VisitEngland has launched the first of its kind online toolkit to help small to medium sized businesses become more sustainable. Green Start is available, at no cost, to all tourism businesses interested in understanding how they can embrace sustainable practices. The online and DVD based initiative has been designed to help businesses review their performance and illustrates how sustainable practice can save money, encourage greater efficiency and have a positive impact on the local community.
Through implementing simple steps in sustainability businesses can reduce their energy waste and water costs by at least 10 per cent, with additional possible savings to be made of up to 40 per cent. Sustainable businesses can also offer customers a higher quality experience through better engagement with local communities.
James Berresford Chief Executive VisitEngland said:
“It’s important for the industry to realise that becoming sustainable has multiple benefits, not least improving the bottom line. The future success of the tourism industry must be underpinned by a sustainable approach, both in terms of protecting the natural environment that makes England such an attractive destination, and ensuring long-term economic success. Green Start will help businesess make those first vital steps towards reaching that goal.”
Green Start delivers all of the resources that a tourism business requires to introduce and develop their sustainability programme and operates in partnership with class room training initiatives such as Green Edge Training (part of the Welcome to Excellence suite of courses that has been developed in line with Green Start) and other regional or national resources where they exist.
Developed using technology from the International Tourism Partnership and including expertise from the founders of the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS), CESHI LTD, and support from GTBS, Green Start is a first for the whole of the domestic tourism industry.
Alongside Green Start, Keep it Real, is a complementary marketing and communications tool providing businesses with tips and advice on marketing their green credentials. Comprised of five useful chapters, Keep it Real answers key questions: Who do I tell? Why am I telling it? What do I say? Where do I tell? and When do I tell? This project is a joint initiative with the regional tourism delivery partners of England, led by the national tourist board VisitEngland.
Andrea Nicholas, Director Green Business UK said:
“Green Tourism Business Scheme welcomes VisitEngland’s initiatives, Green Start and Keep it Real as they will both help businesses on their green journey. These support tools will provide guidance for businesses just starting, help them get the right message out to their guests and identifying the benefits of green certification.”
Green Start is available on www.better-tourism.org
Keep it Real is available on www.visitengland.com/keepitreal
