Cape Town hotel awarded Green Key certification for sustainability efforts - IOL

Cape Town’s hotel scene is taking another step towards more responsible tourism, with Protea Hotel by Marriott Cape Town Sea Point receiving international recognition for its sustainability efforts.

The four-star hotel has been awarded Green Key certification, an eco-certification for tourism and hospitality establishments that recognises businesses that meet environmental standards and continue working to improve their sustainability practices.

In South Africa, the Green Key programme is operated by the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA), which presented the hotel with its certification plaque at an official handover ceremony.

For guests, the certification is backed by a number of changes that have been introduced across the hotel’s everyday operations.

Almost all of the hotel’s lighting, 95%, now uses LED technology, while water-saving measures have also been introduced in its bathrooms. Aerators on shower nozzles and taps help reduce water consumption without changing the guest experience.

The hotel has also introduced waste separation through colour-coded bins and signage, while cutting down on single-use plastic items and cutlery.

Even its approach to printing has been reconsidered, with staff encouraged to print only when necessary and to use double-sided printing and eco-friendly paper when they do.

But the hotel’s sustainability plans do not stop at its physical operations.

Staff training forms part of the initiative, helping employees understand the environmental practices being implemented and how they can incorporate them into their daily responsibilities.

Protea Hotel by Marriott Cape Town Sea Point general manager Jeremy Govender said the certification has helped turn sustainability into something that is part of the hotel's everyday operations.

“Sustainability is not something that sits separately from our hotel operations,” Govender said. “It is reflected in the practical choices we make every day, from how we manage resources and waste to how we engage our team and encourage more responsible choices among our guests.”

The hotel is also working with World of Azraah, a tourism company that provides eco-conscious transport and tour recommendations, giving guests options for exploring Cape Town in more responsible ways.

WESSA senior sustainability manager Tevya Visser said the certification provides tourism businesses with a framework for putting sustainability commitments into practice.

The recognition comes as WESSA celebrates its 100th anniversary, marking a century of environmental work in South Africa.

With more than 9,000 establishments across more than 90 countries holding Green Key certification, the programme has become an internationally recognised benchmark for sustainability within the tourism and hospitality industry.

For travellers looking beyond the usual hotel amenities, initiatives such as these offer a glimpse into how accommodation providers are changing the way they use resources while still focusing on the guest experience.