Irish Hoteliers Look To Sustainable Future

Over 200 hoteliers from across Ireland gathered this week at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre for a hotel sustainability conference, titled ‘Climate Action: Driving Competitiveness,’ co-delivered by the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) and Fáilte Ireland.

Chaired by Matt Cooper, topics included global trends, changing consumer preferences, operational efficiency, cost reduction, decarbonisation and financing – all brought to life through tangible case studies from Irish hoteliers.

The conference is representative of the IHF’s long-term commitment to sustainability, in alignment with the tailored supports delivered through Fáilte Ireland’s Climate Action Programme.

“The enthusiasm in the room today is demonstrative of the growing appetite for sustainable evolution within the hotel sector,” said Michael Magner, IHF president.

“Eighty-seven per cent [87%] of our members have indicated plans to invest in sustainability initiatives over the next year.”

Expert speakers and industry leaders illustrated how sustainability can drive innovation, boost efficiency and enhance competitiveness in the hotel sector.

The speaker line-up included Craig Bennett (the Wildlife Trusts), Richard Burrett (Earth Capital), Declan Meally (SEAI), Colin Moran (SBCI), Colette Shirley (Bank of Ireland), Andres Fellenberg (EarthCheck), Chris Austin (Cliste Hospitality), Dara Cruise (Neville Park Hotels), Tom Randles (Randles Hotels) and Carmel Lonergan (Trigon Hotels).

“This conference is about equipping the sector with the insights and tools needed to make sustainability a core part of their business strategy,” said Jenny De Saulles, director of sector development at Fáilte Ireland.