The newly crowned best business events venue in Tasmania, Peppers Silo Hotel in Launceston, Pennicott Wilderness Journeys, and Mona’s onsite winery, Moorilla Estate, have all received funding to make sustainable changes to their businesses, as have operators like The Old Woolstore Apartment Hotel in Hobart, which has a considerable event offering, and McDermott’s Coaches.
Pennicott Wilderness Journeys and The Old Woolstore Apartment Hotel both received grants to install solar power systems, while Peppers Silo Hotel will install electric vehicle charges, Moorilla Estate will switch to LED lighting and add a composting solution for waste and McDermott’s Coaches will purchase four hybrid buses.
In all, the state government gave out more than $620,000 in grants, offering funding of up to $100,000 for some projects. Operators receiving these grants have all already completed an emissions or carbon audit, as this was a baseline criteria to be considered eligible.
“Our Government is investing in tourism and hospitality operators to reduce their emissions as we move to a more circular economy,” said Tasmania’s Premier and tourism minister, Jeremy Rockliff.
“We know Tasmania offers the tourism experiences that the world wants and our Government is investing in these businesses to ensure they can continue to lead the way in the global sustainability agenda.
“The Tasmanian Liberal Government is supporting our world-class tourism and hospitality sector to play a role in our world-leading low-emissions economy, while also creating jobs for future generations.
“I congratulate the successful applicants, and all tourism and hospitality operators who are working to reduce their footprint and operate sustainably,” Rockliff said.
An additional $300,000 has been given to the Tourism Industry Council Tasmania to be used to help operators in the visitor economy undertake emissions audits.
