Best Western Magherabuoy House Hotel, a Sustainable Enterprise

For us, social and environmental responsibility is at the heart of the way we do things at the Hotel. We set very high standards for ourselves because we are determined to protect the reputation and profitability of the business. Fine words but what does this mean in practice?

For a generation we have understood that using the best fresh local produce, supporting local businesses with our business and establishing close ties with the local community was the right thing to do.

Today we have formalised this under the heading of a "Sustainable Development Plan" and we have gained the support of our guests, our local community and our employees. Our plan combines economic viability with social responsibility and environmental protection.

Economic Viability
It goes without saying that we must remain profitable to be sustainable. By working in partnership with local suppliers we are able to contain costs while ensuring their own viability, in part due to our long term support and encouragement.

Social Responsibility
Our relationship with the local community and our employees must be constructive and healthy.

Throughout the year we receive requests for help from a great many extremely worthwhile local charities and organisations. Whilst we would love to be able to make donations to each and every one, realistically we are obliged to restrict our support to a limited number.

In addition we encourage our staff to be involved in community activities such as the local Chamber of Commerce and other trade bodies, not to forget schools and many more. We want to be recognised as a fair employer and ensure that our employees are happy and proud to be associated with the Hotel. We recognise that your experience at the Hotel will be a direct reflection of the way our employees feel about the way we treat them.

Environmental Responsibility
By insisting on using fresh local produce wherever and whenever possible we not only provide excellent food but we significantly limit food miles. We are working with the Carbon Trust to reduce our impact on the environment and we are very grateful to our guests for their help and suggestions with the many ways that we can reduce our carbon footprint such as using less linen, turning out lights, using showers rather than baths and so on. We ensure all replacements, upgrades and improvements at the Hotel take account of the environment, and all work processes are designed to reduce, reuse and recycle. We use electricity from a supplier that holds the Green Energy Award.

Examples of environmental responsibility practiced at the Hotel include use of short and long cistern flushes; automatic cut-off taps; occupancy, timer and thermostatic controlled heating systems; card-operated lighting systems in bedrooms; PIR activated lighting in corridors and washrooms; use of low energy lighting; recycling card, glass, plastic and tin; composting; use of environmentally friendly cleaning products.

Our staff are encouraged to follow efficient methods of work and to contribute to our sustainability programmes.

"The earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed."
Mahatma Gandhi