City centre hotels are saving thousands of pounds on energy bills after joining an award-winning Manchester City Council environmental scheme.

Hotels across the city are reaping the rewards of signing up to the Environmental Business Pledge scheme, which offers businesses free environmental resource efficiency audits and in depth advice on carbon reduction, helping them improve business processes.

The Palace Hotel on Oxford Street, who signed up to the scheme in 2007, has now cut its overall utility bills in half and has achieved a saving of 57% on its bills per room, as well as an 83% reduction in the amount of water used in each room, compared with last year.

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New members include the Manchester Crowne Plaza on Shudehill, the McDonald Hotel on London Road, the Place Apartment Hotel on Ducie Street, the Arora Hotel on Princess Street, and the Marriott Manchester Victoria & Albert Hotel on Water Street.

The City Council, which has operated the free scheme along with Groundwork since 2005, received a Green Apple Award for Environmental Best Practice during a presentation at the House Of Commons last November.

Around 1,300 businesses, from sectors ranging from retail and healthcare to manufacturing and hospitality, have signed up to the initiative, which has created £500,000 savings, £13.6 million worth of increased sales and safeguarded 300 jobs through environmental improvements.

Councillor Richard Cowell, Manchester City Council's Executive Member for the Environment, said: "The City Council is committed to helping businesses across the city, particularly during these difficult times, and the Environmental Business Pledge is a wonderful scheme that can help them save money while also helping the environment.

"Manchester is a thriving city which people from across the world want to visit, and as our hotels are such a crucial part of the city's economy, I'm glad so many Manchester hoteliers now understand the importance of this scheme."

(CD/GK)