Having previously made headlines for their industry-leading water conservation efforts, the hotel is once again pioneering environmental sustainability and responsibility, having received the ECO Proud/ECO Excellent Status Award. As part of the Dream Hotels & Resorts group, The Peninsula All-Suite Hotel is the first recipient of the award after the implementation of a … [Read more...]
Green goes platinum for cool hotel
When a local green hotel receives the honour of becoming the first Elite Platinum building on the African continent, there is cause for celebration. A celebration which we were happy to share, inspired by a range of magnificent green tweaks which confirms that indeed the world is changing and all the hard work in the green industry is not in vain. Hotel Verde also … [Read more...]
Green hotel gets the most out of Earth Hour
It seems that guests are enjoying the eco-conscious reminders Hotel Verde have introduced as part of their holistic, sustainable vision. Not only does the hotel implement a range of green operational practices, but they have recently introduced a weekly Earth Hour that gets guests actively involved in their green thinking. Samantha Annandale, Hotel Verde’s general manager, … [Read more...]
Tread lightly on your travels
The Vineyard Hotel & Spa, a leader in sustainability in the South African hotel sector, has made huge strides in implementing various “green” initiatives over the last couple of years. Chris van Zyl (pictured below), group sustainability manager and horticulturist at the Vineyard Hotel & Spa, has highlighted a few essential tips that hotel guests can implement in … [Read more...]
Hotel fights aliens to save fynbos and water
On Earth Day one of Cape Town’s greenest hotels gathered together staff, guests and friends to clear alien vegetation in the Silvermine Valley in the Table Mountain National Park during their 45th Adopt-a-Spot initiative. The Vineyard Hotel & Spa in Newlands, Cape Town, were assisted by three Miss Earth SA finalists, Nayha Gautam, Lara Potgieter and Luanne … [Read more...]
Is Kruger National Park under threat of hotels?
Plans to build a new development and two world-class hotels inside the Kruger National Park is now threatening one of South Africa’s most pristine locations. A pressure group called AIKONA (Against Interference in Kruger & other National Assets) was created by some members of the public and a concerned conservationist who are up in arms. It is widely speculated that … [Read more...]
Mont Rochelle guests leave green footprint
The 5-star Mont Rochelle Hotel & Mountain Vineyards in Franschhoek has embarked on an innovative tree-planting venture that affords select repeat guests the opportunity to plant their very own olive tree on the Mont Rochelle property. This forms part of a dedicated drive to minimize the carbon footprint of this environmentally responsible establishment, while encouraging … [Read more...]
Green tourism part 1: what is green grading?
In preparation for the Environmental Management in Tourism conference to take place in November, we are introducing a series on green tourism today. During the 20th century our world was thrust into a massive technological revolution, with new developments and discoveries being made at a pace never before experienced by humankind. Our parents took full advantage of the … [Read more...]
Living green is cornerstone of family business
'Thumbs up to the Vineyard Hotel and Spa in Newlands for winning the 'Investor in People' category of the annual Imvelo Awards for responsible tourism. The hotel is also a runner-up in the 'Best Single Resource Management' category, specifically for its waste management programme. 'The staff at the Vineyard Hotel & Spa are like an extended family - many have been loyal … [Read more...]
Green annex brings nature to the city centre
Sniffing out, or being sniffed out, by emerging green businesses is one of the most exciting aspects of my job. It reminds me of looking for Easter eggs as a child - you never know when another unexpected treasure appears in the most unlikely place. So when I'm called to visit a 'green annexe' in town, I jump at the occasion. How green can a section of a hotel be, and what … [Read more...]
