SCOTHOT visitors warm to HCIMA and hospitable climates

To date, over 120 hospitality business in Scotland have signed up to Hospitable Climates and that number looks set to grow significantly if the recent ScotHot -- the Scottish Hotel, Catering and Licensed Trade Exhibition, held at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) in Glasgow - was

Sharing a stand at the March exhibition with the HCIMA, the Hospitable Climates team received an overwhelming amount of interest in the free-of-charge programme from potential Hospitable Climates members.

During the event, a Hospitable Climates seminar supported by VisitScotland and the Tourism Environment Forum (TEF) - entitled 'Green Business is Good Business' - was held at the adjacent Glasgow Moat House (see Comment on page X by HCIMA Chief Executive Philippe Rossiter FHCIMA).

The Hospitable Climates energy efficiency programme has saved hoteliers up to 400 per bedroom and publicans up to 30% on their energy bills. The seminar provided delegates with further detailed information on this highly successful programme, as well as allied environmental initiatives.

The seminar was chaired by one of the speakers at the event, Lorraine Thomson - Operations Manager for Quality and Standards, VisitScotland - and the programme included presentations from: Allan Mackie, Energy Efficiency Officer for Scotland; Sandy Dear, Manager of the Tourism and Environment Forum; and Professor John Forte FHCIMA, a Principal in the Hospitable Climates management team.

Mackie told delegates that energy conservation was at the heart of Government policy in Scotland - with business issues key to reducing energy use. He pointed out that worryingly as many as 88% of Scotland's businesses do not claim the financial support available as a result of the introduction of the Climate Change Levy in April 2001. L64 billion was spent per year in the UK on energy - 20% of which (L12.8 billion) was wasted. This was the equivalent of half the income from North Sea oil and gas, and three times what Scotland earned from tourism!

Sandy Dear showed delegates just how important the environment is to Scotland's tourism industry, which is worth just over L4 billion per year. He said that 86 per cent of overseas visitors score the environment as the number one reason for visiting the country - with the Scottish scenery top of the list.

Lorraine Thomson (pictured) explained how VisitScotland supports the adoption of environmentally friendly practices through its Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) - a quality assurance initiative looking at aspects of tourism provision such as attractions, food, self-catering operations and disabled access. Currently 450 businesses are participating in the scheme. Those signed up to the Hospitable Climates programme gain five bonus points towards their score for GTBS grading. She underlined to delegates that high quality and environmental provision do go together well - without in any way lessening visitor experience.

Professor John Forte cited his cousin Rocco's five-star Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh as a "wonderful example" of an environmentally-aware establishment which, like the rest of RF's UK hotels, is profiting from being signed up to the Hospitable Climates programme. He gave delegates a detailed presentation on the many benefits of Hospitable Climates membership - with its no cost, tailor-made advice aimed at targeting waste, and reducing energy consumption as well as CO2 emissions.