabinet Minister Nick Brown MP.
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