Bakhresa to build Zanzibar hotel

BAKHRESA Group has appointed Verde Hotels from South Africa to develop and manage the total overhaul and upgrading of the old Mtoni Marine Hotel in Zanzibar, about two kilometres from Stone Town.

According to a statement, the brand new five star property will be known as Hotel Verde, Zanzibar’s greenest hotel.

“We are serious about being the leaders of the Green Economy sector and therefore we approached the developers of Africa’s Greenest Hotel, Verde Hotels to ensure that Hotel Verde Zanzibar will be the Greenest hotel in East Africa,” Mr Said Salim Awadh Bakhresa, Chairman of the Bakhresa Group said in the statement.

Hotel Verde Zanzibar is set to take sustainable development to new heights in East Africa and become a flagship for tourism in Zanzibar and Tanzania.

Bahkresa has commissioned the Verde Hotels Group to manage the development and operate the hotel as a certified sustainable establishment that offers a carbon neutral hotel experience. Verde Hotels will work with Estim Construction who have a strong reputation for project excellence in the East African region.

Hotel Verde Zanzibar will be pursuing independent certification, utilising the Green Star rating tool from the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA). Verde Hotels intends to integrate sustainability into every facet of their involvement in the construction, as well as throughout the hotel’s daily operation.

Sustainability strategies that will be implemented in the redevelopment phase include passive and active design, that optimise resource efficiency; these include: renewable energy generation; regenerative drive elevators, a grey water recycling system, responsible procurement, waste minimisation and management and indoor environmental quality optimisation, to mention just a few.

Hotel Verde Zanzibar will showcase the integration of 5 star luxury and environmental best practice.

The hotel will feature 142 ultra-stylish rooms, luxury suites, a spa, gym, restaurants, entertainment and marina. The contemporary design fused with local Tanzanian elements will be an attraction for local and international guests to enjoy whilst keeping to the standards and practices of responsible tourism principals.

In May 2014, Hotel Verde became the first hotel in Africa to offer a carbon neutral accommodation and conferencing experience, at no extra cost to the guest.

Hotel Verde has won a number of local and international awards for its sustainable initiatives, including the Internorga Company Trendsetter award in Hamburg and the award for World’s Best City Hotel for Responsible Tourism at World Travel Market London.