At Casa Hotel, sustainability is part of how we do business. As an independent four-star hotel in Chesterfield, our mission is to provide the perfect space to meet, eat, sleep and celebrate, while making considered choices that support our people, our guests, our suppliers, our local community and the planet. 

We are proud to have achieved Green Tourism Bronze and Green Meetings Bronze, recognising the positive steps we are taking across the hotel, restaurant, meetings and events spaces. These awards are independently assessed by Green Tourism and reflect our ongoing commitment to responsible, ethical and sustainable business practices across the areas of people, places and planet. 

For us, sustainability is not just about the environment. It is about doing good business, supporting our team, working with local suppliers, reducing our impact where we can and continuing to improve year after year. Green Tourism describes this as a journey of caring for people, places and our planet, and this is something we are proud to be part of. 

Our owner, Steve Perez, says: 

“This is a journey and a balancing act, but if we make as many steps as we can, in every decision we make, towards building a sustainable business, we will continue to do what we can to be the best we can. You can’t ignore the hotel and hospitality industry’s impact on both people and the planet, particularly around water usage and energy consumption, so we cannot ignore our role in helping to build a more sustainable future. Our employees play a crucial role in this journey, and we value their contributions immensely.” 

Green Tourism Bronze 

Our Green Tourism Bronze Award shows that our sustainability practices have been reviewed and recognised by a credible third-party accreditation. The assessment considers social, economic and environmental actions across the business, helping us understand where we are performing well and where we can continue to improve. 

Bronze recognises businesses that are actively making progress on their sustainability journey and implementing a range of measures across the key areas of people, places and planet. For Casa Hotel, this reflects the work already happening across our hotel operations, food and drink offering, team culture, local supply chain and environmental practices. 

Green Meetings Bronze 

Casa Hotel is also proud to have achieved Green Meetings Bronze, recognising our commitment to more sustainable meetings, conferences and corporate events. 

The Green Meetings certification is specific to meetings and events venues and helps businesses demonstrate their commitment to sustainability standards. It is measured against recognised criteria and verified by independent assessors, giving event organisers confidence when choosing a venue for meetings, conferences and corporate gatherings. 

This award reflects the steps we are taking to make our meetings and events offering more responsible, from energy efficiency and waste reduction to local sourcing, team involvement and guest experience. 

Environmental Initiatives 

Energy Efficiency 

We have introduced energy-saving measures throughout the hotel, including energy-efficient lighting and appliances, motion sensors in public areas and heating and cooling systems designed to reduce energy use while maintaining guest comfort. We have also installed a new central heat processing plant to help reduce energy consumption and energy waste. 

Water Conservation 

We recognise the importance of reducing water usage across the hotel. Water-saving fixtures are installed in guest rooms and public areas, and our housekeeping team is trained to use water efficiently. We also encourage guests to support our towel and linen reuse programme during their stay. 

Waste Reduction 

We actively promote waste reduction and recycling across the hotel, with recycling streams for paper, plastic, glass and other materials. We are working to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill and continue to look for ways to reduce single-use plastics, including the use of bulk toiletries and more responsible alternatives where possible. 

Sustainable Sourcing 

Local and Seasonal Produce 

Our chefs design menus around seasonal and locally sourced ingredients wherever possible. This supports local farmers and suppliers, reduces food miles and helps us showcase the quality of produce available in our region. 

We are proud to work with local suppliers, including our own 360-acre Walton Lodge Farm Estate, alongside producers such as The Bakewell Bakery, Thornbridge Brewery and The Mushroom Emporium. Over 90% of our produce comes from the UK, with much of it sourced locally. 

Responsible Products and Suppliers 

We aim to work with suppliers who share our values and demonstrate strong sustainability standards. This includes reviewing the products we use across housekeeping, food and drink, and wider hotel operations. Our housekeeping team has also reduced the use of harmful cleaning products on site. 

Supporting People and Place 

Supporting Local Communities 

Casa Hotel is proud to be part of the local community and visitor economy. We work with local charities, schools, associations and tourism partners, including Visit Peak District & Derbyshire and Destination Chesterfield. 

We also support local education and development through more than 20 work placements each year, alongside additional student involvement through college takeover days. 

Supporting Our Team 

Our people are at the heart of our business. Across Casa Hotel and Peak Edge Hotel, we provide more than 200 local jobs and are committed to supporting, training and rewarding our team. 

In the last 12 months, we have increased holiday allowance by five days annually and increased discounted food and drink rates to 50%. Contracted team members also have access to Westfield Health, and our team members are paid above the National Living Wage. 

Our Future Goals 

Our sustainability journey is ongoing. Following our Green Tourism Bronze and Green Meetings Bronze awards, we are committed to continuing to improve our practices and working towards further progress across the business. 

Our future goals include reducing our carbon footprint, improving energy efficiency, exploring renewable energy options, including a biomass plant, and continuing to use our Green Tourism assessment feedback to guide future improvements. This helps us identify our strengths, understand where we can improve and set clear next steps as part of our sustainability journey. 

Conclusion 

At Casa Hotel, doing business responsibly is part of who we are. We are proud of the steps we have taken so far, proud to have achieved Green Tourism Bronze and Green Meetings Bronze, and committed to continuing our journey. 

As an independent hotel, we are proud to contribute to the local economy, support our team and community, and offer guests a comfortable, welcoming stay with sustainability in mind.