Kidderminster hotel lands gold for sustainability successes

The 4 AA Red Star Brockencote Hall Hotel has been recognised by Green Tourism – a world-leading certification that has been assessing travel, tourism and hospitality businesses’ approaches to sustainability for more than 27 years.

Expert assessors provide certification via bronze, silver and gold gradings, with Brockencote Hall achieving gold, after initially clinching bronze and silver in 2023 and 2024 respectively.

Over the past year the hotel has seen a 44 per cent reduction in its food waste thanks to innovative approaches, such as composting on-site which benefits the hotel’s polytunnels where some fresh produce is grown, with other residual food waste being anaerobically digested.

Overall, the hotel’s waste volumes over the past year have also reduced by 23 per cent thanks to enhanced recycling processes through team training as the property continues its zero-landfill status.

A drive to celebrate and give back to the local community has also played a key role in landing gold certification.

This has included inviting a range of local artisan makers to the hotel to sell their items at a special Christmas market, through to supporting local charities in need, such as the Primrose Hospice which recently had £500 worth of festive hampers donated to them to raise funds.

As well as providing picturesque views for guests, the grounds have played a sustainable role by providing foliage for a festive wreathmaking workshop, along with becoming the new home to bee hives, which after their first harvest on-site, has seen honey used in a variety of dishes, including bakery treats and creatively designed cocktails.

All of the improvements have been overseen by a dedicated “green champion” at the hotel – which also operates on 100 per cent renewable energy – in order to strive for a consistent approach.

Dan Brennan, General Manager at Brockencote Hall Hotel, said: “As a hotel the local community is at the heart of who we are – whether that’s our colleagues, nearby residents, or the people and organisations we partner with to provide a space for our guests to relax and create special memories.

“Sustainability has always been a big priority for us in our everyday work, but claiming gold is the icing on the cake, and is testament to the effort put in by the whole team to not only look after our visitors, but the environment too.”

Jayne O’Malley is the Group Operations Director at Eden Hotel Collection, which operates Brockencote Hall Hotel, and she has worked closely with the hotel and Green Tourism’s assessors to develop its green credentials.

Jayne said: “The hotel’s gradual improvement towards sustainability over the past three years has been underpinned by consistent communication throughout their whole team, and to our guests too – and they should be commended for that.

“The hotel is a best-in-class example to other organisations of how they can have a positive impact on their own doorstep – whether it is thinking creatively to reduce waste, prioritising services or experiences with a low carbon footprint, or supporting services that have a positive impact on the wider area.”