Multi-award-winning Blanket Bay lodge in Glenorchy has added yet another award to its impressive line-up for 2009 - Qualmark Enviro-Gold.

The luxury lodge has achieved the award in recognition of its ‘Caring Luxury’ initiative and adoption of responsible environmental practices, in particular over the past 12 months.

The Enviro Awards commend top performers in five key areas including energy efficiency, waste management, water conservation, community activities and conservation initiatives, and Blanket Bay is delighted its hard work has paid off.

"Blanket Bay has put a lot of work into our ‘Caring Luxury’ initiative and we’ve always strived to use responsible environmental, economic and social practices," says General Manager Philip Jenkins.

"For the welfare of Blanket Bay and the economic sustainability of New Zealand we felt we had a moral obligation to formalise many of our existing initiatives and to implement new ones. Achieving a result like this makes all our efforts worthwhile."

Led by the owner of Blanket Bay Tom Tusher, who is on the World Wildlife Foundation Board of Directors, management and employees work collectively to help to develop ‘Caring Luxury’ initiatives which ensure Blanket Bay lives up to guest expectations of a ‘clean and green’ New Zealand.

‘Caring Luxury’ was implemented 12 months ago when the team at Blanket Bay made a decision to adopt responsible environmental, economic and social practices, which at the same time would provide enriching and rewarding experiences for hotel guests.

Qualmark implemented the Enviro Awards last year and they have since become the world’s first fully integrated environmental and quality accreditation programme for tourism.

"Achieving a gold Enviro Award is an accolade we are most proud of and we will do our best to see that Blanket Bay continues to research and develop other initiatives that further help the environment and the local community," says Mr Jenkins.

In the 10 years since opening in December 1999, Blanket Bay has enjoyed a dramatic climb into the ranks the world’s best properties with an awards list that ranges from building honours through to Hotel Management Awards, several awards won by individuals of its culinary team and annual places on various lists of the world’s best accommodation properties.

For further information please contact: Philip Jenkins 03 442 9442, e-mail pjenkins@blanketbay.com or visit the Blanket Bay website www.blanketbay.com