Northern Experience Wildlife Tours
Saturday May 25th, 2013 13:04
Leading the Wild Pack
Monday 20th February, 2012
NORTHERN EXPERIENCE WILDLIFE TOURS
Press notice
20 February 2012
EMBARGO DATE; Immediate release
LEADING THE WILD PACK
A groundbreaking Northumberland wildlife tour company has had its commitment to the environment honoured with a prestigious national award following its first assessment.
Northern Experience Wildlife Tours (NEWT) has been given the highest possible grading by the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS), making the Scotland Gate based company the only Wildlife Tour Operator in England to hold a GTBS GOLD Award for its commitment to sustainable tourism and the environment.
NEWT owner Martin Kitching said “it’s a great honour to achieve a GOLD Award from GTBS, which is the only certification scheme for tourism in the UK to be endorsed by VisitEngland, VisitScotland and VisitWales. As well as minimising our impact on the environment as far as possible we contribute to conservation research, with our offshore trips in search of whales, dolphins and seabirds generating data that has been used in the Marine Conservation Zones project, and our regular safari trips throughout Northumberland contributing records of our land-based wildlife.”
Wendy Fail, GTBS Grading Assessor said "Northern Experience Wildlife Tours is an excellent example of how a small business can become more sustainable. Martin is extremely enthusiastic and knowledgeable; this passion is infectious and is clearly displayed through his business ethic. His efforts have been rewarded with a GOLD Green Tourism Award, which is a fantastic achievement for an entry level business".
Martin will be one of the speakers at a Sustainable Tourism event for local businesses in Berwick Town Hall on March 6th, where he will describe the contribution that nature-based tourism can make to the sustainability of Northumberland’s tourism industry. As Martin explained “tourism is a vital contributor to the economy of Northumberland, and the sustainability of the environment and the sustainability of our local tourism industry go hand in hand.”
For more information about Northern Experience Wildlife Tours, visit www.newtltd.co.uk or call Martin or Sarah on 01670 827465.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
Northern Experience Wildlife Tours was founded in 2006 by former teacher Martin Kitching, offering guided wildlife, birdwatching and photography day trips, tuition and package holidays throughout North East England year-round and offshore wildlife cruises in June, July, August, September, November and December. Martin has organised offshore wildlife trips from Northumberland since 1998 and was one of the finders of the first Wilson's Petrel to be seen in the British North Sea. He is the former Field Trips Officer for the Northumberland and Tyneside Bird Club and former editor and author, and current sub-editor, of the highly rated annual report, Birds in Northumbria. Martin is also Chair of the South East Northumberland Tourism Association (SENTA). Northern Experience Wildlife Tours are a partner in the groundbreaking North East Cetacean Project www.northeastcetaceans.org.uk and part of the Birdwatching Northumberland consortium which promotes Northumberland as a birdwatching destination. For more information visit: www.newtltd.co.uk
Northumberland Sustainable Tourism Event at Berwick Town Hall, March 6th. The event is being organised by the North Northumberland Tourism Association, with support from the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership and the Northumberland National Park Authority. Tickets are only £10 and include a lunch of local fare from some of Northumberland’s finest producers. Places can be booked by calling Iain Robson on 01665 511206 or email event@nnta.org
Green Tourism Business Scheme is the only tourism certification program in the UK endorsed by VisitEngland, VisitScotland and VisitWales and has been validated by the International Centre for Responsible Tourism since 2008. Operated by a not-for-profit organisation, Green Business, there are over 2,300 GTBS members through the UK and Ireland. Businesses are graded by qualified environmental assessors and those that meet the standard are awarded either: BRONZE, SILVER or GOLD. This is based on fulfilling a number of criteria incorporating; energy and water efficiency, purchasing, waste minimisation, management and communication. Businesses can benefit from significant marketing advantage and reduced running costs of up to 20%. For more information visit: www.green-business.co.uk
Press contact; Martin Kitching, 01670 827465 martin@newtltd.co.uk
Press notice
20 February 2012
EMBARGO DATE; Immediate release
LEADING THE WILD PACK
A groundbreaking Northumberland wildlife tour company has had its commitment to the environment honoured with a prestigious national award following its first assessment.
Northern Experience Wildlife Tours (NEWT) has been given the highest possible grading by the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS), making the Scotland Gate based company the only Wildlife Tour Operator in England to hold a GTBS GOLD Award for its commitment to sustainable tourism and the environment.
NEWT owner Martin Kitching said “it’s a great honour to achieve a GOLD Award from GTBS, which is the only certification scheme for tourism in the UK to be endorsed by VisitEngland, VisitScotland and VisitWales. As well as minimising our impact on the environment as far as possible we contribute to conservation research, with our offshore trips in search of whales, dolphins and seabirds generating data that has been used in the Marine Conservation Zones project, and our regular safari trips throughout Northumberland contributing records of our land-based wildlife.”
Wendy Fail, GTBS Grading Assessor said "Northern Experience Wildlife Tours is an excellent example of how a small business can become more sustainable. Martin is extremely enthusiastic and knowledgeable; this passion is infectious and is clearly displayed through his business ethic. His efforts have been rewarded with a GOLD Green Tourism Award, which is a fantastic achievement for an entry level business".
Martin will be one of the speakers at a Sustainable Tourism event for local businesses in Berwick Town Hall on March 6th, where he will describe the contribution that nature-based tourism can make to the sustainability of Northumberland’s tourism industry. As Martin explained “tourism is a vital contributor to the economy of Northumberland, and the sustainability of the environment and the sustainability of our local tourism industry go hand in hand.”
For more information about Northern Experience Wildlife Tours, visit www.newtltd.co.uk or call Martin or Sarah on 01670 827465.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
Northern Experience Wildlife Tours was founded in 2006 by former teacher Martin Kitching, offering guided wildlife, birdwatching and photography day trips, tuition and package holidays throughout North East England year-round and offshore wildlife cruises in June, July, August, September, November and December. Martin has organised offshore wildlife trips from Northumberland since 1998 and was one of the finders of the first Wilson's Petrel to be seen in the British North Sea. He is the former Field Trips Officer for the Northumberland and Tyneside Bird Club and former editor and author, and current sub-editor, of the highly rated annual report, Birds in Northumbria. Martin is also Chair of the South East Northumberland Tourism Association (SENTA). Northern Experience Wildlife Tours are a partner in the groundbreaking North East Cetacean Project www.northeastcetaceans.org.uk and part of the Birdwatching Northumberland consortium which promotes Northumberland as a birdwatching destination. For more information visit: www.newtltd.co.uk
Northumberland Sustainable Tourism Event at Berwick Town Hall, March 6th. The event is being organised by the North Northumberland Tourism Association, with support from the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership and the Northumberland National Park Authority. Tickets are only £10 and include a lunch of local fare from some of Northumberland’s finest producers. Places can be booked by calling Iain Robson on 01665 511206 or email event@nnta.org
Green Tourism Business Scheme is the only tourism certification program in the UK endorsed by VisitEngland, VisitScotland and VisitWales and has been validated by the International Centre for Responsible Tourism since 2008. Operated by a not-for-profit organisation, Green Business, there are over 2,300 GTBS members through the UK and Ireland. Businesses are graded by qualified environmental assessors and those that meet the standard are awarded either: BRONZE, SILVER or GOLD. This is based on fulfilling a number of criteria incorporating; energy and water efficiency, purchasing, waste minimisation, management and communication. Businesses can benefit from significant marketing advantage and reduced running costs of up to 20%. For more information visit: www.green-business.co.uk
Press contact; Martin Kitching, 01670 827465 martin@newtltd.co.uk
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