This year’s Inspiring Sustainable Tourism Conference will take place in the Armada Hotel in Spanish Point on Thursday, January 23, with a number of industry professionals from County Clare among the speakers. The event, titled ‘Climate Action, Community and Collaboration’, is supported by Visit Clare, Burren & Cliffs of Moher Geopark, and KPMG Future Analytics & KPMG Sustainable Futures. Organised by the Sustainable Tourism Network (formerly Sustainable Travel Ireland), the country’s leading and longest-running sustainability training company for the tourism industry, this year’s event boasts a hugely impressive group of experts, industry professionals, and leaders from the field.
Highlights include Darina Allen (pictured), Ballymaloe Cookery School & Organic Farm School, Adam Harris, Founder & CEO of autism charity AsIAm; and James Chilton, Associate Director, KPMG Future Analytics Consulting, while speakers from Clare include John Burke, CEO of the Armada Hotel, House & Farm; Bronagh O’Rourke, Managing Director, Burren Farm Experience; Brendan Dunford, Founder Burren Beo Trust & Farming for Nature; and Fiona McKenna, Sustainable Destination Development Officer with Clare County Council. Other speakers include Ray Ó Foghlú, Development Lead, Hometree; Barry Rogers, Head of the Dublin City Tourism Unit; and Eoin Cluskey, Co-founder, Bread 41, a well-known bakery in Dublin recognised for its high-quality sourdough breads and pastries and its commitment to sustainability. For the full line-up and tickets, visit: Sustainable Tourism Network.
The Sustainable Tourism Network’s mission is to transform the Irish tourism industry into a regenerative business sector that respects and protects the environment, but also supports local communities and makes better places for people to live and work in. Globally, tourism accounted for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions from 2009 to 2013, making the sector a bigger polluter than the construction industry.
However, as Ireland’s largest indigenous industry, tourism is vital to our economy, and particularly to the economy of rural Ireland. Speaking about the upcoming Inspiring Sustainable Tourism conference, Sustainable Travel Ireland Director Rob Rankin stated: “Tourists are demanding more environmentally friendly and sustainable products and they are not happy when they can’t get them. So the tourism industry must step up – both to do the right thing by future generations and to meet their customers’ demand.” Tickets are available via Ticket Tailor and cost €145 + VAT. Discounts are available for businesses that sign up for membership of the Sustainable Tourism Network. Further discounts are available for students.
