National hotel chain adopts new approach to active and sustainable travel after success in Hull

Holiday Inn has signed up to the Modeshift STARS Business programme nationwide after its hotel on Hull Marina signed up to the scheme in the city to help encourage and support its workforce to walk, cycle and use public transport for their daily commute.

The Holiday Inn Hull Marina has recently achieved the next level of certification for its travel plan – Very Good – after demonstrating a decrease in the number of single occupancy car journeys undertaken by staff and an increase in active and sustainable travel modes.

The national STARS accreditation scheme recognises workplaces that go above and beyond in developing, implementing and monitoring an effective travel plan to bring about a change in travel behaviour and reduce the number of single occupancy car journeys to, from and between their sites.

Sites are awarded Approved, Good, Very Good, Excellent and Outstanding accreditation.

Hull City Council offers businesses and organisations within the city the chance to join Modeshift STARS for free as part of its strategic objective of promoting active travel choices.

The benefits and advantages of a workplace travel plan, include:

• reductions of single occupancy car journeys, which helps alleviate pressure and congestion across site car parks
• identifying availability and accessibility of viable transport options, based on staff locations
• potential to improve and develop site connectivity links through sustainable and active travel
• improving staff wellbeing, with physical and mental health benefits.

The Holiday Inn Hull Marina has seen a progression to the next level of the Modeshift STARS Business programme thanks to the development of its partnership with local charity R-evolution, which has helped deliver a range of cycle initiatives over the past 12 months.

The hotel’s general manager, Daniel Reid, has also led by example, swapping out his daily commute, from Beverley, by car and using bus and rail services to get to work as well as cycling in one-day-a-week.

On being highlighted as an example for other Holiday Inn hotels across the country to follow, Daniel said: "We are delighted to be recognised with sustainable travel accreditation by Modeshift STARS.

"We have seen a real change in habits over the past 12 months and it complements Valor Hospitality’s drive for sustainability in hospitality perfectly.

"It is a great selling point to our team and to prospective team members that we are considering both our carbon footprint and the community, taking real steps to change."

He also had praise for his team after receiving their latest certificate.

He said: "The whole team have been great and really embraced the education and opportunities this affiliation provides.

"Whilst it might not work for everyone, there are steps we can all take to reconsider how we commute, with some amazing stories as a result.

"We’ve had colleagues choose to sell their cars and transition exclusively to taking the train, as it suited their personal needs. This wouldn’t have been possible without the team’s open-mindedness."

Councillor Mark Ieronimo, cabinet portfolio holder for transportation, roads and highways, said: “Daniel and his team at the Holiday Inn Hull Marina have worked really hard since signing up to the Modeshift STARS programme and have worked closely with the council and with partners, like R-evolution, to make real and positive changes to the way they travel to and from work.

“It is fantastic to see them progressing through the programme and being recognised nationally by Holiday Inn for their amazing efforts.”