The aim of this area of activities is to encourage sustainable businesses who work with VisitBritain through the quality agenda and best practice advice for destination managers.

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Small Steps

There are simple steps that business can take to make an impact and if everyone makes one small change then the impact will be more significant than if one individual does a lot.  Please click here to see our top ten tips for making your business more sustainable.

For more comprehensive information a new resource to encourage the tourism industry to 'go greener' is now available with the publication of the first ever 'Guide to Sustainable Tourism for Dummies'®, part of the Dummies'® series of easy-to-use guidance books from publishers Wiley, in partnership with South West Tourism, Tourism South East and West Sussex County Council.

The booklet is designed to help tourism businesses of all sizes become more sustainable - saving money, attracting more 'green conscious' customers and reducing their impact on the environment.
The Guide to Sustainable Tourism for Dummies® covers both strategic issues and a vast range of practical tips on improving environmental performance, benefiting your business with simple and immediate advice on low cost measures to make a green difference.

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Sustainability and Quality Standards

The National Quality Assessment Standards used within Britain have been developed over many years to reflect the quality levels of accommodation businesses to consumers.  Visit the Quality Standards section to see advice on how sustainable principles affect the application of these standards.

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Are you already a green business?

For VisitBritain to promote a tourism business with green credentials it needs to be recognised by an independent certification scheme.  A number of sustainable tourism certification schemes operate within Britain and exist not only to help promote your credentials to consumers but also to assist you in improving the sustainable performance of your business.

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Are you looking to get started?

Making a Green Start is easier than you think and much of it is common sense business practice.  Find out more about this programme, which is designed to help you through the initial steps of becoming a green business. 

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Sustainable Purchasing

Considerate Hoteliers is an association run for hoteliers by hoteliers with an aim to improve the sustainable impact of hotels.  It produces several publications and guidance to help businesses, the latest of which is the Green Source.

The Green Source is a brand new guide to sustainable purchasing, written especially for hotels.  For each of nine product and service categories, from food & beverage to laundry services, the Green Source tells hoteliers how to green their supply chain and reduce their environmental impact (including their carbon footprint) simply by small changes to purchasing policy. 

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