Moves to reduce impact of tourism on the environment

Perthshire’s Gleneagles Hotel is leading the way in minimising the impact of tourism on the environment.

The luxury hotel has maintained its gold status in the Green Tourism Business Scheme, the Visit Scotland-endorsed initiative which seeks to make tourism more sustainable.

The accolade was conferred following a recent visit by Green Tourism to assess the hotel against a rigorous set of criteria.

The gold award – which the hotel has held since 2008 – is the highest possible status in the scheme and reflects Gleneagles’ ongoing commitment to ensuring its services are sourced, managed and delivered responsibly, ethically and sustainably.

It is awarded to those organisations which demonstrate examples of protecting environments, respecting local cultures, supporting communities, conserving natural resources and minimising pollution.

Bernard Murphy, managing director of The Gleneagles Hotel, said: “We feel fortunate to be based in one of the world’s most beautiful and unspoilt rural locations and recognise the impact the hospitality industry can have on the environment and on precious natural resources.”

Some of the individual practices the hotel was praised for during the assessment included on-site composting of garden waste, collection of used cooking oil for biodiesel, the biomass boiler heating system, sourcing of food and drink from local suppliers, the use of electric vehicles, the installation of LED lighting and the distribution of unused fruit to horses at the equestrian school.