Group enjoying vertical garden indoors at hotel resort.

Sustainability

at the O’Donoghue Ring Collection

Hands harvesting fresh greens from indoor vertical garden in hotel.

Our sustainability philosophy

At the O’Donoghue Ring Collection, sustainability is a guiding principle that shapes how we operate, grow, and welcome our guests. As a family-owned hospitality collection deeply rooted in the landscapes and communities of County Kerry, we recognise our responsibility to protect the environment while supporting the local people, producers, and places that make our region so special.

Our sustainability philosophy is guided by “Our Green Way”, a long-term commitment to reducing our environmental footprint while continuing to deliver the exceptional hospitality experiences for which our hotels, restaurants, and bars are known.

Our Green Way:

A Sustainable Vision

Our Green Way represents the heart of our sustainability strategy across the O’Donoghue Ring Collection. It brings together environmental policies, initiatives, and goals that guide how we operate across our hotels, restaurants, and bars.

Our ambition is simple: to continuously reduce the environmental impact of our business while preserving the warm and genuine Kerry hospitality that defines our collection.

Across our properties we focus on:

  • Reducing carbon emissions
  • Lowering energy and water consumption
  • Minimising food waste
  • Eliminating single-use plastics
  • Improving recycling and waste management practices

Through these initiatives we aim to balance responsible environmental practices with the high standards of comfort, service, and experience that our guests value.

Person in navy suit holding a small plant, symbolising growth and hospitality care.
O'Donoghue Ring branded water and glass on a conference table.

Responsible Practices Across Our Collection

Sustainability touches every part of our operations. Dedicated Green Teams across our hotels work to monitor and improve environmental performance in key areas including energy, water, waste, and food management.
A particular focus is placed on reducing food waste across our kitchens and restaurants. Initiatives such as menu engineering, waste monitoring, and team-led programmes like the Food Bucket Challenge help minimise unnecessary waste while improving efficiency.

We also work with partners such as Too Good To Go to further reduce surplus food, ensuring that quality ingredients are used responsibly wherever possible.

Across the collection:

  • Takeaway packaging is compostable or biodegradable
  • Waste materials such as coffee grounds and fruit peels are repurposed into fertiliser and cleaning materials
  • Recycling and resource recovery are continuously improved across departments
  • Our kitchens and bars priorities local ingredients and suppliers, supporting sustainable farming practices while reducing food miles and celebrating the exceptional produce of Kerry.

Measurable Progress

Our sustainability initiatives are designed to deliver meaningful and measurable impact. Through our Green Way programme, our hotels have already achieved significant improvements in resource efficiency.

Recent progress includes:

  • 18% reduction in carbon emissions
  • 11% reduction in energy consumption per guest
  • 61% reduction in food waste per food cover
  • Improved water efficiency across our properties

These achievements reflect the commitment of our teams across the collection, with each department actively tracking and managing its environmental performance as part of everyday operations.

Our efforts have also been recognised through Green Hospitality Eco-Certification, an internationally recognised sustainability accreditation awarded to several of our hotels in Killarney.

Refreshing mint mojitos in mason jars with straws, set in a vibrant, social atmosphere.

Collaboration and Continuous Improvement

Our sustainability journey is ongoing. To ensure we continue to improve and evolve our practices, we work closely with recognised sustainability organisations including:

Person tending to fresh green lettuce in a hydroponic garden.

Green Hospitality

Fifty Shades Greener

These partnerships help us measure our progress, implement best practices, and continually refine our environmental strategy.

Equally important is the role of our people. Sustainability is embedded in our team culture, with employees encouraged to contribute ideas, participate in initiatives, and take ownership of the environmental practices within their departments.

Guests are also invited to support our efforts through initiatives such as towel and linen reuse programmes and responsible travel choices during their stay.

Supporting Our Local Community

Sustainability for the O’Donoghue Ring Collection goes beyond environmental responsibility, it also means supporting the communities that have shaped our story for generations.

By sourcing locally, partnering with regional producers, and creating meaningful employment opportunities, we contribute to the long-term wellbeing of the local economy while promoting responsible tourism in County Kerry.

Our restaurants showcase locally sourced ingredients, and many dishes across the collection celebrate produce grown and harvested within the region, helping preserve local food traditions while reducing environmental impact.

A person harvests fresh greens from a vertical garden into a tray.

Looking to the Future

Through Our Green Way, the O’Donoghue Ring Collection remains committed to building a more sustainable future for hospitality in Kerry.

As we continue to evolve, we will keep refining our environmental practices, strengthening partnerships, and finding new ways to reduce our impact while enhancing the guest experience.