Whatley Manor, the luxury manor house in the Cotswolds, Wiltshire, has embarked on a concerted journey to make the hotel, its restaurants and spa a beacon for sustainability.
Over the past year, General Manager Sue Williams and her team, including Executive Chef Niall Keating, have examined every aspect of the Whatley Manor operation to assess how improvements can be made to reduce their carbon footprint, eliminate waste and generally monitor all activity.
“Embracing this new ethos has been a challenge but staff are determined to make positive changes,” according to Williams. “Our location in the Cotswolds also provides part of our inspiration.”
To achieve the above, Whatley Manor joined the NOW Force for Good Alliance which provided sustainability solutions and a structure for action. This includes an accredited sustainability programme & certification – EarthCheck Evaluate with Earth Rating – which recently awarded the hotel four Globes (out of a maximum of 5) as a point of differentiation to many industry counterparts. itmustbeNOW.com is the sustainability platform that umbrellas the whole travel industry.
Onno Poortier, itmustbeNOW Chairman and CEO commented, “We are delighted to welcome Whatley Manor as a NOW hotel member. At this most urgent of times, Whatley Manor is a true force for good and their team takes pride in providing a luxurious sustainable travel experience with purpose and also take responsibility for their total impact on the community and environment where they do business. Sue Williams is an inspiring example of leadership in sustainability and she is raising the consciousness of hotel owners, General Managers and hotel representation organisations on the urgent need to step up to rigorous sustainability and make a difference.”
Through collaboration with all their staff, the hotel’s owner, suppliers, business partners and guests, Whatley Manor actively works to reduce environmental impact and its risk to the business and support the Sustainable Development Goals. Our profile in the NOW Track & Book raises the bar on accountability and transparency to communicate our focus on critical areas including carbon emissions, energy, food and beverage, supply chain, waste and water. These environmental performance indicators will be measured and summarised through annual reporting and will be used to continually improve annual benchmarking. Additionally, Whatley Manor is committed to integrating leading environmental practices and sustainability principles aimed at:
- Protecting natural resources
- Supporting local products, businesses and suppliers
- Establishing and reporting on key environmental performance indicators
- Minimising waste and pollution
- Raising environmental awareness among our team, guests and local communities
- Complying with legal principles
- Supporting local employment
- Committing to Fairtrade principles
As the first UK 5 Star country house hotel to have embraced these levels of sustainability, Whatley Manor is proud to collaborate with both ItMustBeNow and Earthchecker. Working with these partners also gives Whatley Manor an opportunity to market itself internationally as a destination of choice for discerning travellers seeking sustainable luxury.
Whatley Manor is a 23-bedroom hotel and spa, set in 12 acres of beautifully maintained gardens, in the heart of the Cotswolds. The hotel includes a thermal spa with five treatment rooms, indoor hydro pool, sauna, steam rooms and tepidarium, as well as a gym and fitness studio and a spa lounge. Additionaly, there is a Boardroom and a 40-seat cinema. Three restaurants offer guests myriad food and drink options – The Dining Room holds a Michelin star for its celebrated modern cuisine, while Grey’s Brasserie and The Green Room are more informal.
A link to the Sustainability NOW logo can be found here.
Full address: Easton Grey, Malmesbury, Wiltshire SN16 0RB
Tel: 01666 822 888 Website:www.whatleymanor.com
Twitter: @Whatley_Manor Instagram:@whatleymanor
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June 2019
