Johannesburg – The winners in the 2007 Imvelo Responsible Tourism Awards programme, organised by the Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa (FEDHASA) in partnership with Absa and the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) have been announced.The awards were made in Johannesburg tonight (Wednesday, 31 October 2007). Running for the sixth year, Imvelo recognises tourism and hospitality businesses that make a real, measurable and sustained contribution to responsible tourism.
FEDHASA CEO Brett Dungan said the overall winner, selected from the six category winners, is Sun City Resort near Rustenburg. The judges saluted the property’s outstanding understanding of the interdependence of all aspects of an effective environmental management system. They clearly demonstrated a corporate commitment to continuous improvement.
In the category Best social involvement programme the winner is Sun City Resort. Lesheba Wilderness in the Soutpansberg was highly commended. Other finalists in this category were Southern Sun Adopt-a-Guest House, Thanda Private Game Reserve near Hluhluwe, the Vineyard Hotel & Spa in Cape Town and Voluntours, a Gauteng based volunteer project management organisation and tour operator. Entrants were judged on examples of corporate and social responsibility like community investment initiatives, local outsourcing, community health, welfare and education activities, promotion of local SMME enterprises as well as local HIV/Aids and other social programmes
In the category Best practice – economic impact the winner is Storms River Adventures in the Tsitsikamma Forest. Voluntours was highly commended. Other finalists were Sun City Resort, The Table Bay Hotel and the Vineyard Hotel & Spa, both in Cape Town. Entrants were judged on local purchasing and economic practices, employment equity, Black Economic Empowerment, employee training and development of and adherence to general and industry-specific legislation.
Skeleton Coast Camp in Namibia walked away as the winner in the category Best overall environmental management system. The Drakensberg Sun Hotel was highly commended. Other finalists were Farm 215 near Cape Agulhas, Sun City Resort and The Table Bay Hotel. Entries were judged on combined environmental issues including management systems and procedures, conservation activities, social and economic initiatives, communication systems and overall awareness creation.
In the category Best single resource management programme – energy management the winner was the Sandton Convention Centre. Kalamu Tented Camp in Namibia was highly commended. The other finalists were Sun City Resort and The Cullinan Hotel in Cape Town.
The Fish River Sun near Port Alfred is the winner in the category Best single resource management programme – water, the other finalists being Farm 215 near Cape Agulhas and Sun City Resort.
In the category Best single resource management programme – waste the winner is the Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town and the finalists are The Table Bay Hotel and the Vineyard Hotel & Spa, both also in Cape Town.
The FEDHASA Chairman’s Award was made to Voluntours and Thanda Private Game Reserve for their commitment and achievements towards responsible tourism practice in South Africa. This award is independent of the other awards and may be made to any organisation or individual making a meaningful contribution to responsible tourism.
Dungan said this year’s entries were of very high standard and that a record of 96 category entries was received.
“It is clear that after six years, Imvelo is certainly making a huge impact on tourism in South Africa, creating significant awareness of environmental management issues in the industry. With tourism being South Africa’s new gold, Imvelo will continue to create awareness of the potential – but also the responsibility – of sustainable tourism.”
Stewart Lumka, General Manager: Tourism and Hospitality at Absa Corporate and Business Bank said both FEDHASA and Absa are committed to building sustainable growth, prosperity and true empowerment. “Absa is proud to be associated with the Imvelo awards not only because it acknowledges excellence in one of our fastest growing industries, but because the entrepreneurs running these businesses are making a real and sustainable contribution to our economy.
“I believe that our partnership with FEDHASA in awarding excellence and environmental responsibility in tourism is making a significant impact on the industry. This year’s finalists are truly the cream of the crop.”
Imvelo – which means ‘nature’ in South Africa’s Nguni languages – forms part of an ongoing hospitality industry campaign to encourage industry members to accept voluntary guidelines promoting responsible tourism. The awards are in line with the responsible tourism guidelines for the South African hospitality industry and the UN World Tourism Organisation’s code of ethics, and are supported by the Heritage Environmental Rating Programme and WTM World Responsible Tourism Day.
Imvelo is supported by the Industrial Development Corporation, the Johannesburg Tourism Company, Results Media and Sun International.
Hey Andrea, some properties we should try to target…The Vineyard Hotel, Table Bay…Also, can you forward to Jen and ask her to pick out if any of the cultural winners are CBT products?