Sofitel London Gatwick Celebrates Silver Medal Win from Green Tourism

Sofitel London Gatwick, the airport’s premium hotel, has been awarded a silver medal by the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) for its commitment to green policy and CSR. 

The Green Tourism Award offers independent guidance to tourism businesses wishing to operate sustainably and acts as a stamp of reassurance to guests and visitors of the hotel wishing to make a conscious decision about choosing greener businesses. By rigorously assessing the hotel on criteria such as energy and water efficiency, waste management and biodiversity, the hotel’s Silver medal success celebrates an obvious commitment to a greener future and minimising its damage to the environment.

General Manager, James Berry, commented, “Sofitel London Gatwick and our management company, The Arora Group, are fully committed to sustainable tourism and minimising damage to the environment, and our Green Tourism Silver Medal is a fantastic badge of honour that we will wear proudly.  We invest heavily in the energy saving resources that are available to us and see huge value training our staff on efficiency, recycling and green policy in order to meet the standards expected from us as well as providing the highest quality of service.”

Sofitel London Gatwick is supported in its green journey by Accor, Planet 21 and The Arora Group who invest in new technologies where possible to reduce waste. The hotel exceeds the standards of good practice across a range of sustainable development indicators, receiving 84% for its energy saving efforts. Examples include; the significant use of recycled products, the use of LED lighting and operating with a CHP unit, that provides highly efficient heating and hot water, whilst generating low cost, low carbon electricity.  Energy and water efficiency are key issues within a hotel and Sofitel London Gatwick received 76% for its efforts towards water efficiency with Eco saving shower heads and sensor taps within public bathrooms. 

Across its food and beverage operation, Head Chef David Woods is committed to sourcing as many of their products and ingredients locally and ethically, working directly with reputable suppliers such as Reeves Butchers based in Reading, Wild Harvest in Convent Garden as well as using sustainably caught fish from M&J Supply. By serving a good range of vegetarian options, less processed or intensively farmed products on the menu and even smoking and curing their fish onsite – the hotel has found effective and sustainable ways to reduce their carbon footprint.

The Green Tourism Business Scheme is the leading sustainable tourism certification scheme in the UK, focusing specifically on business such as accommodation providers, visitor attractions and corporate offices.