Tourism & Hospitality: The Salthouse Hotel

The Salthouse Hotel is a luxury eco-hotel located in Ballycastle, County Antrim. The site includes a 24-bedroom hotel, six eco-lodges, state-of-the-art spa and two restaurants.

Since opening in 2019, the hotel has positioned itself as one of Northern Ireland's leading carbon-neutral tourism destinations. The hotel was developed to combine high-quality hospitality with a strong commitment to environmental responsibility.

Responding to Changing Expectations

As demand for staycations increased and environmental awareness grew among consumers, travellers began expecting accommodation providers to demonstrate credible sustainability credentials.

At the same time, the hospitality industry faced increasing sectoral pressure to reduce energy consumption, waste generation and carbon emissions.

The Salthouse recognised this as an opportunity to respond to changing customer expectations. As Carl McGarrity, Director of The Salthouse Hotel, explains:

"When we launched The Salthouse in 2019, we knew we were fulfilling a void in the hospitality scene, and the subsequent demand from our customers has led to our expansion."

The hotel expanded its offering in 2022 through additional eco-cottages. This was followed by the opening of The Lookout restaurant in 2023 and an eco-farmhouse in 2025. Over time, this expansion has supported the creation of approximately 60 new jobs.

Building Sustainability into Operations

The Salthouse embedded sustainability into the design and operation from the outset. 

The hotel generates renewable energy through onsite wind and solar installations, including a 225kW wind turbine and 150kW of solar panels. 

These systems power heat pumps, motion-sensor LED lighting, electric vehicle charging points, a fully electric kitchen and SMART energy monitoring technology, that helps optimise energy use across the site.

Additional measures have been implemented to improve resource efficiency and reduce waste. These include sustainable procurement practices, refillable toiletries, bulk purchasing of cleaning products and partnerships with environmentally responsible waste management companies.

Alongside operational improvements, education and engagement form a key part of The Salthouse's sustainability strategy. 

Employees receive sustainability training, while guests are encouraged to participate through digital communications, QR-code information systems, refillable glass water bottles and awareness of the hotel's environmental initiatives. 

The hotel has also eliminated single-use plastics from guest areas as part of its commitment to reducing waste.

Sustainable Tourism Benefits

The Salthouse Hotel demonstrates how tourism and hospitality businesses can successfully integrate sustainability into their operations while maintaining a premium visitor experience. 

Through its renewable energy infrastructure, the hotel generates enough electricity to power approximately 150 households annually and is capable of exporting surplus energy back to the grid.

Its renewable energy systems help reduce scope 1 and scope 2 emissions, improve energy efficiency, minimise waste, and lower long-term operating costs. 

By combining renewable energy, responsible procurement, waste reduction and sustainability education, The Salthouse has created a commercially viable model for sustainable tourism.