This article was originally published in the Spring 2025 issue of Hospitality Ireland magazine, in March of 2025.
Clandeboye Lodge – recently awarded silver for its Green Meetings/Tourism accreditation – has revamped its event packages to reflect a continued commitment to sustainability. General manager Ian Smith tells Hospitality Ireland why the green tourism strategy is so important.
Ian, please talk us through the development of the Clandeboye Green Tourism strategy. Where/when/why did this begin? How has it evolved?
The development of Clandeboye Lodge’s Green Tourism strategy began with a respect for the natural heritage of the neighbouring Clandeboye Estate, which has been lovingly preserved for generations. Our hotel and events complex are fortunate to be surrounded by woodlands, gardens, and an environment that remains integral to the history of the estate. We are part of this living heritage, and our role is to look after it with the respect that it deserves, which is what inspires our commitment to sustainability.
As a family-run business, we recognised early on that we had a responsibility to protect the beauty of the estate – not just for today, but for the future. This wasn’t driven by external pressures, but by a genuine reflection of our values and the respect we have for our surroundings.
The strategy has evolved over time, as we continuously work to integrate sustainable practices into every aspect of our operations. In October 2024, we were proud to receive the Green Tourism Silver Award and the Green Meetings Silver Award, marking an important milestone in our ongoing commitment to responsible hospitality.
What are the cornerstones of the approach?
At Clandeboye Lodge, our Green Tourism strategy is grounded in the fundamental pillars outlined in the Green Tourism framework, focusing on three main areas: people, places and planet. These three goals guide our ongoing commitment to sustainability, ensuring we create positive impacts for the environment, our guests, and the local community.
• People Goals: Focusing on clear communication and raising awareness about sustainability among guests and staff. This also extends to supporting the local community through partnerships with local suppliers, and promoting inclusivity and well-being through sustainable experiences.
• Places Goals: Prioritising sustainable destination experiences, from sourcing local food to promoting biodiversity in our gardens. Our aim is to offer guests a meaningful connection with the environment and community while supporting eco-friendly practices.
• Planet Goals: Reducing our environmental impact through energy- saving measures, water conservation, waste reduction and sustainable sourcing. Our goal is to lower our carbon footprint and ensure we use resources responsibly, to protect the planet.
What is the value of adopting a green approach to Clandeboye?
Adopting a green approach reinforces our commitment to sustainability and aligns perfectly with our values for local community through partnerships with local suppliers, and promoting inclusivity and well-being through sustainable experiences.
• Places Goals: Prioritising sustainable destination experiences, from sourcing local food to promoting biodiversity in our gardens. Our aim is to offer guests a meaningful connection with the environment and community while supporting eco-friendly practices.
• Planet Goals: Reducing our environmental impact through energy- saving measures, water conservation, waste reduction and sustainable sourcing. Our goal is to lower our carbon footprint and ensure we use resources responsibly, to protect the planet.
What is the value of adopting a green approach to Clandeboye?
Adopting a green approach reinforces our commitment to sustainability and aligns perfectly with our values for responsible tourism.
Please talk us through some of the practicalities of what you do.
Here are just some of the steps we’re taking on our green journey as a sustainable venue.
We are committed to sustainable waste management, recycling glass, plastic, cardboard, paper, and food and garden waste. We ensure that nearly all waste is either recycled or reused. To reduce single-use plastics, we provide glass water bottles in guest rooms and meeting areas. We also use sustainable toiletries from Irish brand VOYA, reducing plastic waste by approximately 35,000 bottles annually. Additionally, our garden and food waste is recycled for energy production or composted, while cooking oil and kitchen grease are appropriately recycled. Unclaimed guest items are donated to local charities, and we have implemented battery disposal and towel reuse programmes.
Our menus focus on sustainable, seasonal ingredients, with fish, meat, cheese and vegetables sourced from local growers and suppliers, helping reduce food miles. Some of our local suppliers include Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt, Keenan Seafood, Coyagh Farm, North Down fruit and veg, Clements Eggs and Draynes Farm. We also use herbs from our own garden to complement and garnish our dishes.
We monitor water consumption monthly and address any unusual usage. Water-saving technologies, including dual-flush toilets and sensor-controlled taps, have been implemented throughout the hotel. We’ve also installed low-flow shower heads and small-capacity cisterns, to further reduce water use. Our on- demand water-heating system generates hot water as needed, eliminating the need for energy-consuming storage vessels. In the kitchen, we use pre-set dispensers for washing detergents, to avoid waste, and grease tanks help keep our wastewater system clean.
Our event suites are equipped with air- handling units that boast a 76% heat recovery rate, saving up to 35% on energy. We have extensive LED lighting, controlled by motion sensors and PIR installations, to minimise energy consumption. Solar panels on our roofs contribute to our renewable energy supply. We also provide electric vehicle charging points in our car park, to encourage sustainable transportation.
Our gardens feature a variety of plants that support biodiversity by attracting a range of insects. Our landscape contractors, who have achieved biodiversity platinum status, use battery-operated equipment and minimal pesticides. In our kitchen extension, a sedum blanket roof made of sea-hardened moss not only supports biodiversity, but also helps with air quality and energy efficiency by absorbing heat.
What new plans do you have as part of this?
Looking ahead, we’re working towards achieving the Gold Green Tourism and Green Meetings Award, which will mark another important milestone in our journey. As part of this, we plan to enhance biodiversity initiatives in both our hotel’s gardens and the surrounding woodlands. We’re also committed to working with more local eco- friendly suppliers and improving our waste reduction initiatives. Our goal is to ensure that these sustainable practices are ingrained in every department, maintaining our green initiatives across the board.
Do you think that green tourism is something of/in which the public is more aware/interested?
Yes, we believe that green tourism is becoming increasingly important to the public. As awareness of climate change and environmental issues grow, more people are actively seeking out businesses that share their eco-conscious values. Green certifications, like our Green Tourism Silver Award, are a clear signal to our guests that we take sustainability seriously. It’s no longer just a trend, but a key consideration for many travellers and organisations today.
As we continue to evolve and expand our green tourism initiatives, we are confident that sustainability will play an even more integral role in attracting leisure guests and business delegates to Clandeboye Lodge. We hope that our commitment and investment in sustainability will future-proof our offerings, as the public are more aware and interested in green tourism.
How are you seeing this?
More people are actively looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint and make responsible travel and event-planning choices. With Belfast being recognised as the most sustainable visitor destination in the UK and Ireland by the GDS-Index in 2024, it sets the benchmark for hotels and venues across Northern Ireland.
We’ve adapted our offering to respond to cultural shifts toward slow tourism, which includes activities like walking, wild swimming and digital detoxing. For example, our new Wild Escape package allows guests to explore wild-swimming spots along the North Down coastal path, while enjoying the comfort and hospitality of Clandeboye Lodge. We’ve also expanded our menu to include more plant-based dishes, using fresh, seasonal produce, aligning with the growing interest in vegan dining.
For more information about Clandeboye Lodge, please visit www.clandeboyelodge.com.
