As part of the Green Hospitality Programme (GHP), led by CTC, the 4th National Hospitality Environmental Conference (Leveraging the Green in Irish Tourism) was held on Tuesday 16th November, 2010, in the Convention Centre Dublin and was deemed a great success by delegates, exhibitors and speakers.

The Conference focused on

four main topics; positioning Ireland’s cities as green business tourism destination, achieving success from implementing green initiatives, responsible purchasing/buying Ireland, marketing the green message.

The conference addressed the above issues and showed how hospitality businesses are gaining new business and reducing and managing costs by adopting environmental responsibility within their operations.  The environment is a topic that must be part of any businesses operational and marketing practices and can deliver competitive edge in these tough times.

Delegates learned how a city can generate new business by going green and be part of a new initiative to boost Ireland’s ability to attract new business from overseas.  They found out from practitioners what benefits and savings they have made, how businesses can reap increased profit from alignment with good environmental purchasing practices, how to secure local support and how to tell the world what they are doing.

The keynote speakers were Guy Bigwood, sustainability director of MCI-Group and the current president of the Green Meetings Industry Council who spoke about business tourism, and Bobby Kerr, Dragon’s Den and Insomnia Coffee, who spoke about responsible purchasing.

Duncan Stewart and Senator Dan Boyle were the chairmen for the day. The conference also included speakers from Radisson Blu Hotels, The Westin, Environmental Protection Agency, Fáilte Ireland, Moran’s Bewleys Hotel, Siemens Plc and Net Affinity.

Annual Category Award Winners announced at National Conference in the CCD:

•    Member of the Year – Dromoland Castle, Clare
•    Greenest Destination – Wexford Town & County
•    Awareness Campaign – The Westin, Dublin
•    Most Improved in Waste Management – Castlecourt Hotel, Westport
•    Most Improved in Energy Management – Ballynahinch Castle, Co Galway
•    Most Improved in Water Management – Carlton

Castletroy Park Hotel, Limerick
•    Innovation – Dromoland Castle, Clare

Supplier Innovation recognised:

•    Energy Saving – Environmental Products & Services
•    Water Saving – Nordic Eco-shower
•    Waste Reduction – Eco-Wiz
•    Innovation – Activeion

Winners at the Conference (click on each picture to enlarge):