The 2011/12 winners of the prestigious Considerate Hoteliers Association (CHA) ‘Hotel of the Year Awards’ – celebrating the best in environmental, sustainable and socially responsible performance and open to all UK hotels and small accommodation operations – were announced on 31 May at the Annual Awards and Gala Lunch, held at the 5-star Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane.
As ever, the CHA brings its own, unique style to its Awards Event, and successfully recognises the genuine – often outstanding – environmental and sustainable achievements of both small and large hotels. As John Firrell, the CHA Director commented:
“Despite all the challenges presented by these straitened times, excellent hoteliers are combining the skills of great guest care and a strong business ethic with the application of responsible practices and initiatives. Much progress has been made and continues to be made in the field of sustainability within the hotel industry.”
H & C News was pleased to attend and hear more about the winners, many of whose achievements we hope to feature in more detail the months ahead.
The award winners were:
The overall Considerate Hotel of the Year Award 2011/12, sponsored by Gilchrist & Soames Ltd., was won by Lancaster London. Considered by the judges to have succeeded in a wide range of environmental and social initiatives – with a special emphasis this year, in conjunction with WRAP, on food waste. These ranged from energy and water conservation, waste reduction and support for sustainable food, to marketing and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
The CHA judging panel were most impressed by Lancaster London’s achievements. Head Judge Professor John Forte OBE – CHA Ambassador and hospitality industry environmental and food safety consultant – said:
“Lancaster London has covered all the required aspects for the award in a most commendable fashion, but I was most swayed by their communication and spreading the environmental message to suppliers, guests and staff, as well as their willingness to share their experiences with their competitors.”
The Considerate Sustainable Food Award, supported for 2011/12 by Sustain (the alliance for better food and farming) and Fairtrade, went to Montagu Arms Hotel, Beaulieu, Hampshire. The award is presented to the hotel or accommodation operation which, in the opinion of the judges, has gone ‘that extra mile’ in 2011 to support its local food producers; to produce and/or purchase ethically, seasonally and sustainably; and then to proudly demonstrate to their guests and restaurant users – through marketing and via the menu, great food and hotel staff – why they are doing so.
The Considerate Small Accommodation Provider of the Year Award, sponsored by Gilchrist & Soames Ltd., was won by Hotel Petit Champ, Sark, Channel Islands. This small accommodation operation (20 bedrooms or under such as B&Bs, guest-houses, or restaurants and inns with rooms) was considered by the judges to have made the most significant achievements and proved most inspirational in terms of their green journey during 2011, without all the trappings and resources of big business.
The Considerate Green Team of the Year, sponsored by Beacon Purchasing, was presented to The Landmark London. The award is presented to the establishment or accommodation operation that has – by virtue of the work undertaken by their Green Team – made the most difference in 2011.
The winner of The Considerate Green Champion of the Year, sponsored by GRAM UK (Commercial), was Clare Wright, Director of Procurement, Lancaster London. The award is presented to the individual, nominated by fellow hoteliers and colleagues, who by sheer dedication has inspired others to raise the green standard in 2011.
The Considerate Green Suppliers of the Year Awards, sponsored by Beacon Purchasing, are presented to both the national and local supplier, nominated by a hotelier or accommodation provider, who is considered by the judges to have best met the environmental needs and ethos of the nominating accommodation business in 2011.
The National recipient of this year’s Considerate National Supplier of the Year Award is Sunlight textile rental and laundering service, nominated by The Strand Palace Hotel, London.
The Local recipient of this year’s Considerate Local Supplier of the Year Award is SEM (Sark Estate Management) Market Garden, nominated by Sark Island Hotels, Channel Islands.
Best Green Marketing Initiative was won by Lasswade Country House and Restaurant at Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys in Wales. The award is presented to the hotel or accommodation operation which has produced the most outstanding marketing initiative within the above CHA hotel/accommodation operation award category entries.
Lasswade Country House and Restaurant won the award for its role in the innovative creation of ‘Welsh Road Trips’. Lasswade is one of three mid-Wales Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) Gold award holders which have come together to set up ‘Welsh Road Trips’ (WRT) – a destination marketing tool aimed at encouraging visitors/guests to tour mid-Wales on foot, by bike or car – using the developing electric car market.
Two Special Considerate Awards
A ‘Considerate Hoteliers Lifetime Achievement Award’ was presented to Mike LeRoy, who recently retired from being Environmental Policy Manager, Westminster City Council (WCC). Whilst in this role, he had played an important part in the success of the Considerate Hoteliers Association (CHA) – right from its inception in 1990.
Rounding off the Awards was the third ever presentation of the special Considerate Good Egg of the Year Award, which this year went to Gary Lohan, Chief Engineer/Sustainability Manager, One Aldwych, London. The award recognises those in the hospitality business who have inspired and encouraged others to embrace certain principles of life relating to environmental, sustainable and socially responsible performance. Commenting on Gary Lohan’s award, CHA Director and Association Secretary John Firrell said:
“Gary has been at the forefront of innovative and positive thinking on the environmental front for many years. Known at One Aldwych as the ‘Green Guru’ or the ‘Hotel Hippy’, he has been instrumental in reducing energy, water and other utility costs whilst introducing equipment, programmes and procedures that apply a much lighter impact on the Earth’s valuable resources.”
“Gary is also extremely generous to other hoteliers both in time and imparting knowledge and assistance. To Gary such things are not a competition. He believes that by working together for the common good we really can make a difference. Recent awards have included receiving the coveted ‘Considerate Hotel of the Year’ on behalf of One Aldwych in 2008 – a prize shared that year with the then Radisson SAS Hotel Edinburgh (now called the Radisson Blu Edinburgh). The following year, One Aldwych received the Green Hotel ‘Catey’, and in 2010 went on to achieve a Gold Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) award. One Aldwych is the first and only hotel in the UK – one of only eight hotels worldwide – to achieve the ‘Sustainable Travel International’ accreditation ‘LECS’ (Luxury Eco Certification Standards). Gary has so much still to give – perhaps this Good Egg award should be double yoked!”
The Considerate Hoteliers Association
Considerate Hoteliers is an association of like-minded hoteliers, whose purpose it is to encourage, assist, cajole and motivate fellow hoteliers to adopt sustainable, environmentally friendly and socially responsible practices.
Full details of both winners and short-listed will be available from