The Region’s Hospitality Sector Shines At Inaugural Green Fáilte Awards - Wednesday 5th December 2007

Kerry Group	Limerick Group
Clare Group

Limerick Clare Kerry Region’s hospitality sector was officially recognised for its efforts to protect the environment. Eleven hospitality businesses were presented with Green Fáilte Awards on Wednesday 5th December in Adare Manor Hotel, Limerick.

Business representatives from across Kerry, Clare and Limerick attended the inaugural regional event, which honoured those in the hospitality sector that have demonstrated a commitment to quality and service in the area of environmental protection.

Dromoland Castle in Clare and the Moorings Restaurant in Portmagee, Kerry each received a Silver Award - the highest accolade presented this year - for their commitment to the awards scheme.

The following all received Bronze Awards:
Adare Manor
Castletroy Park Hotel
Dingle Skelligs Hotel
Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel, Adare
Killarney Park Hotel
Killarney Avenue Hotel
Killarney Plaza Hotel
Killarney Towers Hotel
River Island Hotel, Castleisland

Doonbeg Lodges, Co Clare, the Quality Hotel in Limerick City and Greenpark Racecourse, Patrickswell, all of which had not participated in the scheme long enough to be considered for an award this year, were also commended at the Awards ceremony.

The Green Fáilte Award is Ireland’s first environmental award scheme for the hospitality sector. Hospitality Solutions Consulting (HSC) Ltd and Clean Technology Centre coordinate the scheme, in conjunction with the Limerick Clare Kerry Regional Waste Management Office.

The Award requires continual improvement and a real commitment to the environment. If the hospitality business fails to continually improve, meet with the standards or does not act responsibly, the Green Fáilte Award can be withdrawn.

According to Mr. Gerry Behan, Director of Services with Limerick County Council, the lead Local Authority in the Green Fáilte Award Scheme, “I would like to congratulate all participants for embracing the Awards scheme. This level of commitment to reducing waste, protecting the environment, and improving energy and water efficiency sets a precedent for every other hospitality business to follow.”

“Limerick County Council and Limerick City Council, along with Clare County Council and Kerry County Council, are delighted to be involved in this worthy scheme, which will hopefully help to convince other hotels, restaurants, pubs, B&B’s and tourism operators to go green”, added Mr. Behan.

Commenting on the first ever Green Fáilte Awards scheme for the Limerick, Clare and Kerry Region, Mr. Maurice Bergin of Hospitality Solutions Consulting (HSC), stated, These Green Fáilte Awards participants are among the first movers within the Region in Hospitality Environmental Management and even better – every one of them has seen significant reductions in costs linked to your environmental actions.”

He explained, “It is a truism in Ireland that our performance in energy, waste and water management is so poor that it is extremely easy to reduce costs. In fact, I would make a comment to the various business organisations that publicly attack price increases of utilities and services, that before they do so they first examine their members’ efficiencies and provide assistance to those members who need help.”

Addressing the Awards ceremony, Mr. John King of Shannon Development’s Regional Tourism Authority, which sponsored the event, stated, “I would like to congratulate each and every participant in the Green Fáilte Award programme for their commitment to environmental best practice. The benefits for all participants in embracing the concept of this programme are significant. For example, they can reduce energy, waste and water costs by up to 40%. Being environmentally-friendly is also a good selling point for any business.”

The Green Fáilte Award was developed by Cork County Council and the Clean Technology Centre, CIT in the late 1990’s in order to facilitate hotels and restaurants to improve their environmental performance. However, economic considerations then were not the same as the present day and the concept lay idle. The Award Scheme was revitalised in 2003 and re-launched in 2004 with its first Award Winners. The Award can be seen in hotels, restaurants, and bars throughout Cork, Waterford, Carlow and now in Clare, Limerick and Kerry.

For more on the Green Fáilte Award Scheme see www.greenfailteaward.ie,  or contact one of the following:

Maurice J Bergin
Director, Green Failte Award
c/o Hospitality Solutions Consulting (HSC) Ltd
Tel: 087 91 98 16 7
Email: Maurice@hsc.ie 

Margaret Murphy
Waste Minimisation Officer
Regional Waste Management Office
c/o Limerick County Council
Tel: 061 49 65 96
Email: rwmo@limerickcoco.ie