A Touch Of Ireland Achieves Gold Sustainable Tourism Network Certification Following Outstanding Audit Performance
A Touch of Ireland (ATOI) is celebrating a major milestone as it proudly receives the Gold Sustainable Tourism Network Tour Operator Certification – the highest recognition within Ireland’s national sustainability framework for tourism businesses. The certification follows a comprehensive third-party, independent audit confirming the company’s exceptional environmental, social, and cultural performance – progress achieved through close collaboration with, and expert guidance from the Sustainable Tourism Network (STN) team.
This achievement reflects not just strong audit results, but years of hard work, team commitment, and close collaboration with the STN’s expert advisors, who guided the company through a rigorous, purpose‑driven certification journey. It marks a significant milestone for the company – and reflects a broader shift in how people want to experience Ireland.
Today’s travellers are seeking something deeper: real stories, real places, and resourceful, meaningful experiences. Through the certification process, the team has embraced sustainability not as a “nice-to-have” but as a core mindset, shaping how they design trips, choose suppliers, guide visitors, and communicate Ireland’s culture. The certification has further nurtured and strengthened that mindset, making their sustainability actions more visible, more intentional, and fully embedded into their day‑to‑day work.
Strong Results Delivered Through STN’s Guidance And Framework
ATOI’s impressive results across energy efficiency, carbon reduction, and responsible operations were built using the STN’s internationally aligned criteria, tools, and training resources. Overall they achieved 100% in the mandatory certification criteria required.
Significant achievements include:
- Cutting electricity usage by more than half.
- Substantially reducing organisational carbon emissions, driven by hybrid working, public‑transport‑first travel policies, and prioritising electric or hybrid vehicles.
- Inspiring behavioural change across the team and supply chain by embedding sustainability principles across hybrid working, offering sustainability‑focused staff training, supplier engagement, and sustainability‑led travel planning.
- A 40% reduction in waste per employee per day powered by comprehensive staff training on proper waste segregation, strategic bin placement and segregation and a zero-landfill waste provider
ATOI shows that you don’t need to directly control every aspect of an operation to drive meaningful environmental change. Even without owning their office building, the team successfully encouraged their landlord to explore renewable energy options – a great example of how thoughtful advocacy can spark wider positive impact across the industry.
Likewise, although they primarily organise MICE events and do not typically include wildlife viewing in standard itineraries, controls are implemented through policy development. Hunting or harvesting wildlife is explicitly excluded from current itineraries. ATOI sponsors tree planting and allows paid staff hours for local environmental clean up days. Guides receive a sustainable tour practice policy incorporating Leave No Trace principles, instructing them to minimise human impact, interact with wildlife respectfully, non-invasively and report on any wildlife disturbances as well as ensuring guests remain on designated trails.
This path to certification has created a culture of shared responsibility and empowered the company to turn sustainability from an operational task into a core business value. ATOI champions an example of both management and team coming together with a likeminded goal – to be a force of good for their teams, local communities, the environment, their guests and the MICE and tourism industry on the whole. Through impactful leadership, and general interest from the whole team, together they have achieved internationally-recognised certification, standing out as a ‘a touch of inspiration’ within their industry and beyond.
STN’s expert guidance helped ATOI transform good intentions into measurable action. From sustainability policy design, to Green Team coaching, to the tailored certification roadmap, the STN team supported ATOI at every step of the journey. ATOI didn’t just follow the process – they put real heart into it. The multicultural team rallied around shared values, embraced change with enthusiasm, and brought clients, suppliers, and local communities along with them.
Comments On The Certification
Speaking on the achievement, Rob Rankin, Director of Sustainable Tourism Network, said:
“A Touch of Ireland has been an absolute joy to work with. Their team didn’t just go through the motions – they threw themselves into the sustainability journey with energy, determination, and genuine care. Watching their progress has been inspiring. At STN, our role is to guide and empower, but it’s ATOI who rolled up their sleeves and made this transformation happen. Their Gold Award is incredibly well‑deserved, and we’re proud to stand beside them as they continue shaping what responsible tourism in Ireland looks like.”
Bega Perez , Managing Director, A Touch of Ireland:
“Sustainability isn’t just a project for us anymore – it’s part of who we are. This journey pushed us, strengthened us, and brought our whole team closer together. The expert support from the Sustainable Tourism Network was instrumental; they guided us with professionalism, kindness, and genuine passion for making tourism better. We’re so proud to achieve Gold, and grateful to the STN team for helping us bring our sustainability vision to life. We are incredibly proud to achieve Gold Certification and grateful to our partners, suppliers, and dedicated team who made this possible. This certification means a lot – and we’re only getting started.”
This certification reflects not only A Touch of Ireland’s commitment, but also the strategic leadership, training, and mentorship offered by the Sustainable Tourism Network – Ireland’s national driver of excellence in sustainable tourism.
