In an outstanding achievement for sustainable tourism, The Ardilaun Hotel in Galway has earned silver standard certification for sustainability from the Sustainable Tourism Network (STN).
Formerly a country mansion, the four-star Ardilaun Hotel is independently owned and operated by the Ryan family for the past 63 years. It offers 123 bedrooms, a leisure centre and a conference centre, and is a popular wedding venue. This certification means travellers booking with The Ardilaun Hotel can be confident their hotel stay is with a company that is supporting environmental protection and using resources wisely, as well as protecting biodiversity.
Some Of The Highlights Of The Ardilaun Hotel’s Efforts Include:
Energy Efficiency
- 100% renewable electricity
- 160 solar panels installed in early 2025, now generating approximately 10% of the hotel’s electricity
- LED lighting, motion sensors and timers in public areas
- EV charging points available for guests
Carbon Footprint
- Using Climatetoolkit4business to track Scope 1 & 2 emissions
- Target: 20% CO₂ reduction by end of 2025 (from 2023 baseline of 748.5 tonnes)
- Between February and July 2025, CO2 emissions have been reduced by 41.5 tonnes, which is the equivalent of planting 23 trees and saving 16.65 tonnes of coal
Waste Reduction
- 29% drop in general waste from 2023 to 2024 (11,392 kg saved)
- Waste sorted at source: general, recyclable and compostable
Biodiversity & Nature
- Member of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan
- On-site garden has native planting which offers a habitat for a for a wide range of pollinators, birds and bats
Workplace Wellbeing
- 88% of full-time staff earn the 2024/25 living wage
- Recognised as a “Great Place to Work” (Silver)
The STN Silver Certification is awarded only after a comprehensive third-party audit and review of more than 95 criteria across environmental, social and economic sustainability metrics.
In the words of the independent auditor: “The Ardilaun Hotel is showing a strong commitment to responsible operations, building on good sustainability initiatives they already have in place. These ongoing efforts and the positive sustainable trajectory as experienced during the onsite audit suggest a promising and sustainable future for The Ardilaun Hotel.”
Speaking about the certification, Rob Rankin, Director of Sustainable Tourism Network stated: “The accomplishment of achieving our silver certification serves as a testament to The Ardilaun Hotel’s huge efforts in the area of responsible tourism practices and sustainability.”
Christina Hanley, HR Manager at The Ardilaun Hotel commented: “We’re incredibly proud of the team at The Ardilaun for embracing this journey and for the real progress we’ve made together. This certification reflects our shared commitment to continuous improvement, responsible operations, and a better, greener future. The support and guidance from the Sustainable Tourism Network have been invaluable throughout the certification process. Their training and insights helped us take a deeper look at how we operate and how we can continue to improve. Achieving silver certification is a meaningful milestone for us, and we’re excited to keep building on this progress.”
“The process that tourism businesses go through as they train with the Sustainable Tourism Network is transformative and provocative,” Rankin commented. “We are so impressed with The Ardilaun Hotel. They are examples of how tourism businesses can reduce their negative impacts and amplify their positive ones when thought goes into their business and product offerings. We are just delighted to see The Ardilaun Hotel reaping the rewards of their hard work – both in terms of savings but also in terms of the reputation of their business”
Globally, tourism accounted for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions from 2009 to 2013, according to a study published by Nature.com. However, as Ireland’s largest indigenous industry, tourism is vital to our economy, and particularly to the economy of rural Ireland. So it’s critical that this industry becomes a sustainable one.
The Sustainable Tourism Network is Ireland’s leading sustainable tourism training organisation. The Sustainable Tourism Network’s mission is to transform the Irish tourism industry into a regenerative business sector that respects and protects the environment, but also supports local communities and makes better places for people to live and work in. The Sustainable Tourism Network helps businesses work towards a variety of certifications, including B Corp.
