Cornish Gems, the luxury holiday letting specialist based in Cornwall, is thrilled to announce that it has won first place in the Responsible Travel Experience – Within the UK category, at today’s Country & Town House’s Future Icons Awards, recognising the business for its outstanding leadership and excellence in sustainable, community-focused tourism.
Cornish Gems stood out for its compelling combination of eco-conscious interior design, year-round community engagement and its measurable sustainability impact. Also, for its Eco-Conscious Collection (a collection that has grown by 47% in the last two years) that includes properties designed with sustainability in mind, with features such as renewable energy and heating sources, water reduction strategies, electric car chargers and biodiverse landscaping. Cornish Gems Interiors was also praised for its use of sustainably sourced interior materials and construction materials, as well as for upcycling and repurposing, all with the aim of reducing environmental impacts.
The award is part of Cornish Gems’ long-term strategy in responsible tourism. In 2024, it became the first self-catering company in Cornwall to achieve B Corp accreditation, laying the foundation for continuous improvement and positive change in this area.
Cornish Gems is a Living Wage employer, collaborating this year with a steering group to secure Cornwall Real Living Place status, helping over 8,000 workers in the county transition from the minimum wage to the Real Living Wage.
Emma Fashokun, ESG Strategy Lead at Cornish Gems, commented: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this award, which validates our belief that exceptional travel experiences and environmental responsibility can — and must — go hand in hand. Our mission at Cornish Gems has always been to deliver luxury stays that are deeply rooted in the Cornish landscape, with respect for our local community, heritage and natural landscape, guiding everything we do.”
Founded in 2007 by Nadia Macer-Wright, Cornish Gems has a handpicked portfolio of 160 holiday homes across Cornwall, ranging from beautiful boltholes for two guests to extravagant riverside properties sleeping up to twenty. The portfolio offers rentals to suit most budgets but also has its own Extraordinary Gems collection of properties sleeping eight or more that come with private pools, yoga studios, gyms, saunas, private pontoons and beaches, as well as gated premises for maximum privacy and security.
Beyond the accommodation, Gems offers curated concierge-style experiences, including private dining, spa treatments and bespoke event hosting for weddings, corporate retreats and celebratory gatherings.
In 2021, Cornish Gems launched its in-house interior design agency, Cornish Gems Interiors. It provides property owners with a seamless service and design solution to create high quality, stylish, practical interiors with longevity in mind for their holiday home. A natural organic evolution for the business, giving Cornish Gems longstanding presence in the luxury holiday sector.
Now in its second year, The Future Icon Awards honours the visionary innovators whose commitment to sustainability, discernment, quality and environmental stewardship set a new standard for responsibility and excellence, shining a spotlight on brands, people and products across a number of sectors, who are uncompromising in their approach not only to sustainability, but design and creativity too.
To find out more and to book your perfect getaway go to the Cornish Gems website.
