Green tourism award joy for Crieff Hydro
Resort is praised for enviromental efforts
Crieff Hydro has won an award for green tourism after a number of environmentallyfriendly initiatives.
The 900-acre Strathearn resort won a Green Tourism Gold award after a recent inspection found 80 per cent of the estate met the organiser’s criteria.
The inspectors gave the Hydro praise across the board for its efforts, and highlighted its staff training and commitment to sustainability in particular.
One of the initiative’s Crieff Hydro was praised for was the resort’s Green Team, made up of staff from across the hotel who work as ambassadors to identify and implement change.
Alexandra McDonald is a support services and environment manager at Crieff Hydro and the head of the resort’s Green Team.
She said: “Since Green Tourism’s last visit in 2013, we’ve worked hard to look for ways to improve and our Crieff Hydro Green Team are all passionate about playing their part in helping to implement the little changes that all go a long way to working more efficiently
“Whether it’s closer monitoring of the food waste and ways we can reduce it, or working with local community schemes to donate duvets and kitchen equipment, all of these steps have helped us achieve a fantastic grading from Green Tourism.
Crieff Hydro have introduced LED lighting and made significant changes to their food waste management as part of their efforts to become more environmentally-friendly.
It was also recognised by Green Tourism for its visitor payback scheme, where guests are asked to donate £1 to Perthshire’s Big Country Initiative to help conserve woodland around the region.
Stephen Leckie, Crieff Hydro’s CEO, added: “We’re always looking for new ways to make Crieff Hydro operate more efficiently and it’s great to see Green Tourism recognise this.
“All of the efforts, from the team across Crieff Hydro, go a long way in making Crieff Hydro a truly green and sustainable business.”
Crieff Hydro has been a member of Green Tourism since 2007, and is regularly assessed on its energy and water efficiency, waste management and biodiversity.
Andreas Nicholas, Green Tourism’s managing director, explained why the Perthshire resort was awarded a gold award.
She said: “Crieff Hydro has put a lot of work into this project and the Green Team should be very proud of its achievements.
“Reducing food waste, working with a local company to recycle soap waste, installing LED lighting in key areas of the hotel and becoming involved with the Big Tree Country are just some of the measures that have seen Crieff Hydro to its welldeserved gold award!”