Nairobi – Serena Hotels have been declared winners of the 2008 Skål International Ecotourism Awards which highlight responsible tourism practices around the world. Serena Hotels won the award in the Global Corporate Establishments category which includes contributions made towards the conservation of nature and the environment, the conservation of cultural heritage, community involvement and benefits, educational features and innovation.
On receiving the award during a Skål luncheon that was held at the Nairobi Serena hotel, Serena Hotels’ Managing Director, Mahmud Jan Mohamed said “Serena Hotels enjoys a long- established reputation for responsible practices within the tourism industry. We are committed to creating unique and enriching experiences in a sustainable environment by developing projects that pay the highest regard to environmental concerns and promoting the interests of local communities including their indigenous architecture, craft and cultural traditions. This award represents a significant achievement for us”.
Skål International, the largest organization of travel and tourism professionals in the world, initiated the Ecotourism awards program in 2002 in an effort to encourage the conservation of the environment and help to promote sustainable practices in the tourism industry.
The award follows Serena Hotels’ track record of having received numerous environmental commendations and awards from various tourism bodies and travelers who have experienced the Serena product and voted through prestigious trade publications awards. In East Africa, the Serena Group has been voted the ‘Most Respected Company’ in East Africa for tourism for five years consecutively.
There’s a helpful section on Wikitravel that highlights the issues that ecotourism helps address.