Environmental Awareness

Hoseasons have been marketing holidays in the British countryside and along its waterways for over 60-years; more recently we have added European holidays. An appreciation and enjoyment of the natural environment are central to the Hoseasons holiday experience. Hoseasons’ core programme brief is to source holidays which continue to contribute to this experience for its customers.

Hoseasons supports the International Chamber of Commerce Business Charter for Sustainable Development which seeks to establish conditions for economic growth that protect the environment. The Company believes that development and conservation should reinforce each other in pursuit of sustainable growth.

Hoseasons seeks to go beyond mere compliance with the law, which it willingly embraces, to achieve in particular, savings of energy and resources, and the reduction of waste and effluent in all its forms.

Hoseasons wishes to be a good neighbour in all those communities within which it operates and encourages its employees to be active ambassadors of good environmental practice.

Particular elements of our policy will:

• Be alert to those areas where the interests of the environment can be upheld (eg in advice to customers) and to those areas where such interests may be compromised by the holidays themselves (eg in boating holidays) and to take action to redress such conflicts where possible.
• In its membership of organisations and institutions and in its participation in joint initiatives, maintain up-to-date information on environmental issues and take action where required eg Association of British Travel Agents, Institute of Travel & tourism, British Home & Holiday Parks Association.
• Support the conservation of non-renewable resources and actively encourage reuse, recycling and waste minimisation.
• Reduce paper use wherever practicable and to use paper derived from renewable resources.
• Promote awareness and encourage active commitment among management and staff of ecological and environmental issues related to both the holiday products on sale and to the workplace; such policies to be reinforced in training and in official staff guidances.

• All computers and photocopiers use recycled paper, where appropriate.
• All inkjet and laser cartridges are purchased in recycled form, where possible. Used cartridges are passed to charities for sale for recycling.
• All waste paper (including brochures) is recycled, wherever possible.
• Use of recycled paper in the brochures is not consistent with the requirements for paper weight and quality – but all brochure papers are sourced from commercially managed and renewed forests.
• Our office heating system incorporates a heat exchanger utilising waste heat from the computer installation.
• Staff notices, training programmes and manuals include guidance on environmental policies and issues.

NB. Hoseasons acts as an agent for the holiday product owners – boatyard owners, cottage owners and holiday park operators. These owners are therefore “suppliers”.

About a third of Hoseasons direct expenditure is involved in the purchase of print and paper. Both of these industry sectors have stringent codes of conduct regarding the environment, with specific emphasis on pollution and renewable resource.

Boating holidays present specific environmental issues since they introduce motorised traffic and people into a sensitive ecological environment. As the market leaders in holiday boating, Hoseasons has long recognised this, both in its own right and in its membership of and representation upon interested associations including:

• Broads Authority (terms of reference: conservation, recreation and navigation).
• British Hire Boat Federation.
• British Marine Federation.

Hoseasons has been instrumental in guiding boatyard owners and boat builders in the following areas:

• Non-polluting freshwater flush toilets.
• Wash-friendly hull designs to minimise bank erosion, habitat damage and disturbance and injury to wildlife.
• Reductions in maximum permitted cruising speeds (and sponsorship of Broads River Police) to further minimise wash damage.
• Noise reduction research for boat exhausts and central heating systems.
• Use of bio-diesel fuel.
• Re-design of diesel overspill pipes to help prevent pollution.
• Promotion of onward guidance to holidaymakers:
• Litter disposal (“Keep Broads Tidy” campaign was originally funded by the Broadland Owners’ Association, now by the Broads Authority).
• Correct disposal of fishing lines for bird safety.
• Countryside/wildlife code.
• Encouragement of cycling and walking activities in conjunction with boating holidays.

Hoseasons service to Cottage and Holiday Park owners includes guidance on a wide range of planning and landscaping issues, often in the initial stages of the development or conversion of a holiday complex. Environmental factors play a key part in this, and indeed are usually intrinsic to the attractions of the holiday experience itself.

Hoseasons won the 1997 World Travel Market “Environmental Company Award” for the part it has played in making holiday parks increasingly attractive in natural settings and in its leadership in urging operators to respect tidiness and sensitivity towards the environment. The award also recognised Hoseasons’ efforts in promoting wash-reducing hull designs in holiday boats.

Hoseasons encourages Holiday Park owners to gain recognition of their concern for the environment by promotion of awards such as the David Bellamy Award and inclusion of their details in its Lodges & Parks brochures. Of the 319 locations currently featured, 7.8% (25) hold David Bellamy awards for their contribution to sustaining and enhancing the natural world – from protection of plant and animal habitats to the efficient use of energy and recycling. Seventeen of these are Gold Awards and 8 are Silver.

Hoseasons encourages its accommodation suppliers in Holiday Parks and Cottages to make enjoyment and appreciation of the environment a feature of their holidays. Examples include:

• Videocams of nest sites wired to accommodation.
• Badger watching on site.
• Birds of prey centre on site.
• Marked nature trails (at many parks and cottages these are within the grounds).
• Woodland walks.

Hoseasons’ brochures include details of environmental attractions and details of David Bellamy and other environmental awards.

Boating customers are sent a booklet and leaflets which include guidance about respecting wildlife, especially in respect of litter, shallow water, speed limits and the “look, don’t touch” message. This is further reinforced by more comprehensive information contained in the comprehensive on-board boating manuals. Free “Waterways Code” videos (produced by the BWB) are also promoted, as is a variety of other wildlife publications and video guides.

Cottages customers are advised of the countryside code in visitors’ information packs displayed in all cottages.

Hoseasons occupies a town centre location, but has initiated a landscaped planting programme where this has been possible on the site.