East Africa’s greenest hotel in the making

ZANZIBAR WILL BE HOME TO EAST AFRICA’S GREENEST HOTEL

(Posted 05th July 2016)

The Tanzanian based Bakhresa Group has appointed Verde Hotels from South Africa to develop and manage the total overhaul and upgrading of the old Mtoni Marine Hotel on Zanzibar’s main island of Unguja, located just 2km from UNESCO World Heritage Site ‘Stone Town‘. The new five star property, when the rebuilding is complete, will be known as Hotel Verde, Zanzibar’s greenest hotel.

‘We are serious about being the leaders of the Green Economy sector and therefore we approached the developers of Africa’s Greenest Hotel, Verde Hotels to ensure that Hotel Verde Zanzibar will be the Greenest hotel in East Africa‘ stated Mr. Said Salim Awadh Bakhresa, Chairman of the Bakhresa Group.

Hotel Verde Zanzibar is set to take sustainable development to new heights in East Africa and become a flagship for tourism in Zanzibar and Tanzania and a text book example of how detailed planning and the incorporation of the latest technologies can make a huge impact on the bottom line of the operation.

Mr. Bahkresa has commissioned the Verde Hotels Group to manage the development and operate the hotel as a certified sustainable establishment that offers a carbon neutral hotel experience. Verde Hotels will work with Estim Construction which has a strong reputation for project excellence in the East African region. Hotel Verde Zanzibar will be pursuing independent certification, utilising the Green Star rating tool from the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) to give their clients and the public at large the assurance of delivering what they promised.

According to a source will Verde Hotels intend to integrate sustainability into every facet of their involvement in the construction, as well as throughout the hotel’s daily operation from water use and re-use to introducing the latest energy saving and generating equipment.

Towards that end was it pointed out that sustainability strategies that will be implemented in the redevelopment phase include passive and active design, that optimise resource efficiency; these include: renewable energy generation; regenerative drive elevators, a grey water recycling system, responsible procurement, waste minimisation and management and indoor environmental quality optimisation, to mention just a few.

Hotel Verde Zanzibar will, when complete, become a showcase the integration of 5 star luxury and environmental best practice. The hotel will feature 142 ultra-stylish rooms, luxury suites, a spa, gym, restaurants, entertainment areas and a marina. The contemporary design fused with local Tanzanian elements will be an attraction for local and international guests to enjoy whilst keeping to the standards and practices of responsible tourism principles.

Verde Hotels is a sustainable hotel operator who is responsible for the success of Hotel Verde in Cape Town, South Africa. Hotel Verde, Cape Town is presently considered to be Africa’s greenest hotel and the first hotel in the world to be certified with a Platinum LEED green building certification for both the Design & Construction and Operations & Maintenance. In May 2014, Hotel Verde became the first hotel in Africa to offer a carbon neutral accommodation and conferencing experience, at no extra cost to the guest. Hotel Verde has won a number of local and international awards for its sustainable initiatives including the Internorga Company Trendsetter award in Hamburg and the award for World’s Best City Hotel for Responsible Tourism at World Travel Market London.

The owners of the property on Unguja / Zanzibar are clearly expecting similar recognition when the reconstruction is complete and operations commence.