Combe House Devon Wins ‘Best Green Marketing Initiative’ Considerate Hoteliers Award

June 12, 2011 - PRLog -- Combe House Devon won the ‘Best Green Marketing Initiative Award’ for its newly restored Victorian Kitchen Gardens which have proved to be the driver of the hotel’s best marketing initiatives – both planned and unexpected.

A new category introduced this year by the Considerate Hoteliers Association (CHA), the award was given to the accommodation provider which, in the eyes of the judges, had produced the most outstanding marketing initiative from entries submitted for five of their other categories. The award winners were selected for their lateral thinking on the environment and social responsibility outside of the usual boxes of saving energy, water and waste. The hotel was also highly commended in the Sustainable Food category.

The main benefits of the restoration have included more authentic and interesting menus, enhanced food provenance, a detailed food section on the hotel’s website, and more interesting information for the Combe House e-newsletter. The re-introduction of the ‘Putt’ cider apple and bringing back cider-making generated PR and press opportunities.

The hotel also reached the semi-finals of Country Life magazine’s 2010 ‘Restoration of the Century National Award’, generating further media interest.

By finishing the restoration of the gardens, it helped Ken and Ruth Hunt – who run Combe House Devon – to complete the story of the property and publish a booklet entitled the ‘History of Combe House and Gittisham: 1066-2010’. The publication includes not only the past history, but also 12 years of sustainable hospitality at Combe House from 1998 to 2010 – including descriptions of the yearly restoration projects that have been undertaken. The booklet has proved to be the best marketing tool the hotel has ever produced and is used by guests, journalists, influencers and staff alike, generating considerable media coverage and helping differentiate the hotel from its competitors.

Delighted with their Considerate Hoteliers award, Ken Hunt said; “Restoring the Victorian kitchen gardens has been a labour of love shared with our team, and, of course, Charlie and Ron the gardeners. Their enthusiasm to restore them to their rightful place has enabled us to proudly present our guests with the freshest possible, sustainable produce which they can appreciate and enjoy.”

Combe’s sustainable projects have also gained them several other awards including the ‘Most Excellent Innovation in Sustainable Hospitality’ from Condé Nast Johansen 2010 and a Gold Award from the Green Tourism Business Scheme. In addition, the hotel is a member of the Sustainable Restaurants Association.

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Notes to Editors:

About the Considerate Hoteliers Association
Considerate Hoteliers is an association of like-minded hoteliers, whose purpose it is to encourage, assist, cajole and motivate fellow hoteliers to adopt sustainable, environmentally friendly and socially responsible practices. A list of current members can be found at www.consideratehoteliers.com

About Combe House Devon
Devon Hotel of the Year 2010: Combe House is a wildly romantic Grade I Elizabethan manor house hotel hidden on a lush 3,500 acre country estate at Gittisham where Arabian horses roam freely.  Accommodation is in just 15 luxurious bedrooms and suites plus a thatched cottage for two tucked away at the entrance to the mile-long drive with its own secluded, walled garden. Prices start from £199 B&B per double/twin room per night. Dogs are welcome in some rooms and the cottage.

For details call Combe House Devon on 01404 540 400 or visit http://www.combehousedevon.com

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A wildly romantic Grade 1 Elizabethan Manor set in 3,500 acres of one of Devon's finest country estates, close to the sea for long coastal walks, yet just a short drive from the Cathedral city of Exeter.