Hotel company scoops green award

AN ECO-FRIENDLY company, which owns two Sidmouth hotels, has been named as one of the UK s Green Heroes after scooping a prestigious international award. Representatives of Brend Hotels, which owns The Victoria and The Belmont, were presented with a tr

AN ECO-FRIENDLY company, which owns two Sidmouth hotels, has been named as one of the UK's 'Green Heroes' after scooping a prestigious international award.

Representatives of Brend Hotels, which owns The Victoria and The Belmont, were presented with a trophy for environmental best practice last month at a glitzy ceremony on board the Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh.

The Green Organisation's award was given to the group, which saved 750 tonnes of CO2 in a year, by top botanist, Professor David Bellamy, OBE, on February 13.

Team manager, Amanda Brend, said: "The ceremony was a very glamorous occasion. We were piped aboard and given the red carpet treatment, with a tour of the ship, including a glimpse into the Queen's bedroom.

"It was an honour to receive the award from David Bellamy and to meet so many inspiring people, including some award-winners from Tobago. Gaining this recognition has increased our determination to further develop our environmental policy."

The accolade comes after Brend Hotels' environmental resource team won a Green Apple Award for developing a policy aimed at reducing energy consumption and promoting sustainability.

The judges said: "This family-run chain of luxury hotels appreciates that tourism is not always the best industry for the environment, so they continue to enhance their green credentials."

The winning submission from the Brend team will now be included in the Green Book, the only international work of reference on environmental best practice.