Yorkshire hotel launches range of sustainability measures

Hotel Rendezvous in Skipton, Yorkshire has unveiled a new host of measures that aim to see the site become a “flagship of sustainability in hospitality”. The 96-bedroom hotel has now introduced a range of measures to reduce its carbon footprint. For example, the site has invested in a low emission biomass boiler for its heating and has installed an electronic car charging point which guests are able to use free of charge. The hotel is also encouraging increased bike use with a secure new storage area and wet room for riders. Meanwhile the new dining narrowboat, The Graceful Swan, has been adapted to be fully electric powered, while the hotel is also increasing the number of local suppliers. Other initiatives include reducing the amount of waste to landfill through increased recycling and package reduction, stopping use of single use plastics, switching to eco-friendly cleaning products, providing refillable toiletries and encouraging guests to consider not requesting fresh towels daily and recruiting local staff rather than relying on regular agency staff travelling from further afield. Managing director Michael Scully said: “We’ve seen world leaders making strong statements about the need to act and it’s clearer than ever before that the time for rhetoric is over and we all need to take positive steps to consider this within every aspect of our businesses. “It’s about thinking outside the box sometimes to find creative ways of reducing our carbon footprint. We have switched to marble top tables in our restaurant, for example, to save on the impact on the environment of laundering tablecloths.” He added: “We try to buy as much produce as possible from reputable local suppliers with low food miles and we’re keen to increase that further. We’re very open to local businesses approaching us with goods or services that might be relevant. “Reducing the mileage of products is something every business can do to help lower their carbon footprint, and it has the added bonus of supporting the locally economy.”