With climate change becoming a major issue there is increased necessity for companies to have environmental responsibility. There is no denying that balancing sustainable initiatives and luxury for guests requires a lot of care. However, Royal Lancaster London offers perfect eco-friendly luxury to its guests and leads as an example to other hotels.
Under the hotel’s ‘There is No Planet B’ initiative, from November 2019, all 411 rooms will have refillable carafes and glasses to replace plastic water bottles. The hotel asks guests to help reduce the hotel’s carbon footprint by using water from the bathroom and highlights that the water quality in London is amongst the best in the world, making it safe and enjoyable to drink and therefore not compromising guest experience. If guests request a bottle, a glass bottle will be provided. When the hotel is at full occupancy, this saves nearly 1,000 plastic bottles a day.
The hotel also offers guest luxurious White Company toiletries, but instead of providing regular miniatures, 300ml refillable pump versions will be provided to save plastic wastage. These new initiatives are in addition to the hotel’s existing ‘Linen Re-Use Programme’ which encourages guests not to have their sheets changed during their stay, to save water; our planets most precious resource. A further initiative to help reduce plastic consumption and wastage, wax bags are being made for guests to take their White Company soap away with them as a small gift.
At the beginning of 2019, the hotel’s award-winning sustainable restaurant, ‘Island Grill’ launched its new seasonal menu, where produce is sourced from British suppliers for freshness as well as transport and packaging reduction. The restaurant also champions nose-to-tail cooking where possible. The restaurant boasts two AA Rosettes and a top three-star rating from the Sustainable Restaurant Association.
As part of its commitment to sustainability, Royal Lancaster London was the first hotel in London to cultivate beehives on its roof 10 years ago, a testament to the growing significance of urban-beekeeping. Sitting on the edge of Hyde Park, Royal Lancaster London recognises and promotes the importance of biodiversity in the current climate. There are ten traditional white slated English hives which are each home to 80,000 bees – all pitched on the second-floor roof. The honey bees pollinate the Lime trees in Hyde Park, located directly opposite the hotel, allowing the Bee Team to harvest light, citrusy honey which is served in the hotel’s sustainable restaurant, Island Grill and afternoon tea.
The newly introduced Living Wall at Royal Lancaster London holds nearly 9,000 plants. It has been designed and constructed to provide an attractive and vibrant approach to the iconic building; helping to connect it to leafy Hyde Park. Not only this, but the living wall helps to create a habitat and provide a convenient food source from the ‘Ajuga’ plant for the honey bees.
General Manager, Sally Beck says: “The hotel’s vision is ‘We Always Care’ and we employ 465 team members who all care. We care about our guests, our local environment and community, charity campaigns, and we care about the planet. Across the team we have a lot of creative and energised individuals who are consistently coming up with ways of saving more, reusing more and recycling more, to help us waste less. We intend to continue using those creative ideas and positive energy going forward. Out hotel is going to be here for a long time and we want to tread as lightly on the planet as we can.”
Royal Lancaster London is one of the most iconic hotels in the Capital. Following an £85 million refurbishment, Royal Lancaster London has prioritised its dedication to sustainability and employing eco- friendly practices.
Royal Lancaster London, Lancaster Terrace, London W2 2TY Tel: 020 7551 6000 or www.royallancaster.com
