Sustainable Conference Venues in Leeds: Leading the Way in Green Events
As part of the Made in Leeds campaign, Conference Leeds is showcasing how the city’s hotels and event venues are embracing sustainability. For today’s conference organisers and delegates, sustainability is no longer optional, it’s a key factor in choosing venues.
Leeds is home to a growing portfolio of eco-friendly venues, offering everything from carbon-neutral meetings and energy-efficient buildings to zero-waste operations and local sourcing. The result? A destination where hosting a sustainable event is simple, credible, and impactful.
Across the city, venues are achieving recognised certifications such as Green Key, Green Tourism, BREEAM, and AGF, alongside practical initiatives that reduce environmental impact and support local communities.
Clayton Hotel Leeds
Green Tourism Gold
Clayton Hotel Leeds has demonstrated strong commitment to sustainability by achieving zero waste to landfill. The hotel continues to develop its sustainable meetings offer through energy-efficient technology, reduced waste practices and flexible catering designed to minimise food waste.
Future initiatives, including carbon tracking systems, will provide organisers with greater transparency and control over their event’s environmental impact.
first direct bank arena Leeds
first direct bank arena Leeds
A Greener Future (AGF) Certified
As one of the world’s most comprehensive live-event sustainability standards, AGF Certification reflects the arena’s commitment to reducing waste, emissions and improving biodiversity.
The arena has achieved zero waste to landfill and incorporates initiatives such as rainwater harvesting and large-scale recycling systems, around 200 recycling bins onsite, composting all food waste via Compost It, ticket donations and lost properties for local charities. Its AGF certification reflects a strong commitment to sustainability in large-scale events, proving that high-capacity venues can operate responsibly while maintaining world-class standards.
Hyatt Place Leeds
Hyatt Bedroom Suite with Kitchenette
BREEAM Certified
Hyatt Place Leeds stands out for its sustainable building design, operating as a fully electric, BREEAM-certified property. The hotel operates entirely on electric power, significantly reducing carbon emissions associated with gas or oil heating systems. Water-saving fixtures further support Hyatt’s global water conservation commitments.
Hyatt Place Leeds also prioritises local sourcing, working with Leeds-based suppliers such as North Star Coffee and local butchers and fishmongers; showcasing Yorkshire produce across the Zoom and Azotea menus. Enhanced recycling and composting initiatives further contribute to reducing landfill waste.
Holiday Inn Express Leeds City Centre – Armouries
Green Key
Recently achieving Green Key certification, Holiday Inn Express Leeds City Centre Armouries has implemented a broad set of sustainable measures. These include energy-efficient LED lighting, water-saving fixtures, EV charging points and energy-controlled systems within guest rooms.
The hotel also prioritises waste reduction through comprehensive recycling streams and the removal of single-use plastics, ensuring sustainability is embedded throughout the guest experience
Ibis Styles Leeds City Centre
TCS Photograph by Richard Walker/ImageNorth
Green Key
At ibis Styles Leeds City Centre, sustainability is driven by waste reduction and guest participation. The hotel has eliminated single-use plastics and encourages guests to opt out of daily housekeeping in exchange for rewards, actively involving them in sustainable practices.
Upcycling plays a major role in reducing the hotel’s environmental footprint. Bedroom tables have been repolished and repainted, while reception and library furniture has been refreshed with new upholstery; extending product life rather than replacing items outright.
Beyond the building, the team actively supports local environmental initiatives, including tree planting and litter-picking along the Leeds–Liverpool Canal. Through these initiatives, they continue to work towards a more sustainable and environmentally responsible operation.
Leeds Marriott Hotel
Green Key
As part of its Green Key certified sustainability programme, the Leeds Marriott Hotel has introduced initiatives to reuse and repurpose waste coffee grounds, supporting a more circular economy.
Guests are kept informed through clear in-room information, with encouragement to participate in towel and linen reuse programmes to reduce water and energy consumption during their stay.
Malmaison Leeds
Malmaison – w&p 2&3
Green Tourism Bronze
Malmaison Leeds integrates sustainability with guest choice through its Eco Clean initiative, offering incentives or charitable donations to reduced housekeeping services in exchange for a drinks voucher or a £3 donation to The Brain Charity. The hotel also offers paid volunteering days for staff supporting sustainable charities.
Combined with renewable electricity use, high recycling rates and chemical-free cleaning processes, the hotel demonstrates how environmental and social responsibility can work together to enhance the guest experience.
Oulton Hall
Green Tourism Bronze
Oulton Hall showcases how heritage venues can adopt sustainable practices while preserving historic character. The hotel supports biodiversity through initiatives such as maintaining green spaces and habitats for wildlife, by having their own bug hotel.
Operationally, sustainability is reflected in refillable amenities, responsible sourcing and waste reduction programmes like recycled Nespresso capsules. They use local suppliers for all the fresh flowers you see in the hotel. Their housekeeping team get through approximately 33,600 toilet rolls every single year ; that’s enough to wrap around Oulton Hall’s entire golf course and still have some to spare. Every single one is 2-ply and sourced through their sustainable supplier Sybron. These measures ensure that environmental responsibility is embedded across both guest-facing and behind-the-scenes operations.
Radisson Hotel Leeds (RHG)
Radisson – Leeds Liquorice
Carbon Neutral Meetings | Responsible Business
Radisson Hotels are leading innovation in sustainable meetings by offering carbon-neutral events as standard. when you come to Leeds, every meeting you book in Leeds includes automatic carbon offsetting, calculated and delivered through verified global climate projects.
This approach removes complexity for organisers, allowing them to host environmentally responsible events without additional planning or cost and contributes towards projects such as Community-based projects in Peru, Kenya and India and wind energy investments in Turkey and the USA.
The Met Hotel Leeds
RyanWicks_TheMet Hotel Leeds _Lobby
Green Tourism Bronze
The Met Hotel highlights the value of sustainable refurbishment, demonstrating how historic buildings can be modernised responsibly. By installing low-carbon heating and cooling systems, introducing renewable energy sources and prioritising locally sourced materials during the refurbishment, the venue reduces its environmental footprint while retaining its architectural heritage. The project also introduced on‑site renewable energy, including solar panels and a new electrical substation, helping to future‑proof energy supply and improve efficiency.
The focus on adaptive reuse further lowers embodied carbon, making it a strong example of sustainable regeneration.
The Royal Armouries
Royal Armouries exterior
Silver accreditations from Green Tourism and Greengage Solutions
The Royal Armouries combines practical sustainability measures with innovation, including carbon-labelled menus that allow organisers and delegates to make more informed food choices.
Surplus food is also redistributed through the OLIO sharing app, with trained volunteers collecting food twice weekly and redistributing it locally, helping us cut waste while supporting the community in a meaningful way.
40% of flushing water is supplied through rainwater harvesting, local sourcing for their menus, waste reduction and community-focused food redistribution, the venue demonstrates how sustainability can enhance both the event experience and wider social impact.
The Queens Hotel
Green Tourism Gold | Green Meetings Gold | Green Key | Greengage ECOsmart Silver
The Queens Hotel demonstrates a comprehensive approach to sustainability, backed by multiple industry accreditations. Sustainability is embedded in everyday operations, from reducing food waste through Winnow AI technology to implementing chemical-free cleaning systems. Event organisers are supported with tools like the EventSmart calculator, which helps measure and manage carbon impact. Small initiatives make a big difference too: the Drip Drop umbrella stand in the reception has already helped plant 415 trees and removed 444 plastic bottles from the environment.
Beyond operational improvements, The Queens places strong emphasis on social responsibility, supporting local initiatives including Jog On Leeds, Simon on the Streets and the Leeds Winter Coat Appeal. During the most recent winter appeal, Leeds collectively donated 8,387 items, saving families an estimated £252,066 in heating and warm clothing costs.
University of Leeds
Roger Stevens Building – University of Leeds
Green Tourism Gold
The University of Leeds demonstrates large-scale leadership in sustainability through initiatives such as Gair Wood, one of the North of England’s most significant woodland creation projects, to increase biodiversity in the region.
Additional efforts include sustainable catering, local suppliers, low-carbon travel options and engagement programmes that empower staff and students to contribute to environmental action (blueprint programme), creating a culture of sustainability across the campus. They have on campus service offering bike hire and repair workshops to promote low-carbon travel. The University also supports wildlife conservation projects, including its well-known peregrine falcon programme. You can watch the birds live here: https://sustainability.leeds.ac.uk/peregrines/
Village Hotels Leeds (North & South)
Green Tourism Silver
Since 2023, Village Hotels Leeds are powered by 100% renewable electricity and supported by smart building management systems that optimise energy use. Village Hotels brand has also achieved strong results in waste management, diverting approximately 98% of waste from landfill through effective recycling and responsible waste partnerships across the various locations.
Electric Vehicle charging points are being rolled out at every Village Hotel, including ultra‑rapid chargers of up to 350kW, making cleaner travel easier for guests and local communities.
Their sustainability strategy is underpinned by a long-term commitment to achieving net zero, alongside impressive waste diversion rates and the rollout of EV charging infrastructure, making sustainable travel easier for delegates.
A Sustainable Future for Events in Leeds
Together, these venues highlight Leeds as a destination where sustainability and high-quality conference delivery go hand in hand. For organisers, the city offers not just a wide choice of venues, but the confidence that their events can align with environmental goals and delegate expectations.
As sustainability continues to shape the future of events, Leeds stands out as a city that is not only adapting but leading, making it easier than ever to deliver impactful, responsible conferences.
Conference Leeds can help you find the perfect venue and support your event from start to finish as well as offering support with accommodation, rail discounts and much more. Get in touch with us at info@conferenceleeds.co.uk to make an enquiry for your next event in Leeds.