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Travel is often the largest contributor to a conference’ s carbon footprint. At Meitheal 2026, organisers encouraged buyers and delegates to travel around Ireland by coach rather than short-haul flights, reducing emissions significantly.
Food and hospitality were also carefully considered, with food sourced locally. Delegates pre-ordered meals, helping to minimise food waste – a persistent challenge in large-scale events. Venues including The Great Southern Hotel, The Brehon Hotel, and The Gleneagle Hotel were selected for their commitment to sustainable practices, ensuring alignment between ambition and execution.
International buyers were introduced to sustainable Irish suppliers, many participating in Fáilte Ireland’ s Climate Action Programme, extending the event’ s impact beyond its duration.
Meitheal 2026 also placed strong emphasis on social impact, recognising that sustainability is about people as much as planet.
A standout initiative was the engagement with Transition Year students from Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra. Students participated in guided tours, interactive sessions, and discussions on sustainability in tourism. The programme introduced students to career opportunities within the tourism sector and highlighted the importance of inclusive and forward-thinking event design.
Inclusivity was also a defining feature of the event. Meitheal adopted Fáilte Ireland’ s Business Access Checklist, ensuring accessibility was considered from pre-event communications to on-site experience. Delegates were encouraged to share accessibility requirements during registration, and resources such as The Gleneagle Access Welcome Guide were provided.
Meitheal also embraced a holistic approach to delegate experience by prioritising health and wellbeing. FAM trips incorporated outdoor activities and walking experiences, encouraging connection with nature.
Meitheal 2026 demonstrated that sustainability in business events is practical and achievable. Through careful planning and strong collaboration,
the event delivered environmental and social impact while maintaining commercial success.
It showed that sustainability enhances the event experience and this positions Meitheal as a replicable, benchmarksetting model for how business events can drive commercial value while delivering verified environmental and social impact.
In Killarney, the message was clear: the future of tourism is not just about where we go, but how we get there – and the legacy we leave behind. n
n For more information about hosting your association event in Ireland, visit meetinireland. com * https:// www. gds. earth / index / ranking-and-results /
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