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.
Adare Manor, Castletroy Park Hotel and Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel in Adare each received Bronze Awards for their commitment to the awards scheme. The Quality Hotel in Limerick City and the Greenpark Racecourse near Patrickswell, which have not participated in the scheme long enough to be considered for an award this year, were also commended at this evening's ceremony. Meanwhile, Dromoland Castle in County Clare received a Silver Award; the highest accolade presented this year.
The Green Fáilte Award is Ireland' 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fails to continually improve, meet with the standards or does not act responsibly, the Green Fáilte Award can be withdrawn.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 Limerick's hospitality sector 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."
"The involvement of five businesses from Limerick, since the scheme was first introduced in February of this year, is a testament to the local hospitality sector’s environmental awareness and the desire to respond to the changing attitudes of their customers. Limerick County Council and Limerick City Council, along with the Regional Waste Management Office, is delighted to be involved in this worthy scheme, which will hopefully help to convince other Limerick hotels, restaurants, pubs, B&B's and tourism operators to go green", added Mr. Behan.
The other participants in the scheme are Doonbeg Lodge (County Clare), the Dingle Skelligs Hotel, Killarney Park Hotel, Killarney Avenue Hotel, Killarney Plaza Hotel, Killarney Towers Hotel, River Island Hotel in Castleisland, and The Moorings in Portmagee (County Kerry).
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, "Limerick's 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 their 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."
"The 2008 Budget has been flagged as the most "Green" budget ever and with Irelands' current attendance at the Bali Conference on the Kyoto Agreement’s successor, coupled with Ireland’s dismal performance over the last few years, initiatives such as this will continue to be supported", added Mr. Bergin.
Addressing the awards ceremony, Mr. John King of Shannon Development's Regional Tourism Authority, which sponsored the event, stated, "I would like to congratulate all participants in the Green Fáilte Award programme for their commitment to environmental best practice. The benefits for Limerick 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-
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. For further information on the Limerick Clare Kerry Regional Waste Management Office log on to www.managewaste.ie.
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Notes to Editor
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