A B&B business in Betwys-y-Coed, Snowdonia, has received North Wales’s first Gold award from the UK’s Green Tourism Business Scheme – a UK wide scheme to recognise and promote businesses which make a significant contribution in creating a sustainable, green business.
Bryn Bella overlooks the landmark town of Betwys-y-Coed in Snowdonia National Park and is run by husband and wife team Mark and Joan Edwards. Both care passionately about the environment and are firm believers that, through their business, they can make an important contribution to their region.
Listed as one of the 30 coolest B&Bs in Britain in March 2010, by Times Online, it is an eco lovers dream.
A popular B&B, it attracts guests who wish to explore the region, maybe climbing Snowdon during their stay, and increasingly attracts visitors who make their choice of accommodation based on its commitment to the environment.
Bryn Bella’s eco-friendly credentials are outstanding, all electricity is from renewable sources, water is heated by solar energy and everything is recycled. Mark and Joan also grow their own fruit and vegetables and collect eggs from their chickens that run freely outside.
Mark said “The prestigious GOLD award received from the Gold committee of the GTBS (Green Tourism Business Scheme in the UK) confirms Bryn Bella’s green vision for the future of sustainable tourism in Snowdonia. This award, the first of its kind in Snowdonia, reflects our efforts over a number of years and comes on the back of last year’s award “Most Sustainable B&B Award 2009” from the Green Snowdonia Tourism Awards.
Our Eco policy includes recycling and energy saving initiatives for all areas of the business from the bedrooms to locally sourced food and has achieved complete support from our guests. At Bryn Bella we recycle 95% of our waste with the implementation of a robust recycling ethos. We look forward to working closely with GTBS to promote sustainable Tourism throughout the area.”
Bryn Bella was assessed in a range of areas, such as energy and water efficiency, waste management, biodiversity and more, by an independent assessor from the nationwide Green Tourism Business Scheme.
The Green Tourism Business Scheme offers independent certification for businesses and supports them as they work towards sustainability. Certification comes after an on-site grading visit and report.
A prerequisite for businesses joining the scheme is a commitment to quality. For Tourism Accommodation this means a quality grading assessment to the National Quality Assurance Scheme (NQAS) standard as provided by one of the following: VisitScotland, VisitBritain, VisitWales or the AA.
As consumers become increasingly aware of sustainability related issues, businesses are keen to prove their sustainability credentials. Certification provides the evidence that the business has been assessed against a credible standard by an independent organisation. So in essence GTBS provides the means by which customers can make discerning choices about the companies they use when making leisure or business travel choices.
The award follows upon Bryn Bella’s listing as one one of the 30 coolest B&Bs in Britain in March 2010 – http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/where_to_stay/article7076208.ece
Bryn Bella was also awarded the Green Dragon Environmental Award in recognition of efforts made to minimise it’s impact on the environment – http://www.greenbeds.adventa.org.uk/content.php?nID=6
