We are very proud to be the first and, currently, only independent holiday let in Northern Ireland to be part of the JAM Partnership. The JAM card was created by the NOW group, a social enterprise that supports people with learning difficulties and autism. As a recognised JAM Card-friendly business, we are promoting inclusivity for both external and internal customers with invisible disabilities.
We were recently awarded the Bronze Green Tourism award and are currently working towards Silver.
We have tried to make the apartment as energy efficient as possible. To that end, over the past 12 months, about 60% of our energy use has come from solar power, and we have just invested in additional battery storage to increase that percentage. Additionally, you will find that the toilet in the shower room is an ‘eco-toilet’ that automatically routes the water used to wash your hands to flush the toilet.
The water you’ll find in the fridge is pumped, filtered, and purified from a local spring. You can literally drink fresh spring water from the Glens of Antrim at no extra cost.
We also allow guests to use our electric car charging point on request. A full charge typically costs £15- £20, depending on the time of day.
The lights throughout the apartment are fitted with low-energy bulbs, and all radiators have TRVs to minimise heat loss.
In the winter, the infrared heaters in the ceilings can be used as additional heat sources. These operate by heating the contents of a room rather than the empty space, making them far more economical and less wasteful.
The pods for the Nespresso coffee machine come from Wonky Coffee, a UK company, which rescues pods destined for landfill, sorts them, and sells them. The aluminium pods are then recycled in an eco-press, and we use the spent coffee grounds around the plants in the garden.
The soap and shower products are all sourced from Miniml, a UK company with a zero-waste supply chain that uses natural, plant-based formulas and is 100% vegan and cruelty-free. We use refillable dispensers to reduce single-use plastics.
Unless you specifically request it, we do not change the towels during your stay. We ask that guests leave used towels on the shower floor, which reduces the environmental impact of frequent, unnecessary washing. When towels are no longer used, we dispose of them in fabric recycling bins, which you can find in both Glenarm and Carnlough villages.
This year, we were awarded the World Host qualification. This globally recognised qualification is acknowledged as the gold standard in Customer Service training, and individuals who have achieved it are recognised as able to deliver an unrivalled welcome and an exceptional visitor experience. We're delighted to be able to offer our guests that level of customer care and service, and our reviews definitely confirm that our guests appreciate it.
Booking.com recognised Apartment 23a earlier this year with their Traveller Review Award. This is especially meaningful for us because it shows what our guests think about the apartment and us. Our overall score of 9.7 out of 10 from over 180 reviews reflects how passionate we are about ensuring our guests have the best experience we can provide and leave with positive and happy memories of their stay.