General Question · S2O-11805 · Session 2
How many bookings Executive staff have made with accommodation providers accredited under the Green Tourism Business Scheme and what percen…
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many bookings Executive staff have made with accommodation providers accredited under the Green Tourism Business Scheme and what percentage this represents of total accommodation bookings made by the Executive since the announcement of the scheme on 24 August 2006.
The answer
The Executive’s hotel bookingsare normally made through the Expotel agency. Since last June, Expotel has promotedGreen Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS)-registered establishments in Scotland as afirst choice to ministers and officials where they offer comparable value for moneyto non-GTBS accommodation and are suitably located. From June to November 2006 (theonly period for which data is currently available), 1,461 bookings were made throughExpotel, of which 156 or nearly 11% were for GTBS-accredited accommodation.
At present, only 209 servicedaccommodation providers are full members of the GTBS and as a result, GTBS accreditedaccommodation is not always available. However, the Tourism Framework for Changecommits the industry and VisitScotland to increasing membership of the GTBS eachyear. Expotel and VisitScotland are therefore undertaking active promotion of theGTBS to non-accredited hotels, and a new entry level is soon to be launched withinthe scheme which will make it significantly easier for businesses to join. Thiswill broaden the range of suitable GTBS accommodation providers for ministers andofficials, and as a consequence we expect the use of this accommodation to risesubstantially in the future.
Information on accommodationbooked outwith Expotel is not held centrally.
At present, only 209 servicedaccommodation providers are full members of the GTBS and as a result, GTBS accreditedaccommodation is not always available. However, the Tourism Framework for Changecommits the industry and VisitScotland to increasing membership of the GTBS eachyear. Expotel and VisitScotland are therefore undertaking active promotion of theGTBS to non-accredited hotels, and a new entry level is soon to be launched withinthe scheme which will make it significantly easier for businesses to join. Thiswill broaden the range of suitable GTBS accommodation providers for ministers andofficials, and as a consequence we expect the use of this accommodation to risesubstantially in the future.
Information on accommodationbooked outwith Expotel is not held centrally.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S2O-11805 by reference.