TANZANIA: Bakhresa and Verde Hotels Join Hands

The Tanzanian-based Bakhresa Group has appointed South Africa's Verde Hotels to develop and manage the total overhaul and upgrading of Mtoni Marine Hotel in Zanzibar. The new five-star property 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 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.

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 who have 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).

Verde Hotels intends to integrate sustainability into every facet of their involvement in the construction, as well as throughout the hotel’s daily operation.

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 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 and 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 principals.

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 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 and Construction' and 'Operations and 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.

As a hotel management group, Verde Hotels specialises in a turnkey management approach that includes the construction phase of new hotels and the renovation phase of existing buildings that are subsequently operated and managed by Verde Hotels, with sustainability at their core. The aim is to transcend conventional hotel and business standards whilst entering into a new era of environmental consciousness and responsible tourism.

Verde Hotels is proud to have signed this management contract with the Bakhresa Group, proving that going “green” is not only viable on the triple bottom line but makes good business sense” stated Samantha Annandale, CEO of Verde Hotels.

The Ethos of the Verde Group and Hotel Verde Zanzibar will align itself with a core belief of the Bakhresa Group “ in continuously improving environmental performance through efficient operations, reduced impacts, natural resource and cost savings.”