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Flowers
for environment-conscious Accommodation - 20.05.05
The recent introduction of the 'Eco Awards Namibia'
serves as an additional incentive for guest accommodation
establishments to continue to invest intensively into
nature. Similar to the quality grading system of stars
they can earn up to five desert flowers for planning
and managing their business according to eco-friendly
principles.
The winners of the first Eco Awards were formally
announced during the gala evening of the Hospitality
Association of Namibia (HAN). Sossusvlei
Lodge (near Sesriem) received one flower; Huab
Lodge (north-west of Khorixas), Düsternbrook
Guest Farm (25 km north of Windhoek) and Eningu
Clayhouse Lodge (near Dordabis) scored three
flowers each; Damaraland Camp
(Wilderness Safaris) west of Twyfelfontein carried
off a veritable bouquet of four flowers. Each of the
price winners has already made considerable investments
into the eco-friendly management of their respective
companies: at least 50 percent of the total number
of possible points is needed for one flower, 60 percent
for two, 70 for three, 80 for four and 90 percent
for five flowers. Since the assessment system is currently
being refined the scale may change slightly. |
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(f.l.t.r.): Stefanie Hümmer
(Eningu Clayhouse Lodge, 3 flowers), Suzanne Bonitz
(for Huab Lodge, 3 flowers), Dave van Smeerdijk (Damaraland
Camp, 4 flowers), Steffie Hipp (Düsternbrook Guest Farm,
3 flowers) and Ute de Jager (Sossusvlei Lodge, 1 flower).
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The
criteria which form the basis of assessment are sub-divided
into seven categories: water, waste water, waste, energy,
environment, guided tours as well as employees and local
communities. Each category contains a detailed catalogue
of possible measures together with the number of points
which can be earned. Thus the assessment criteria also
serve as an instructive manual for future steps. Points
are awarded on different scales depending on the location
of the accommodation establishment (town, nature reserve
or communal land and farm).
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Participation
is voluntary. An assessor visits applicants for
assessment and on the basis of his report an independent
jury determines the number of flowers due. An
Eco Award is valid for two years and may be used
for marketing. The emblem can be displayed at
the entrance, in brochures and on websites. Furthermore
there is the annual award ceremony, covered by
the local and international media, and every registered
accommodation establishment has a link on the
Eco Awards website. Furthermore there is the annual
award ceremony, covered by the local and international
media, and every registered accommodation establishment
has a link on the Eco Awards website.
Once established, the Eco Awards should prove
a considerable boost to the competitive edge as
holidaymakers will be able to base their choice
of lodge or guest farm on the numbers of flowers
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The desert flower symbolises the interplay of
water, earth and sun, which brings about natural
growth and thereby points to the future. |
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well. By the
way, Eco Awards for other tourism enterprises, like
car rental companies and tour operators, are envisaged
at a later stage. |
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The official
seal of quality was launched in the end of 2004 by the
Ministry for the Environment and Tourism and the Namibia
Nature Foundation (NNF) with the financial assistance
of the European Union’s Namibia Development Tourism
Programme (NTDP). The Gondwana Desert Collection supports
the initiative with PR work, amongst others. For example,
Managing Director Mannfred Goldbeck introduced the Eco
Awards at a press conference during the Internationale
Tourismus Börse (ITB) in Berlin in March. Moreover,
criteria from the Eco Awards catalogue are consciously
taken into account for the alteration and renovation
work at Kalahari Anib Lodge near Mariental and Namib
Desert Lodge close to Sesriem. |
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