Radisson SAS Edinburgh Review
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With over 322 hotels under the Rezidor Group umbrella, greening the operations of this hotel chain was always going to be a huge undertaking. But the powers that be decided it had to start somewhere, and it started here at the formidable Radisson SAS Hotel in central Edinburgh. And it was by no means the easiest one to begin with.
The Radisson attracts business and leisure travellers so its standards are consistently high, with spacious rooms, immaculate furnishings and excellent customer services. We enjoyed the metropolitan feel of our room, which had soft lighting and views over the city. Introducing green initiatives, however, hasn't impacted on the level of comfort offered to guests or on the building itself.
Alexandra Hammond, Responsible Business Manager, told us that the project came up against some hurdles, even. "The Radission SAS Hotel is located on the famous Golden Mile here in Edinburgh, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site," she said. "This has meant that while we have a responsibility to conserve the building, there are lots of restrictions on what we can add, like solar panels for example."
The hotel began with small things like training the staff to cut down on waste and energy use by ensuring that towels are only cleaned when necessary and rubbish is recycled whenever possible. Moving over to procurement, Alexander has made a big difference by encouraging the kitchen to buy locally and stock Fairtrade products in the rooms. The platter of fruit and chocolate in our room was a welcoming touch.
Downstairs in the hotel's restaurant the head chef strives to supply local and organic produce whenever possible. All beef, pork, venison and salmon is sourced from sustainable Scottish sources. The menu will soon tell guests which dishes use organic, local and free-range ingredients. There's also an organic spread on the breakfast buffet, which includes cooked and continental choices, although the room itself felt a bit corporate and functional.
The hotel also engages in other ways in the local community -- each year the staff vote for a local charity to support and have a say in community initiatives. They're also encouraged to use sustainable forms of transport to get to work. And of course the central location of the hotel means that guests, too, can arrive by public transport as it's just a ten-minute walk to Edinburgh Waverley railway station. The Rezidor Group is now investing in sustainable design and construction for each of its new builds across the UK and abroad.
While hotel chains have assisted in eroding the local character of cities and destinations around the world, it's heartening to know that this one is taking responsibility to look after and engage with the local communities. There's still plenty to be done, and we're hopeful that the rest of the hotel chain will follow suit.
[box]Essentials: A double room at the Radisson SAS Edinburgh starts from £100 per night, and goes up to £220 per night. The hotel is a ten-minute walk from Edinburgh Waverly railway station. 80 High Street, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 1TH[/box]Quality
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