Best Western Valley Hotel in Ironbridge is the first hotel in Shropshire to be awarded the coveted Gold award, under the Green Tourism Business Scheme, for demonstrating excellence in environmental practice.

In order to qualify for this rating, the hotel had to demonstrate a commitment to sustainability, managing waste and energy consumption, reducing its carbon footprint and promoting an awareness of the environment and the community, through staff training.

Joanne Boddison, General Manager said “Our in-house Green Team has been the driving force behind achieving our gold status, and we are very proud of what we have achieved. As a business we have become much more efficient with our resources and received positive feedback on our work from guests and visitors. It is a long term plan, and we will continue with the project and our commitment to sustainable tourism.”

We are aware of a growing number of environmentally educated consumers, and expectations are higher of both leisure clients and corporate meeting planners. To assist in this cause, we have developed the Green Conference Package for conference planners, and the Green Groups package for tour operators. The Going Green phenomenon tends to cover three main points of discussion - conserving energy and resources, recycling and reusing of products, and utilizing local organisations for activities.

The new conference package has been formatted to include all three objectives, but still includes the same standard features - overnight accommodation, a three course meal, refreshment breaks, and equipment hire, with various environmental advantages added in.

Click here to download our Green Conference Package.

Ironbridge as a tourist destination can offer a great deal to the consumer who wishes to lower their carbon footprint. We work very closely with Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust and the Greenwood Centre to provide a sustainable destination to the leisure and group market. Once the traveller has arrived at the hotel by coach or public transport, it is possible to enjoy a short break in the Ironbridge Gorge and visit the museums and attraction on foot, or on bicycle.

Click here to download our Green Leisure Break Package

Click here to download our Green Group Package and itinerary.

Click here to download our Environmental Policy

Click here to download a copy of our Visitor Charter

Information about the Green Tourism Business Scheme Award and other businesses that are members of the scheme can be found at www.green-business.co.uk

Witihin walking distance of the hotel is the Green Wood Centre. It is an innovative interpretation centre for woodland management, coppicing, sustainable building and other sustainable technologies. The centre has its own cafe, retail outlet for coppice products and also many courses are held onsite ranging from yoga weekends to woodland management.

Green Wood Centre Course details are available here

If you would like to be a greener visitor and consider using public transportation please visit the following sites for timetable information.

Train Timetables can be found here

and Bus Timetables here The local bus stop collects and picks up from the Museum of the Gorge in Ironbridge.

Or alternatvely you can cycle to the hotel and use our designated bike rack to store your bicycle.

www.thebicyclehub.co.uk