Do you own or manage a holiday park/caravan site? WISE Network have just launched an Energy Audit specifically for you, to help you assess your business energy use, and to identify areas where you could make immediate savings Contact the WISE Network Co-ordinator on 01248 383710, or email info@wisenetwork.org.

Take a look at the trail-blazing winners of the Green Snowdonia Tourism Awards 2008

Wireless home electricity monitors provide continuous information about how much electricity is being used in the home so that you can adopt new energy saving habits to reduce the consumption of electricity. A variety of monitors for purchase or rent can be found at www.electricity-monitor.com

Last year Green Snowdonia Project Officer, Dr. Emma Edwards-Jones, gave an interview on sustainable travel policies for the events industry to online journal 'Events Review'.

Here are the latest bits of news we've come across on our travels. If you've discovered any interesting research please send us details and we'll put them on the site.

• Running a business in an environmentally friendly manner is important to nine out of ten tourism businesses in Wales
• Travellers will pay more to stay at green hotels
• Survey reveals attitudes to sustainable tourism
• Consumers ask operators to offer carbon offset
  

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Running a business in an environmentally friendly manner is important to nine out of ten tourism businesses in Wales Running a business in an environmentally friendly manner is important to nine out of ten tourism businesses in Wales, 59% believing that it is very important and 32% rating it as quite important. In addition, 90% of those surveyed practised some form of recycling and 80% had put measures in place to conserve energy and water. The findings emerged from the third survey in a series of five throughout the year conducted for Visit Wales by Strategic Marketing of Cardiff. The interviews examined performance over the May Bank Holiday and were carried out among 202 businesses over May 11-12. http://new.wales.gov.uk Back to Top

TRAVELLERS WILL PAY MORE TO STAY AT GREEN HOTELS Recent research from TripAdvisor has revealed that more than a third of travellers are prepared to pay more to stay at an environmentally friendly hotel or resort. A survey of more than 1,000 global consumers by the peer-review travel booking website found 34% would pay more if it meant supporting green initiatives. A quarter said they would pay a 5-10% premium for their green stay with 12% willing to go as high as a 10-20% premium. Nearly a quarter of respondents believed air travel should be avoided where possible Go to www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2007/04/19/313247/travellers-will-pay-more-to-stay-at-green-hotels.html for more info. Back to Top

SURVEY REVEALS ATTITUDES TO ETHICAL TOURISM New research has revealed that 1 in 4 adults are prepared to pay more for an 'ethical' or 'responsible holiday'. The research, carried out by TNS Travel & Tourism, revealed that there is significant scope for development in this 'responsible tourism' market. The study highlighted the opportunity for tourism operators and organisations to attract more visitors and increase visitor spend by targeting the 25-44 age group, as they were the group who showed both a willingness to pay a premium and a belief in the importance of ethics in determining destination choice. For more information contact Emily Luscombe or Rachel Argyle on 020 7636 7366 or email eluscombe@camarguepr.com / rachel.argyle@tns-global.com Back to Top

CONSUMERS ASK OPERATORS TO OFFER CARBON OFFSET Recent research carried out to mark British Tourism Week found that nearly 90% of UK consumers believe hotels and tourism companies have a responsibility to operate in a way that protects the environment. A survey of 2,000 UK consumers, conducted by Travelodge, revealed that 54% want to offset the carbon emissions from their next stay in a hotel. Seventy per cent would travel by train rather than car on a domestic break if it meant cheaper hotel prices, while 50% would like to see the total Co2 footprint of a hotel stay or travel journey on the receipt. Guy Parsons, chief operating officer at Travelodge, said: “Consumers are beginning to accept that our leisure choices can impact the environment we live in. The positive news is they are prepared to change the way they holiday.” By 2012, Travelodge aims to cut its carbon footprint by 55,000 tonnes. It is piloting wind turbines on hotels, water and waste reduction schemes and more energy efficiency hotel rooms. For more information, email Travelodge: pressoffice@travelodge.co.uk Back to Top