UK: voco Zeal Exeter Science Park has been awarded Green Tourism’s Gold award, the highest available from the organisation.
The Green Tourism Certification is a third-party framework specifically designed for the tourism and hospitality sector.
Under each of Green Tourism’s 15 People, Places, and Planet sustainability goals, businesses need to provide evidence of actions taken to achieve either a Gold (80 per cent+), Silver (65 per cent +), or Bronze (40 per cent+).
The assessment looks at best practices in energy efficiency, waste reduction, water conservation, and community engagement. More about that here.
The 142-room hotel, which opened in March this year has been designed to operate entirely on renewable and solar energy.
General manager of the hotel, Barnaby Kean, said: “The voco Zeal Exeter Science Park has demonstrated that environmental responsibility and exceptional guest experiences can go hand-in-hand and we hope this award will inspire other hotels to pursue sustainable goals.”
Kean added: “voco Zeal Exeter Science Park’s dedication to sustainability is evident across every aspect of our operations, from sourcing local and ethical products to implementing innovative technologies that reduce our carbon footprint.”
In June this year the hotel was the winner for BREEAM New Construction Commercial Award. The vocoZeal hotel has the target of being the first in Western Europe to achieve a BREEAM Outstanding rating in recognition of its sustainable approach to design, construction and overall fit out.
In January this year the project had achieved the BREEAM Outstanding rating at the design stage operating with industry-leading benchmark-setting Energy Use Intensity levels, a critical measure that ensures the buildings’ sustainable future.
You can read more about the hotel here.
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