NWR's establishments win Eco Awards

In what has been a very rewarding year for Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR), its Onkoshi, Dolomite and Popa Falls resorts each walked away with an Eco Award with a rating of four flowers during the Hospitality Association of Namibia’s (HAN) gala dinner that was held on Friday, 18 November.

This was the first time that NWR took it upon itself to get assessed in order to see where it stands within the Eco friendly resort category. It must be highlighted that its participation in these awards reaffirmed its commitment of becoming more environmentally friendly at its establishments which is crucial as it operates in very sensitive areas. Even though this is a voluntary exercise, they took it upon themselves to ensure that they meet the requirements of the independent evaluators.

This should give the reassurance to NWR clients that they are amongst the best in the industry and are determined to have more of their resorts partake in order for current and future clients to know that they are staying at eco friendly establishments that put the environment they operate in first.

Ms Zelna Hengari, NWR’s Managing Director, believes that these awards are testament to the hard work her team has put in re-energizing the NWR brand. “It goes without saying that when you begin to receive such recognition, you know that you are on the right path,” says Hengari.

At the same occasion, NWR saw it fitting to make a contribution towards the Namibia Chefs Association that has been fundraising in order to cover the travel expenses for the Namibian team that will be competing in Abu Dhabi.

Eco Awards Namibia is a mark of distinction for accommodation establishments that are planned and managed according to eco-friendly principles. The programme promotes the selective and careful use of our resources, promoting reducing, recycling and reusing. In the process an establishment can improve its profitability, often with very little additional expenditure.

The programme is based on similar schemes in several other countries, and the criteria that those schemes use were amended to suit the Namibian environment.

Awarding of an Eco Awards desert flower certificate is a sign that the establishment keeps to a standard of environmental care and implements sustainable practices for the future of the immediate environment, the company and the people.