Finalists revealed for Britain's top sustainable businesses honour
SIXTY of the UK's most environmentally sustainable businesses have been shortlisted for one of the country's most coveted awards – a Green Tourism Goldstar.
Accommodation providers, visitor attractions and events venues across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have been included in this year's Goldstar shortlist which has been whittled down from more than 2,400 eligible entries.
All of the contenders are vying for the top accolade in 13 categories, the winners of which will be announced at the Green Tourism Annual conference on November 10 at a special ceremony held in the the Palace Hotel, Manchester.
Now in its fourth year, the annual awards honour those businesses and organisations that have done the most to promote sustainability within the tourism industry by implementing cost-saving practices that help the environment, improve customer services and benefit the bottom line.
All of the finalists, which include 36 from England, 22 from Scotland, one from Wales and one from Northern Ireland, were chosen from over 2400 green tourism companies assessed for their innovation, cost savings and green ambassadorship.
The categories for the Goldstar Awards 2014 include:
Best Activity Centre / Provider.
Best B&B / Guest House.
Best Campus Accommodation
Best Conference / Events Venue
Best Holiday Park / Camping Site
Best Hostel
Best Hotel
Best Inn / Pub
Best Museum
Best Nature Reserve
Best Self-Catering Accommodation
Best Tour Operator
Best Visitor Attraction
Andrea Nicholas, Director of Green Tourism, said: "The Goldstar Awards are a recognition of the best of the best in Britain when it comes to creating and maintaining a thriving sustainable tourism industry.
“A total of 60 green tourism businesses from across the UK have been shortlisted for the Goldstar Awards this year out of more than 2,400 entries. These finalists represent the best of the best, the top 3 per cent of Green Tourism businesses in the UK.
“The standard has been exceptionally high this year and every one of the shortlisted finalists have shown a dedicated commitment to providing consumers with great service and value for money while at the same time championing the cause of sustainability.”
Green Tourism was launched 17 years ago and is now is the biggest of its kind in the world having helped nearly 10,000 businesses improve their commitment to sustainability. It is considered one of the most rigorous of its kind and is the only certification programme independently validated by the International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT) on behalf of VisitEngland, VisitWales and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, and endorsed by VisitScotland and Failte Ireland.
The organisation has become a world leader in highlighting the importance of protecting environments, respecting local cultures, supporting communities, conserving natural resources and minimising pollution.
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For further information on Green Tourism and the Goldstar Awards visit
The nominations for each category are:
Best Activity Centre / Provider
Blancathra Field Studies centre, Kewswick, Cumbria
Newlands Adventure Centre, Keswick, Cumbria
Surf South West, Croyde, Devon
Best B&B / Guest House
Bedknobs B&B, Bodmin, Cornwall
Bryn Bella Guest House, Betws-y-Coed, Conwy
Cote How Guest House, Ambleside, Cumbria
Pendragon Country House, Camelford, Cornwall
The Rumblie, Newtonmore, Inverness-shire
Best Campus Accommodation
Celedonian Court, Glasgow, Strathclyde
McIntosh Hall, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife
Storm Jameson Court – East & West, Leeds, West Yorkshire.
Best Conference / Events Venue
CREATE Environment Centre, Bristol, Avon
IET Glasgow: Teacher Building, Glasgow, Strathclyde
Perth Concert Hall, Perth, Perthshire
Royal Armouries International PLC, Leeds, West Yorkshire
The Wellbeing Farm, Bolton, Lancashire
Best Holiday Park / Camping site
Cobleland Caravan & Camping site, Aberfoyle, Stirlingshire
Dolbeare Park, Saltash, Cornwall
Jollydays Glamping, York, North Yorkshire
Best Hostel
Iona Hostel, Lagandorain, isle of Iona
Lochranza Youth Hostel, Lochranza, isle of arran
New Ing Lodge, Shap, Cumbria
Best Hotel
Agnes Blackadder Hall, St. Andrews, Fife
Bedruthan Hotel & Spa, Newquay, Cornwall
Captains Club Hotel, Christchurch, Dorset
Chewton Glen Hotel, New Milton, Hampshire
City Hotel, Derry, Londonderry
Jurys Inn Brighton, Brighton, East Sussex
Jurys Inn, Newcastle
Lancaster London, London,
Radisson Blu Portman Hotel, London
The Beardmore Conference Hotel, Glasgow, Strathclyde
The Cheltenham Chase Hotel – QHotels, Gloucester, Gloucestershire
The Green House Hotel, Bournemouth, Dorset
The Scarlet Hotel, Newquay, Cornwall
Best Inn / Pub
Glenuig Inn Ltd, Sound of Arisaig, Inverness-shire
Stein Inn, Waternish, Isle of Skye
The Miners Arms, Alston, Cumbria
Best Museum
Horniman Museum & Gardens, London
Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, Telford, Shropshire
Best Nature Reserve
Forvie NNR Visitor Centre, Ellon, Aberdeenshire
RSPB Loch leven, Kinross, Perthshire
WWT Welney, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
Best Self-Catering
Cranmer Country Cottages, Fakenham, Norfolk
David Russell Apartments, St. Andrews, Fife
Higher Wiscombe Ltd, Colyton, Devon
Hoe Grange Holidays, Matlock, Derbyshire
Little White Alice Ltd, Carmenellis, Cornwall
Merlin Farm Eco Cottages, Newquay, Cornwall
The Hytte, Hexham, Northumberland
The Peedie House, South Ronaldsay, Orkney
Wheatland Farm, Winkleigh, Devon
Best Tour Operator
C-N-DO Scotland Ltd, Stirling, Stirlingshire
Sea Life Surveys, Tobermory, Isle of Mull
Wind & Cloud Travel Ltd, South Queensferry, West Lothian
Best Visitor Attractions
Inchmahome Priory, Stirling, Stirlingshire
John Muir's Birthplace, Dunbar, East Lothian
Sealife Glass Bottom Boat, Gairloch, Ross-shire
South West Lakes Trust, Upper Tamar, Nr Bude, Cornwall
Ullswater Steamers, Glenridding, Cumbria
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For further information on the Green Tourism and the Goldstar Awards visit or call Andrea Nicholas on 01738 32162