Marketing your sustainable business

If you are already an eco-friendly business and want some tips on how to communicate your eco-credentials to potential customers, Visit Britain have produced a helpful toolkit. It splits customers into 3 separate groups and gives advice on how to tell your eco-story and market your business in the most effective way. One of the case studies is The Green House Hotel in Bournemouth.

Promote your awards and pledges

There are a number of award schemes which tells your customers that you are an eco-friendly business.

There are 27 other Dorset businesses who achieved a Bronze, Silver or Gold Green Tourism award in 2022. This is a national, annual accreditation scheme with fees starting at £150 + vat with a one-off admin fee in your first year. You can find out if your business could achieve an award using their free, 10 minute GreenCheck quiz. 

Holiday Parks can sign up to the David Bellamy Blooming Marvellous Pledge for Nature. When a park makes the Pledge, they commit to making changes and improvements to benefit wildlife.

One of the categories at the Dorset Tourism Awards is the Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award. It recognises tourism businesses committed to being sustainable, responsible and ethical in how they operate and interact with customers, the wider community and the environment. All entrants will receive summary feedback, with additional feedback available for a fee. Eligible winners will be 'fast-tracked' into corresponding categories of the South West Tourism Excellence Awards and from these may be selected to represent the area in the national VisitEngland Awards.

Launched in 2023, Litter Free Dorset's Sustainable Business Award is free to enter and allows you to join the Sustainable Business Network where you can get together and learn from like-minded businesses. The Award is made of 5 levels, so beginners will start at Level 1.