Winners of Imvelo Responsible Tourism Awards announced

The programme is organised by the Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa (FEDHASA) in association with the National Department of Tourism and is supported by Absa, the Department of Water Affairs, Eskom, the Industrial Development Corporation and Don't Waste Services.

Eddy Khosa, chairman of FEDHASA, said that the overall winner, selected from the eight category winners, is Riverside Sun Resort.

The judges applauded the company's overall performance and sustained commitment to responsible practice.

Since 2010, Riverside Sun Resort has undertaken a huge drive to "green" the property and went from a pending Silver Heritage Rating to Gold in only 12 months. It has retained and improved its Gold status since then, showing a vast improvement in water and energy consumptions. The resort is committed to efficient and appropriate energy use across its operations.

Best Social Involvement Programme

In the category Best Social Involvement Programme the group winner was Sun International Zambia. The independent winner was Ulusaba Private Game Reserve. The judges highly commended So We Too. Other finalists in the category were African Impact, Amakhala Game Reserve, Maliba Mountain Lodge, Open Africa, Sun International Zambia, Tongabezi Lodge and Tsogo Sun Group.

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 group winner was Sun International Zambia. The independent winner was Zalala Beach Lodge and Safaris and Calabash Tours was highly commended. Other finalists in this category were the Cape Town International Convention Centre, Garden Court Polokwane and Riverside Sun Resort.

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.

Best Overall Environmental Management System

The Intercontinental Sandton Towers and Sandton Sun Hotel was winner of the category Best Overall Environmental Management System. Other finalists were the Da Vinci Hotel & Suites, the Drakensberg Sun Resort, the Prince's Grant Golf Estate & Lodge and the Riverside Sun Resort.

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 Riverside Sun Resort. City Lodge Hotels was highly commended. Other finalists were the Beacon Island Resort, Garden Court Hatfield, the Sandton Convention Centre and Sun City Resort.

The Riverside Sun Resort was the winner in the category Best Single Resource Management Programme - Water Management. Other finalists were the Beacon Island Resort, the Drakensberg Sun Resort, Garden Court Hatfield, Garden Court Sandton and Kievitskroon.

In the category Best Single Resource Management Programme - Waste Management, the winner was the Vineyard Hotel & Spa. Other finalists were the Drakensberg Sun Resort, Garden Court Hatfield, Riverside Sun Resort, Southern Sun Waterfront Hotel and the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company.

Most Empowered Tourism Business

In the category Most Empowered Tourism Business the independent winner was White Shark Adventures. The group winner was the Tsogo Sun Group. Other finalists were Kamogelo Guest House, the Kondowe Game Reserve, the Protea Hotel Bloemfontein and Scan Display.

Entrants were judged on the extent to which they addressed empowerment and contributed to a globally competitive, democratically representative tourism industry.

In the category Investing In People, the independent winner was the Cape Grace Hotel. The group winner was the Red Carnation Hotel Collection. Other finalists were the African Safari Lodge Foundation, Garden Court Blackrock, the Oude Werf Hotel and the Vineyard Hotel & Spa.

Entrants were judged on the practical development of human resources, determined by national minimum standards or guidelines.

The FEDHASA Chairman's Award was made to Mavuso Msimang, chairman of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa, who is heading up a government project to address the issue of rhino poaching in South Africa. The Chairman's Award is independent of the other awards and may be made to any organisation or individual making a meaningful contribution to responsible tourism.

For more information, go to www.imveloawards.co.za.