By Abdi Ali
Published July 4, 2016
Zanzibar’s old Mtoni Marine Hotel is set to become a flagship facility for tourism in Tanzania.
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The hotel, that sits about two kilometres from Stone Town, a UNESCO-declared World Heritage Site, shall not only be upgraded to a Five-Star status but shall also be re-named Hotel Verde: Zanzibar’s Greenest Hotel ahead of its opening to the public in mid 2017.
Bakhresa Group, the owner of old Mtoni Marine, has appointed Verde Hotels of South Africa to develop and manage the overhaul and upgrading of the hotel.
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Said Salim Awadh Bakhresa, Chairman of the Bakhresa Group, says they invited ‘the developers of Africa’s Greenest Hotel, Verde Hotels, to ensure that Hotel Verde Zanzibar will be the Greenest hotel in East Africa.’
Bakhresa says Hotel Verde Zanzibar shall “take sustainable development to new heights in East Africa and become a flagship for tourism in Zanzibar and Tanzania.”
The new hotel, that shall be “a certified sustainable establishment that offers a carbon neutral hotel experience”, is expected to “integrate sustainability into every facet of their involvement in the construction, as well as throughout the hotel’s daily operation.”
Hotel Verde Zanzibar–that is expected to showcase the integration of five-star luxury and environmental best practice–shall have renewable energy generation; regenerative drive elevators, a grey water recycling system, waste minimisation and management and indoor environmental quality optimisation, according to Verde Hotels.
“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,” Verde Hotels says.
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Verde Hotels, that describes itself as a hotel management group, says it “specialises in a turnkey management approach that includes the construction phase of new hotels and the renovation phase of existing buildings that are subsequently operated and managed by Verde Hotels, with sustainability at their core.”
It explains its aim is “to transcend conventional hotel and business standards while entering into a new era of environmental consciousness and responsible tourism.”