City Hotel in line for top green award

The City Hotel in Londonderry has been named as the only business in Northern Ireland to be in the finals of this year’s coveted Goldstar Awards for green tourism.

The hotel is in the running for the title of Best Hotel and is among 60 UK finalists drawn from a total of more than 2,400 original competitors.

The Goldstar Awards have been running for four years. They are aimed at rewarding those businesses and organisations that have done most to promote sustainability by putting in place cost-saving practices aimed at helping the environment, improving customer service and making the business more profitable.

The winners of this year’s Goldstar awards are set to be announced on November 10 during the Green Tourism annual conference at the Palace Hotel in Manchester.

Green Tourism was launched 17 years ago and is now the biggest organisation of its kind in the world. It has already helped nearly 10,000 businesses to improve their commitment to sustainability and is considered to be one of the most rigorous certification bodies. It runs the only assessment programme validated by the International Centre for Responsible Tourism on behalf of the tourist boards in Northern Ireland, England and Wales. It is also endorsed by Failte Ireland and VisitScotland.

Speaking recently, Andrea Nicholas, director of Green Tourism, said that the Goldstar Awards recognised the very best in the UK when it came to creating and maintaining a thriving and sustainable tourism industry:

“The standard has been exceptionally high this year and every one of the shortlisted finalists have shown a dedicated commitment to providing customers with  great service and value for money while, at the same time, championing the cause of sustainability.”