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MIck Ryan, Business Support Unit at Kerry College, makes a presentation to Odran Lucey of The Rose Hotel to mark the Hotel’s completion of the 50 Shades Greener Programme. Photo by Dermot Crean
A PRESENTATION was made to The Rose Hotel on Tuesday in recognition of their participation in the 50 Shades Greener Programme, which is currently running through the Business Support Unit in Kerry College.
The hotel on Dan Spring Road is the first company in Co. Kerry to complete the programme.
On completion of the programme, Odran Lucey, Executive Chef at the hotel says “we are delighted to be the first in Kerry to complete the programme which we could only have done with a fantastic team effort”.
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He says the key to completing the programme during the busy season was that every department in the Rose got involved.
They established the industries baseline of use of energy, water and waste, and then identified opportunities for cost savings and reduction of utilities- easily defined by using the 50 Shades Greener methodology.
The Hotel’s Director of Sales and Marketing, Michelle King, added; “being a sustainable hotel is a very important part of our business model, from corporate bookings to holiday guests, more and more of our customers are asking about our green policy- 50 Shades Greener is now an important part of our model”.
Both have stressed the importance of having all of their hotel departments involved in the course. They now look closely at how they present themselves sustainably when purchasing and offering their guests a greener hotel experience.
Over 120 businesses from the hospitality and travel sector have participated over the last six months in Ireland’s first ever state-subsidised green hospitality programme, Fifty Shades Greener.
Fourteen hospitality establishments have engaged on the programme to date in Kerry.
Mick Ryan, Kerry College Business Support Unit highlighted that; “Participation in the programme is fully subsidised at present for all businesses in the hospitality and tourism sector in Ireland and teaches simple and cost effective steps to help reduce carbon emissions and cut operating costs by €10,000 – €60,000 per year on average. This is achieved primarily by lowering energy and water use and waste generation.”
Founded in Liscannor, Co. Clare, by sustainability expert Raquel Noboa, Fifty Shades Greener saw a massive demand for their services during the pandemic.
They offer a Green Business Programme to the Irish hospitality and tourism industry, which is subsidised and run under the national initiative, Skills to Advance. Participants on the programme range from hotels, restaurants, and tourist attractions.
For more information on 50 Shades Greener, please contact Mick or Claire at the Business Support Unit at Kerry College: business@kerrycollege.ie.
