Sustainability Policy

The Connacht Hotel

At The Connacht Hotel, we recognise our responsibility to operate in a way that protects the environment, supports our local community, and contributes positively to sustainable tourism in Galway and the wider region.

We are committed to reducing our environmental impact while continuing to provide a warm, comfortable and high-quality experience for our guests. Our sustainability approach is aligned with Green Tourism principles, and we are actively working towards Green Tourism accreditation.

Our Commitment 

The Connacht Hotel is committed to:

• Reducing energy, water and resource consumption across the hotel.
• Managing waste responsibly through reduction, reuse, recycling and composting.
• Supporting local suppliers, producers and community organisations.
• Offering guests more sustainable choices during their stay.
• Training and engaging our team in sustainable practices.
• Monitoring our progress through measurable targets and continuous improvement.

Energy and Carbon Reduction

We actively work to reduce energy use and improve efficiency throughout the hotel. Our current initiatives include:

• Use of LED lighting across the property.
• Solar panels to support renewable energy generation.
• A Combined Heat and Power unit to improve energy efficiency.
• Ongoing monitoring of energy usage by our Green Team.
• Month-on-month and year-on-year tracking against agreed targets.

We continue to review opportunities to further reduce our carbon footprint across hotel operations.

Water Management

We recognise water as a valuable resource and take steps to use it responsibly.

The Connacht Hotel uses well water as part of its water management approach and continues to monitor water use across the property. We encourage responsible water use throughout our guest areas, bedrooms, kitchen, leisure and operational departments.

Waste Management

We are committed to reducing waste and ensuring that unavoidable waste is managed responsibly.

Across the hotel, waste is separated into:

· Compostable waste

· General waste

· Recyclable waste

All staff receive induction and awareness training on waste separation to support correct disposal and reduce contamination. We also monitor food waste levels regularly and use this information to improve kitchen practices and reduce unnecessary waste.

Where suitable, vegetable scraps are reused in soups and other kitchen preparations to help reduce food waste.

Food, Drink and Responsible Sourcing

Our food and beverage approach supports seasonal, local and more sustainable choices.

We aim to:

• Use seasonal menus where possible.
• Offer vegan and vegetarian options across the menu.
• Source locally where practical, including suppliers such as Galway Bay Seafoods.
• Monitor and reduce food waste in our kitchens.
• Offer organic wines as part of our drinks selection.

By supporting local suppliers, we aim to reduce food miles while contributing to the Galway economy.

Transport and Guest Travel

We encourage lower-impact travel choices for guests, staff and hotel operations.

Our transport initiatives include:

• Two electric vehicle charging points for guests and visitors.
• Three hybrid electric vehicles used by our maintenance department.
• Two bike rack areas available on site.
• Participation in the Bike to Work Scheme for staff.
• Public transport information available at Front Desk to help guests travel more sustainably during their stay.

Paper and Resource Reduction

We aim to reduce unnecessary paper usage across the hotel.

To support this, we operate one central printer for all departments, allowing us to monitor and manage paper consumption more effectively. Our Green Team tracks paper usage and works with departments to identify further reduction opportunities.

Staff Training and Engagement

Sustainability is part of how we operate as a team.

All staff are inducted in waste separation and sustainability awareness. In addition, members of Senior Management and Heads of Department have completed the accredited GRETB Sustainable Procurement course, helping us make more informed and responsible purchasing decisions.
We have established a Green Team with representation from every department. The Green Team monitors key sustainability areas including:

• Energy usage
• Paper usage
• Food waste levels
• Waste separation
• Progress against monthly and annual targets

Continuous Improvement

We understand that sustainability is an ongoing journey. The Connacht Hotel will continue to review, measure and improve our environmental performance.

Our Green Team reports on progress month on month and year on year against set targets. We use this data to identify improvements, support staff awareness and strengthen our sustainability practices across the hotel.

Community and Biodiversity

The Connacht Hotel is proud to support local community and environmental initiatives that create positive impact beyond our day-to-day hotel operations.

We work closely with organisations including Galway Hospice, Hometree and Green Tourism, and we actively engage with environmental awareness initiatives such as No Mow May.

As part of our support for Galway Hospice, we reuse spent coffee grounds by repurposing them as natural fertiliser. These are packed with wildflower seeds and made available to guests, with 100% of donations going directly to Galway Hospice. This initiative helps reduce waste, supports local biodiversity and raises funds for an important local charity.

We also support biodiversity across our hotel grounds through practical measures such as:

• Maintaining a “Bug Hotel” to encourage insects and pollinators.
• Leaving a portion of the grass uncut to allow natural biodiversity to develop.
• Balancing biodiversity with a clean, welcoming and well-maintained grounds appearance for guests.

Through these initiatives, we aim to support wildlife, encourage environmental awareness and contribute positively to the local Galway community.

How Guests Can Help

We invite our guests to support our sustainability efforts by:

• Separating waste correctly where facilities are provided.
• Reusing towels where possible.
• Turning off lights, heating and electrical items when not in use.
• Choosing public transport, walking, cycling or EV charging where suitable.
• Considering vegetarian, vegan, seasonal and locally sourced menu options.
• Sharing feedback on how we can continue to improve.
• Support our community and biodiversity initiatives by purchasing our coffee grounds in aid of Galway Hospice

Together, we can help protect the environment, support Galway’s local community and make tourism more sustainable for the future.

Policy Owner: The Connacht Hotel
Supported by: General Manager - David O'Connor
Review:Annually, or sooner where operational or accreditation requirements change