Green award for Sandton Towers

InterContinental Johannesburg Sandton Towers five-star hotel in Johannesburg has been awarded Gold Class Certification by the Heritage Environmental Rating Programme. The hotel was awarded Silver status in its 2010 audit and is delighted to have improved. The Gold rating is an indication of the hotel’s commitment to the Heritage Audit Protocol and ultimate desire to improve its environmental management practices.

Says GM Josiah Montsho: “We are extremely proud of this award and would like to recognise the staff and congratulate all those involved with the environmental management at the property.”

The scope of the audit included physical reviews of specific areas and facilities within the hotel. Some key findings included:

• Creation of a joint purchasing department with Sandton Sun hotel resulting in bulk procurement. The positive spin-off is the reduced number of deliveries and product packaging delivered onto the premises.
• ·        Screening and requesting environmental compliance from business partners, suppliers and contractors.
• A focus on efficient resource consumption where feasible.
• Excellent management of the flora within the hotel and on the property.
• Energy management and savings as a result of the installation of heat pumps, and low energy lighting.
• Commendable CSI projects.

Falling in line with the InterContinental Hotel Group’s conservation partner, National Geographic and their drive towards responsible tourism through their Green Engage programme, the affiliation with Heritage emphasises the global drive to take accountability and to implement and drive initiatives with guests, partners and staff.

Linked to Sandton City shopping centre and within walking distance of Sandton’s CBD as well as Gautrain station, InterContinental Johannesburg Sandton Towers attracts both business and leisure travellers.