BEST Western Monk Bar Hotel, York, hopes to climax its 20th birthday celebrations with a victory in The Press Business Awards that could turn other hotels in the region green with envy.

The 99-bedroom, 74 employee hotel in St Maurice’s Road is not only pitching for the Tourism and Hospitality Business Of The Year title, but also the Think Green accolade.

Under its general manager, June Nelsey, the hotel’s environmental policy is based on four R’s – Reduce, Re-use, Repair and Recycle. But it is more than a slogan.

The hotel was the first in York to achieve the Bronze Green Tourism Award from the Green Tourism Board, and now it is gunning for silver, based on the commitment of all heads of department, who discuss green issues, targets and achievements at weekly meetings.

The result is an enclosed herb garden for use by the hotel chefs to cut down on food miles, as well as sourcing products locally, including its bottled water.

Then there is its formal partnership with nearby bicycle shop, Bob Trotter Cycles, to encourage guests to explore the city using pedal power.

And one of the reasons it was a recent finalists in the UK Considerate Hotelier Awards, was its determination to encourage guests and suppliers to “think green” too.

For example, guests are encouraged to report dripping taps and switch off lights and televisions when not in use, while suppliers are asked to email rather than print and post invoices.

Staff regularly increase the amount of glass, paper and cardboard, recycles ink cartridges.

In addition, since strict measures were introduced to control gas, electricity and water use, the hotel has seen a reduction in its utility bills by 13 per cent year on year.