About Hand Picked Hotels
Hand Picked Hotels is a unique collection of 21 privately owned country houses and coastal retreats across the UK and the Channel Islands. Each hotel offers an authentic blend of character, heritage, and relaxed luxury, with award-winning hospitality at its heart. We are committed to preserving the beauty of our surroundings, enhancing guest wellbeing and making positive contributions to the communities we serve.
Our Vision
At Hand Picked Hotels, we believe sustainability is a journey made up of thoughtful choices, big and small. We care deeply about looking after the environment, protecting the heritage of our beautiful properties and supporting the communities around us. We believe that true luxury doesn’t have to cost the earth and that comfort, care and sustainability can go hand in hand.
Our Commitments
We are committed to continuous improvement with a focus on environmental and social impact. This includes:
- • Improving energy efficiency and reducing reliance on fossil fuels across all operations.
- • Managing and reducing waste using data to support continual improvement.
- • Using water responsibly by maintaining our systems, being mindful of how it’s used and encouraging guests to do the same.
- • Procuring goods and services that align with our strong preference for local and ethical partners.
- • Supporting biodiversity by preserving natural landscapes and introducing targeted conservation efforts.
- • Engaging and educating our teams with sustainability training tailored to their roles, supported by clear reporting tools.
- • Providing guests with clear and accessible ways to support low-impact choices during their stay.
Social Responsibility and Inclusion
We are committed to fairness, dignity and equal opportunity in our workforce and guest experience. We foster an inclusive culture where all team members feel valued.
Community Engagement and Social Impact
Alongside our focus on inclusion, we support a range of charitable initiatives at both national and local levels. These include partnerships with well-known organisations such as MacmillanCancer Support, the Royal British Legion and University Hospitals Birmingham Charity, as well as other causes supported by our teams.
Responsible Procurement
We take a structured, value-led approach to procurement - prioritising local and UK-based suppliers who demonstrate strong environmental credentials, ethical practices, and supply chain transparency. Our in-room toiletries partner, Noble Isle, provides vegan-friendly products in 50% recycled bottles and works with Clean Conscience, a charity that redistributes leftover toiletries to people in need - reducing waste and supporting vulnerable communities.
Guest Participation
We believe sustainability is something we can achieve together. We invite guests to contribute through simple but impactful actions, such as linen and towel reuse, using refillable amenities and choosing digital communications over printed materials. Our in-room messaging and team conversations aim to make sustainability a visible and engaging part of each stay.
Our Ongoing Goals
- • Exploring opportunities for on-site renewable generation, where appropriate to the heritage and landscape.
- • Improving waste segregation rates and strengthening waste contractor partnerships to achieve measurable landfill reduction.
- • Further enhancing food waste tracking and reduction tools within kitchens.
- • Developing a more detailed carbon reporting framework to align with hospitality sustainability standards.
- • Expanding biodiversity interventions and measure their impact on local ecosystems.
- • Rolling out enhanced sustainability learning modules across hotel teams to embed shared responsibility.
Policy Review and Availability
This policy is reviewed annually to ensure it remains effective and relevant. It is available publicly via our website and displayed at all Hand Picked Hotels locations.
Working Together for a Greener Future
Sustainability is not just a goal - it is a guiding principle for how we operate, collaborate and grow. We’re proud of the progress made so far, but even more committed to the work ahead.
Green Tourism Accreditation
We are proud to have achieved Green Tourism accreditation across all 21 of our hotels, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to sustainability.
