Judges of the hospitality industry’s Catey awards said The Goodwood Hotel was a “shining example of how to work towards becoming a green business” and praised its impressive ten-year sustainability strategy.
The Catey awards were held at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House, on July 5, 2022, to celebrate the best and brightest businesses and individuals in hospitality across the UK.
Andrew Coggings, managing director of Goodwood’s Entertaining and Hospitality, said: “Winning a Catey is hugely significant because recipients are nominated, selected and rewarded by their peers.
“We are beyond thrilled The Goodwood Hotel has been recognised as Britain’s most sustainable hospitality business for the innovative steps we’ve taken to neutralise our impact on the environment over the past year.
“This award highlights Goodwood’s commitment to environmental practices in order to become a carbon neutral estate by 2030.”
Goodwood’s hotel beat competition from finalists including Fallow, a restaurant in London, Heckfield Place in Hampshire, Levy UK + Ireland, Eurest food services and the University of Sheffield.
Sue Williams, Whatley Manor general manager and one of the judges of the Sustainable Business Award, which is sponsored by 4C Associates, described Goodwood’s win as “a truly inspiring submission.”
She described Goodwood as: “A company that is quietly going about decarbonising their business in a very thorough and fulsome way.”
Some of the new sustainability measures introduced by Goodwood are the investment in a £6 million biomass waste-to-energy facility to provide heat and power to the hotel.
The new biomass system was installed on the estate during the pandemic. It was turned on in November 2021, delivering combined heat and power to the hotel.
The biomass is fuelled by 3,500 tonnes of straw from Goodwood’s Festival of Speed, 2,600 tonnes of woodchip from their forestry team and 1,000 tonnes of waste wood from across the estate.
Goodwood’s wider sustainability action plan focuses on its natural resources, carbon, water and the community. Future plans include generating green energy with solar panels, hydro and aerobic digestion.
A fleet of hybrid and electric machinery has been commissioned to look after the two golf courses along with additional high-speed electric vehicle charging points being installed across the estate.
Juliane Cailouette-Noble, SRA development director and one of the judges of the Sustainable Business award, said: “This year was an extremely tough competition. Never have we had so many submissions – let alone so many with such detailed commitment, such clear plans integrated across the business, and such meaningful action.”
Goodwood wins top industry award for new biomass project
