Sustainability At The International Hotel

Preserving Our Past, Protecting Our Future

Built in the mid-1800s and established as The International Hotel in 1906, our hotel has been a beloved landmark in Killarney for generations.
The Coyne Family has proudly owned and operated this historic gem since 1976.

As a cornerstone of the Killarney community, our hotel has preserved its rich heritage while continuously evolving and embedding sustainable practices in all that we do.

We are deeply committed to our local community, take pride in our dedicated, diverse, multi-generational team, and cherish our role as a venue for local family celebrations.
Our goal is to sustain and enhance our thriving business, ensuring it remains a cherished destination for future generations.

IH-Symbol-with-White-Circle-BG-31 Sustainability

Eco Initiatives

Water Management

At The International Hotel, we are committed to responsibly managing our water consumption. We monitor our water usage quarterly with the goal of conserving and reducing our water footprint each year.
To achieve this, our Green Team have implemented a range of initiatives and continue to promote water-saving practices among our guests and staff:

We actively encourage guests and staff to conserve water, such as reusing towels and minimizing unnecessary laundering during their stay.
Low-flow showerheads have been installed to reduce daily water usage.
Our laundry facilities use eco-programs.
All drinking water is filtered onsite for both staff and guests.
We encourage the use of refillable water bottles, and guests are welcome to use our water station.
Flush buttons are installed in public & guest bathrooms to reduce water usage per flush.
Automatic taps with sensors are provided for handwashing in public areas to minimize water wastage.
Pre-arrival emails inform guests of our sustainability measures and encourage them to bring refillable water bottles.
Our maintenance team conducts regular checks to ensure all systems are functioning efficiently.

Energy Management

At The International Hotel, we are dedicated to continuously monitoring and reducing our energy consumption on a monthly basis, with the goal of achieving ongoing improvements each year. Our Green Team are actively implementing new efficiencies, controls, and process enhancements to minimize our environmental impact.

Our current energy management practices include:

Utilizing Calor BioLPG for heating, a 100% renewable energy source.
Sensor-controlled lighting in storerooms and hallways to reduce unnecessary energy usage.
Replacing traditional lighting with energy-saving LED bulbs, significantly reducing CO2 emissions.
Keycard power switches in guest rooms, which automatically turn off electricity within three minutes when the keycard is removed.
Green Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in the kitchen, ensuring equipment like Salamanders, bakery lights, and ovens are only turned on when needed.
Installing 100% green, sustainable heat pumps throughout the hotel.
Adjusting our heating system daily to align with current weather conditions, optimizing energy use.
Encouraging guests to reuse towels, thereby conserving both water and energy.
Operating energy-efficient washing facilities.
Setting all electronic devices to sleep mode during non-business hours.
Conducting regular maintenance checks to ensure all systems are running efficiently.

Waste Management

At The International Hotel, we are committed to reducing waste, eliminating single-use plastics and packaging, and recycling wherever possible. We track our waste monthly, striving each year to minimise our environmental impact.

Our Green Team has implemented several initiatives, and we actively promote these practices among our staff and guests:

We adhere to a “reduce, reuse, recycle” policy throughout the hotel.
We collaborate with suppliers to minimise packaging waste.
Staff are educated on recycling best practices, and we encourage guests to participate as well.
We prioritise composting and recycling across the property.
Cardboard, glass, cans, light bulbs, and batteries are recycled or returned to suppliers for proper disposal.
Hotel correspondence, including reservation confirmations and invoices, are sent via email to reduce paper use.
All waste is collected by authorised operators with the necessary permits.
Our kitchen closely tracks food waste and regularly reviews portion sizes to minimise waste ensuring that the guest dining experience remains exceptional.
We have eliminated plastic bottles in our bar, offering glass alternatives instead.
We proudly participate in the Killarney Coffee Cup Project, helping to reduce single-use coffee cups throughout Killarney.
Takeaway containers provided are compostable.
Miniature toiletry bottles have been replaced with luxury refillable dispensers.
Guest amenities are based on natural ingredients.
We continuously monitor paper usage, promoting a “think before you print” policy.
Drinking straws are made of cardboard.
Wooden hangers are used in guest rooms.
Menus where possible, are reused to minimise printing.
Suppliers are encouraged to use reusable delivery boxes whenever possible.
Cardboard is baled and transported to recycling depots, and crushed glass is collected for recycling.
We buy in bulk when possible to reduce transport and packaging waste.
Bamboo key cards are reused, featuring the message “Preserving our past, protecting our future,” encouraging guests to return them for recycling.

Waste Management

Our Local Community

At The International Hotel, we are proud to collaborate with a network of small, independent businesses, committed to sourcing from local suppliers and contributing to the vitality of our community.
By partnering with local producers, we ensure the highest quality for our guests while supporting the regional economy. Here are some of our valued partners:

Lee Strand provides us with milk, cream, butter, and buttermilk, all sourced from farms within a 15km radius of their plant in Tralee.
Cronin’s Butchers, a 5th generation family butcher, has been supplying lamb, turkey, and pork for over 100 years from their location on High Street.
Tim Jones Butchers has been serving us since 1991, supplying various meats including our signature 6oz beef burgers.
Killarney Fruit & Veg offers a selection of fresh fruit and vegetables, just steps away from us at their local market.
O’Shea’s Fruit & Veg, a 3rd generation supplier, has been providing fresh produce for over 50 years.
Sliabh Luchra Strawberries grows some of Ireland’s finest strawberries on 4 acres in Currow, with 5th generation farmer John O’Sullivan at the helm.
Spillane’s Seafood, a family-run business since 1973, sources fresh fish from boats along Ireland’s southern coastline.
Star Seafood, founded in Kenmare in 1974, supplies a variety of fresh fish, including salmon, cod, smoked salmon, and more. They also offer an online shop for home deliveries.
Dingle Distillery, established in 2012, supplies us with Dingle Gin and Vodka, with plans to expand our offerings to include their whiskey range.
Muckross Wild Irish Spirits Company sits nestled in the natural majesty of Killarney and supplies us their Muckross Wild Irish Craft Gin, the natural product of their timeless distillation technique.
Cronin’s Cider, launched in 2015, is now stocked widely across Kerry and continues to grow nationwide.
West Cork Distillers was founded in 2003 in Skibbereen and it is often said that they are an Irish Whiskey distillery built and run by the people, for the people.
Killarney Brewing and Distilling Company is recognized as one of Ireland’s leading sustainable tourism destinations. We proudly stock two of their beers and their whiskey.

Stay 4 Nights, Pay Only For 3

It may look like a Black Friday deal, but this one’s all about going green.

With our Green Offer, when you stay for four nights, you’ll only pay for three.
By choosing a longer stay, you’re helping us conserve resources like energy, water, and laundry, all while enjoying more time to soak in the beauty of our surroundings.

This offer is our way of thanking you for supporting our sustainability efforts.
Stay longer, save more, and contribute to a greener future.

BOOK NOW

The sustainability journey of The International Hotel was co-funded by the European Union,

under the I-Stars SMP-COSME-2021-TOURSME Project No. 101085914.

Sustainability & Comfort

At The International Hotel, we are committed to reducing our environmental footprint while providing an exceptional, eco-friendly luxury experience for our guests.
We believe that sustainability and comfort can go hand in hand.

Our dedication goes beyond energy management; we also prioritize responsible water usage, waste reduction, and sustainable practices throughout our operations.
Through continuous monitoring and innovative solutions, we ensure that our efforts align with our long-term sustainability goals, allowing our guests to enjoy Killarney’s natural beauty while contributing to its preservation.

BOOK NOW

Sustainability At The International Hotel

Eco Initiatives

Water Management

Energy Management

Waste Management

Our Local Community

Stay 4 Nights, Pay Only For 3

Sustainability & Comfort

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