It might be steeped in over 200 years of history and tradition, but The Imperial Hotel Cork has a thoroughly modern outlook when it comes to the environment. The Grande Dame of Cork, as the hotel is known have developed a number of initiatives over the past year including a ‘Because We Care’ programme, an environmental management policy, and a sustainable restaurant. 

Their dedicated Imperial Green Team introduced numerous sustainability initiatives over the past year, including a #BecauseWeCare Programme, a sustainable restaurant ‘Thyme at Seventy-Six on the Mall’, a sustainable cocktail bar ‘Sketch’, which uses 99% Irish products, a sustainable parklet outside the front door, and policies such as green purchasing and environmental waste management. The team has also recently celebrated their new Eco-label from Green Hospitality by hosting a sustainable Christmas Market.

Below you’ll find more information on some of these Green initiatives:

 

Sustainable Restaurant:

The Imperial Hotel launched a sustainable restaurant Thyme at 76 on the Mall. The emphasis is on regional, seasonal, and sustainable and is in line with the recent ‘Because We Care’ programme. Sourcing from their neighbours is important not only to support the local economy but also to minimize carbon footprint and the impact on the environment.

 

Parklet with Cork Zero Waste and Benchspace Cork:

The parklet is managed and maintained by The Imperial Hotel and brings a burst of nature to the South Mall with it’s pollinator plants. Located outside the Imperial Hotel the parklet provides an inviting green space for residents and passers-by to sit, relax, and interact. The parklet is part of the ‘Reimaging Cork’ programme.

 

For more information on the Imperial’s Green Policy and the Because We Care programme visit: https://www.imperialhotelcork.com/Sustainability.html

The Visit Cork Green Award 2021 was awarded to the Cork International Hotel for their team’s continual work on improving the hotel’s sustainability and their support to local causes throughout the year.

The hotel was one of many CCB members to work on improving their sustainable outcomes this year, with the Cork International Hotel standing out in particular for the below actions:

  • Created a greening team to encourage a environmentally aware culture.
  • Created a Greening Manifesto.
  • Environment, Sustainability, Diversity & Inclusion & Community have been made core strategic pillars for their company Trigon hotels.
  • Completed training with Fifty Shades Greener which has helped to measure their Carbon Foot Print and manage resources.
  • Created a roof garden which now supplies herbs and vegetables to the their kitchen.
  • Harvested Rain Water to service the roof garden.
  • Built their first Bee Hotel.
  • Signed up to be part of the Irish Pollinator Plan.
  • Worked with Cope Foundation and Ability@work to promote Diversity & Inclusion in the workplace.
  • Developing a sensory garden with the Cope Foundation.
  • Launched the Community Spirit Awards which seeks to recognise and highlight the amazing contributions of both individual and groups in the community.

To learn more about the Cork International Hotel’s sustainable actions visit: https://www.corkinternationalairporthotel.com/home/sustainability-and-wellbeing/

The Visit Cork Green Award was set up to encourage and reward our CCB Members who made a commitment to operating sustainably and will return again in 2022.