An Oxford hotel travelled picked up a European award for its sustainability efforts.

The voco Oxford Thames and Spires hotels won the ‘IHG Environment and Sustainability Impact Award’ based on results from key environmental metrics, which are put in front of a judging panel.

The hotels have made year-on-year energy savings of over 22 per cent by implementing several green initiatives.

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This year, the team installed solar panels to allow the kitchen to run partially on green solar energy and removed plastic and gas appliances, replacing them with green alternatives.

The Environment and Sustainability Impact Award is a new category, introduced this year to challenge properties across Europe to be greener and more energy efficient. 

Wendy Proctor, general manager at voco Oxford hotels, said: “Our team is passionate about environmental and social change.

"Winning this award demonstrates that efforts are being made and this is about progression, not perfection.

"As corporate customers look to providers who are more sustainable, to help achieve progress against their own targets, we aim to be a solution.

"Leisure guests are also becoming more aware of environmental factors, and this is shaping their buying choices.

The award ceremony was held in Lyon and attended by representatives from across IHG.

Chris Ireland, IHG UK operations director, said: “The definition of what it means to be a responsible business continues to evolve.

"How companies operate and behave responsibly, how they grow, and how ambitious they are to create positive change for the greater good are expected to be part of the fabric of a business and are closely followed, more than ever, by stakeholders.

“Congratulations to voco Oxford Thames and voco Oxford Spires who lead by example.”