I’m absolutely delighted that one of Your Holiday Planner’s Recommended Stays has won the ‘Best Accommodation for the Environment’ category at this year’s Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards, organised by responsibletravel.com.
Richard and Dee Slade, owners of Battlesteads Hotel & Restaurant in Wark, near Hexham, were driven to investigate sustainable solutions as a result of rural energy supply issues. They soon got the ‘green’ bug and have made huge advancements over the years, to the point that they’re now leading the field for sustainable tourism across the North of England.
The judges said “Originally an 18th century farmhouse, this 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 fuelled by woodchip from a nearby sustainable forest and solar thermal panels providing all heating and hot water, a charging point for electrical vehicles, and enough rainwater collection to supply water for watering gardens and two polytunnels used to grow their own food!”
L-R Richard Slade of Battlesteads, Virgin Holidays managing director Amanda Wills, Chris Lee of Tourism Authority Thailand, and Justin Francis, managing director of responsibletravel.com
At a ceremony hosted at World Travel Market (WTM) in London last week, the awards were handed out by Justin Francis, managing director of responsibletravel.com, organiser and founder of the awards, and Amanda Wills, managing director of Virgin Holidays, headline sponsor of the awards.
Richard commented: “International recognition for the work we do is not to be taken lightly, so this award represents a significant milestone for us. I’m so proud of our team – they’ve gone through this steep learning curve with us over the last few years. Sustainability must become a way of life, not an exception. It’s crucial that we give more and take less – and the sooner we all realise this, the better.”
Look in Recommended Stays to find out more about Battlesteads.
For a full list of finalists, see www.responsibletourismawards.com
