Your primary resource for Sustainable & Responsible Tourism in Ireland

There are many environmental, Sustainability, CSR, etc. focused awards presented annually. Some sets of Awards are quite specific, such as the Responsible Travel & Tourism Awards, with others they can include one environmental/CSR category or have a category for the hospitality sector. Each of the awards we highlight here can be applied for in one way or another by a hospitality business.

We have presented the awards under four headings;

National Awards for Individual Businesses

– National Awards for Destinations/Locations

– Regional/Local Awards

– International Awards

None of these awards have an entry fee. Some have restrictions as to size of business or membership of specific organisations. Most award ceremonies are free for finalists but some charge a fee for attendance at the awards ceremony.

The Awards identified on these pages are the only awards supported by GreenTravel.ie and Green Hospitality – The Irish resource for responsible & sustainable tourism. We would ask “Green” hospitality businesses to support these awards.

National Awards – For Individual Businesses

GreenHospitality.ie & GreenTravel.ie

Responsible Travel & Tourism Awards

Application Date:  Varies each year – keep an eye on the GHP website. (No awards for 2018/19 are planned)

More Information: www.greenhospitality.ie

Other Information:  Does not have to be a GHP member to apply. Multiple categories available, including Suppliers

Irish Hospitality Institute

Manager of the Year  Environmental & Facility Management

Application Date: Applications by early October followed by interview for shortlisted candidates. Awards presented at IHI Founders Banquet in late November annually.

More Information: www.ihi.ie

Other Information: Does not need to be a member of the IHI but must be nominated by an IHI member.

Green Awards

Annual Awards  Green Tourism & Leisure Award

Application Date: Oct – Dec Awards ceremony normally takes place in April.

More Information: www.greenawards.ie

Other information:  Multiple Awards categories you may enter one or more.

REPAK – PakMan Awards

Annual Awards Best Practice Award  Hospitality Sector

Application Date: April/May of each year with awards issued during October

More Information: www.repak.ie REPAK members can apply for any of the multiple awards. click here for more information

Other Information: Open to REPAK members only. You will receive an application form from REPAK, but don’t wait for it  plan for it.

Irish Tourism Industry Awards

Best Environmental Tourism Initiative

Application Date: 2020 for 2021 Awards

More?Information:Irish Tourism Industry Awards

Other Information: Every 2 years – next awards will be for 2021

Open to any business/destination etc. that has implemented an environmental initiative.

Hotel & Catering Review

Gold Medal Awards – Ireland’s Menu Provenance Award? 2018

Application Date: Summer of each Year – the categories change so keep an eye on their website

More Information: www.hotelandcateringreview.ie/awards

Other Information: Awards presented in September at a Gala Event in Dublin.

Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland

Annual Energy Awards

Application Date: Open from March to June. Awards ceremony normally October/November

More Information: www.seai.ie/your_business/sustainable_energy_awards

Other Information: Multiple award categories.

Chambers Ireland

Annual Corporate Social Responsibility Awards Excellence in Environment

Application Date: Applications open from Spring check with your Chamber. Awards presented late September.

More Information: www.chambers.ie Check also with your Chamber

Other Information: Environment is one of c.9 CSR Awards that businesses can apply for. Check if you must be a Chamber member to apply.

Small Firms Association

Small Business Awards Environmental Sustainability Award

Application Date: Normally from 1st September to the end of October. Awards ceremony takes place March the following year.

More Information: www.sfa.ie

Other information: Open to all Small Businesses (up to a max of 50 employees). You do not need to be a member of the SFA

National Awards for Destinations/Locations

European Destination of Excellence – Annual – Failte Ireland

Application Date: 2016 – to be confirmed.

More Information: Visit the Failte Ireland EDEN website or contact Eden.helpdesk@failteireland.ie.

Other Information: 2018 Programme Focus – TBC

The overall aim of the EDEN project is to draw attention to the value, diversity and shared characteristics of European destinations through rewarding those destinations that develop tourism in a sustainable way.

Tourism Town Award – Annual – Failte Ireland & Tidy Towns

Application Date: To be announced – normally by the end of May

More information: Failte Ireland or Tidy Towns Websites

Other Information:

Filte Ireland has invited the top 100 Tidy Towns from each year to apply for the Tourism Towns Award a new support scheme which aims to enhance visitor experience of Irish towns.

Irish Tourism Industry Awards

Best Environmental Tourism Initiative

Application Date: 2020 for 2021 Awards

More Information: Irish Tourism Industry Awards

Other Information: Every 2 years – next awards will be for 2021

Open to any business/destination etc. that has implemented an environmental initiative.

Regional/Local Awards

Many local authorities or business organisations run local or regional awards, and generally there is an environmental, sustainable or CSR category. Find out what is happening in your location and apply for an award.

Please let Green Hospitality know about these awards and especially if you are shortlisted and/or win!! We can give you extra publicity through Green Hospitality and Green travel.

Here are some we know about..

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Chamber

Envirocom Annual Awards Hospitality & Leisure

Application Date: Entries by the end of July. Judging during July/August. Award ceremony takes place in mid-October.

More Information: www.dlrchamber.ie

Other Information: Multiple Categories open for entry. Open to businesses located within Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County

International Awards

World Travel Awards

Multiple award categories including sustainability and Greenest Hotel categories – online voting

Application Date: March annually with awards in late Nov/Dec

More Information: www.worldtravelawards.com/

Other Information: Sandymount Hotel Dublin won the “Europe’s Leading Green Hotel” in 2017 and 2018 - info here

SKAL International

Annual Awards – Sustainable Development in Tourism Award

Application Date: Normally by April. Awards presented at Skal World Congress late September

More Information: www.skal.org

Other Information: Multiple categories including Urban and Rural accommodation, Major tourist attractions, general countryside

Green Hotelier Awards

Annual Awards – Carbon, Waste, Water, Community, Workplace – Green Hotel of the Year

Application Date: Late March annually – awards presented in April each year during Responsible Business Week

More Information: Green Hotelier

Other Information:

World Travel & Tourism Council

Annual Awards Tourism for Tomorrow – Sustainability

Application Date: By late November annually. Awards presented April following year.

More Information: www.wttc.org

Other Information: These change – Awards for Social Impact, Destination Stewardship, Climate Action, Investing in People, Changemakers

World Responsible Tourism Awards

Annual Awards Presented at the World Travel Market in London annually.

Application Date: Normally by June – Awards presented in November.

More Information: www.responsibletravel.com/awards

Other Information: Multiple awards available

World Travel Awards

Multiple award categories including sustainability and Greenest Hotel categories – online voting

Application Date: March annually with awards in late Nov/Dec

More Information: www.worldtravelawards.com/

Other Information: Sandymount Hotel Dublin won the “Europe’s Leading Green Hotel” in 2017 and 2018 – info here

European Green Capital & Green Leaf

Annual Awards

Application Date: Cities must apply for inclusion within these awards

More Information: European Green Capital

The Green Leaf was launched in 2015 and is for cities of between 50-100,000 inhabitants.

Application Date: Cities must apply for inclusion within these awards by the 31st March each year

More Information: European Green Leaf