Going Green

That’s the aim of Torquay’s leading conference centre which is not only aiming to win a green tourism award….but hoping its competitors go green with envy!

The Riviera International Conference Centre (RICC) has set itself a New Year resolution which it is determined to keep….establishing an environmental policy which sets out certain measures that encourage more sustainable business practice, with the objective of achieving the ‘Green Tourism’ Award.

The scheme, called the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS), is backed by Southwest Tourism which is encouraging as many local businesses as possible to pick up the gauntlet and change for the good of the environment and themselves.

The GBTS, which has been successfully running in Scotland for the last seven years, has been recognised as providing practical environmental measures to enable businesses to reduce their environmental impact, improve the management of any resources they use such as energy and water and increase their marketing potential for a market place with an ever growing environmental conscience.

RICC managing director Barry Cole explained: “In order to achieve the Green Tourism Award, we must meet a set of criteria which will be different for each department. For example, the catering department must make sure they are able to offer locally produced organic produce, provided wherever possible by companies who in turn also have to meet another set of green criteria.

“We are keen to encourage our visitors to go green, including delegates attending conferences. We would like to create awareness throughout the building to get everyone actively involved, simply by turning off lights, photocopiers and computers and providing them with organic/locally produced food. For our part we will assist them by offering a car sharing scheme via the Conference Torquay website for delegates from the same areas to arrange travel together.

“The RICC will also be considering other environmental issues that include supporting local schools green projects, or sponsoring tree planting exercises for the good of its external environment,” Barry added.
A portfolio of evidence will be put together over time and, when complete, will be presented to the Green Tourism Board. An assessor will be sent to the RICC to confirm the Green policies are being carried out.

Co-ordinator of this project Mary Dale, assistant Conference Bureau Manager explained that at the present time, the RICC is in the process of involving its staff by encouraging them to make small changes to the way in which they work, through good practice.

“We need to make staff aware that lighting an office overnight wastes enough energy to heat water for 1000 cups of tea! That’s enough tea for 300 delegates per day. Photocopiers left on overnight use enough energy to produce over 5000 copies! That represents our next mail shot and probably the one after that!”

Mary added: “Leaving a PC monitor on all night wastes enough energy to microwave six dinners! Staff must be encouraged to switch them off.
“Switching off non-essential equipment in an office overnight saves enough energy to run a small car for 100 miles! ...........That could be at least five familiarisation trips around Torquay for five potential conference organisers”