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[Sponsored content] The energy strategies behind Advantage Utilities’ Consultancy of the Year win.
Rising energy costs have become one of the most persistent pressures facing the UK hospitality industry. For hotels operating 24/7, with high consumption from heating, cooling, kitchens, spas, pools and guest services, energy is a key driver of operational risk and profitability.
In this landscape, Advantage Utilities has emerged as a leading energy partner for the sector, recently awarded Consultancy of the Year for Large Customers at the 2025 TELCA Awards. The accolade recognises the firm’s growing impact in helping UK hotels reduce costs, improve efficiency and build more resilient energy strategies.
A strategic consultancy approach
Unlike traditional brokers who simply source contracts, Advantage Utilities adopts a consultancy-led model tailored to the demands of hotel operations. Their approach focuses on the full energy lifecycle: procurement, validation, analytics, and sustainability, with bespoke support for each site or estate.
“Hotels operate under unique energy pressures,” says Tim Ross, director at Advantage Utilities. “Our role is to simplify complexity, protect margins, and help operators make informed decisions in a market that continues to change.”
Whether working with a multi-site group or an independent luxury destination, the goal remains the same: to help hospitality businesses take control of their energy costs and future-proof their operations in an increasingly volatile market.
Energy procurement that matches hotel operations
A key area where many hotels unknowingly lose value is through misaligned energy procurement. Hotels experience significant seasonal demand, with occupancy, amenities, and events all influencing consumption.
Advantage Utilities develops procurement strategies that match this operational reality. From fixed to flexible and hybrid contracts, each is tailored to reflect usage patterns, risk appetite and budget planning. Crucially, timing is everything. Securing a contract during the right market window can result in six-figure savings.
“One of the biggest mistakes we see is reactive buying, leaving energy renewal decisions until the last minute,” says Ross. “We help hotel operators take a proactive stance, giving them access to market data and pricing forecasts so they can make decisions with confidence.”
Tackling non-commodity charges
While wholesale energy prices make headlines, it’s often the hidden costs (network charges, levies and taxes) that inflate hotel energy bills without notice. These non-commodity charges can account for up to 60 per cent of a total electricity invoice, yet they are rarely scrutinised in detail.
Advantage Utilities conducts regular bill validation and forensic reviews to identify errors, overcharges or unnecessary costs. In many cases, incorrect standing charges, kVA allocations or metering issues have gone unnoticed for months, if not years.
Grantley Hall: a real-world case study
A standout example of Advantage Utilities’ work in the hotel sector is its partnership with Grantley Hall, a luxury five-star hotel and wellness retreat in North Yorkshire.
Through a combination of strategic energy planning, Grantley Hall achieved a reduction in grid electricity consumption of more than 25 per cent. The project also delivered carbon savings of over 170 tonnes of CO2e in the first year, while generating annual cost savings exceeding £500,000. Long term, the hotel is forecast to save several million pounds in energy expenditure while strengthening its environmental credentials.
Known for its fine dining, spa, event spaces and exclusive guest services, Grantley Hall’s energy profile is complex. The site operates 24/7, features multiple kitchens, pool and spa facilities, air conditioning systems and significant lighting requirements throughout its historic and modern buildings.
Advantage Utilities began by reviewing procurement across the estate, aligning contract structures with occupancy and usage trends. Next, the consultancy carried out a detailed analysis of consumption across different zones, identifying areas where systems could be optimised, such as HVAC controls in spa facilities and lighting schedules in lower-traffic areas.
Bill validation helped uncover thousands of pounds in incorrect charges across multiple invoices, while longer-term support focused on carbon and ESG targets in line with hospitality industry expectations.
Most importantly, the hotel now benefits from clearer forecasting and greater control, allowing the management team to plan and invest with more certainty. While the property remains focused on high standards and guest experience, its energy strategy becomes a lever of efficiency.
Sustainability as a business imperative
Another growing pressure in the hotel sector is sustainability. Increasingly, guests, investors, and corporate clients are looking at ESG credentials when making booking or partnership decisions. That scrutiny is now translating into operational change.
Advantage Utilities supports clients with carbon reduction planning, helping them quantify emissions, benchmark performance, and implement low-carbon upgrades. In many hotel settings, this includes lighting retrofits, efficient boilers and BMS optimisation, but also wider initiatives around water, waste, and logistics.
For some clients, the consultancy has also advised on Scope 2 reporting or aligned their strategies with sustainability frameworks such as SECR or net zero roadmaps.
“Carbon reporting is no longer something you can ignore until next year’s audit,” says Ross. “We’re seeing hotels move from simply reacting to guest expectations to using sustainability as a competitive advantage.”
Evolving pressures, long-term solutions
The hospitality sector continues to face a challenging mix of cost pressures, from labour and supply chain issues to property rates and insurance. Energy, however, remains one of the most manageable overheads, if given the right attention.
The recognition of Advantage Utilities by the TELCA Awards reflects strong technical delivery, but also highlights a deeper understanding of the commercial realities facing today’s hotels. Rather than quick wins, the consultancy focuses on strategic, long-term energy performance.
For hotel operators, that can mean the difference between reactive firefighting and planned, confident decision-making.
Key takeaways:
- Energy is now a controllable margin driver for hotels, not just a background cost.
- Advantage Utilities’ consultancy model supports hotels with procurement, validation, forecasting and sustainability.
- Grantley Hall’s partnership with the firm demonstrates measurable outcomes in savings and control.
- Hidden non-commodity charges, if unchecked, can quietly damage margins.
Carbon and ESG pressures are becoming central to hospitality energy strategy. - Recognition as Consultancy of the Year signals Advantage Utilities’ growing role in supporting the hotel sector.
Learn more about how Advantage Utilities supports hotels and contact the team for expert hotel energy support:
T: 0203 936 2511
