Source: Sustainable Hospitality Alliance

The Merrion Hotel has become the latest donor member to join the Alliance, uniting with 20 world-leading hotel companies including Marriott International, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, BWH Hotel Group and Radisson Hotels Group as the sector works towards Net Positive Hospitality. Having doubled its total number of members in the past year, the Alliance now represents over 45,000 hotels worldwide. Along with the Alliance’s network of donor members, The Merrion will now be part of a collective acceleration towards a more sustainable and regenerative industry, that gives back more than it takes.

As an independent hotel, The Merrion becomes the Alliance’s smallest member, operating a five-star luxury hotel in the heart of Dublin, Ireland. With a history dating back more than two hundred and fifty years, the hotel is committed to using a combination of the newest technologies, with older, traditional techniques to pursue their plan to be one of the most sustainable hotels in the world.

Dorothy MacCann, Brand Director for The Merrion Hotel, said: We are delighted to join the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance and look forward to working with them and progressing our collective action towards a lasting positive impact for both people and planet.

Glenn Mandziuk, CEO of the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, said: We are delighted to welcome The Merrion to the Alliance. Their commitment and drive to becoming a leading sustainable hotel is a real inspiration for the industry. As the Alliance, we recognise that smaller hotel companies can truly lead the industry, demonstrating the benefits of considering each hotel’s location, history and community, when planning sustainability efforts. On the path to Net Positive Hospitality, every hotel company can and must be part of the change, and we hope The Merrion’s leadership will motivate other independent hotel companies to take the same action.

To find out more about the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance’s members and partners, visit https://sustainablehospitalityalliance.org/about-us/.

About The Merrion

The Merrion is set in the heart of Georgian Dublin on Upper Merrion Street. The Main House of the hotel is comprised of four meticulously restored Grade I Listed Georgian townhouses, built in the 1760’s, and a specially commissioned contemporary Garden Wing is arranged around two private period gardens.

The hotel company use a combination of the newest technologies, with some older, traditional techniques in their ambition to be one of the most sustainable hotels in the world. For the past three years the electricity supplied to The Merrion has been certified as 100% renewable and is closely monitored to track their impact.

Over the past two decades, they have established a Green Team and adopted an upgrade-as-they-go approach - changing light bulbs their entire heating systems to energy efficient solutions.

Throughout operations the company prioritise sustainability - recycling glass on site, using coffee grounds as garden compost, repairing and refurbishing where possible and donating furniture that is no longer used, as well as championing seasonable food and local produce, sharing food with community support charities and donating toiletries as part of the Clean the World recycling programme.

For more information, visit https://www.merrionhotel.com/sustainability-at-the-merrion/.

About the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance

The Sustainable Hospitality Alliance brings together engaged hospitality companies and the wider hospitality value chain, along with strategic partners, to address key challenges affecting the planet, people and places around the world.

Through their strategic initiatives and global networks, they develop practical programmes and resources to create a prosperous and responsible hospitality sector that gives back to the destination more than it takes.

Their members represent over 50,000 hotels spanning 270 brands – totalling over 7 million rooms – and include world-leading companies including Accor, Choice Hotels International, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, as well as regional brands. Their network also includes other parts of the hospitality value chain, including owners, investors, suppliers, and other partners to further drive joined up action on sustainability, and accelerate the industry on the path to Net Positive Hospitality.

Emily McLeish
Senior Brand and Marcomms Manager
Sustainable Hospitality Alliance