Seventeen lodges under the Gondwana Collection Namibia scooped top accolades at the Eco Awards presented at the Hospitality Association of Namibia’s (HAN) gala dinner in Luderitz over the past weekend.
The development means Gondwana Collection Namibia now boasts of 17 properties and offerings that have a five-flower rating.
Categories judged include conservation and guiding, energy, water, legal compliance as well as staff management and health, amongst others.
The Gondwana properties which have received Five Desert Flowers are: Canyon Lodge, Canyon Village and Canyon Roadhouse. Zambezi Mubala Lodge and Zambezi Mubala Camp, Etosha Safari Lodge and Etosha Safari Camp, Etosha King Nehale, Chobe River Camp and Hakusembe River Lodge.
Namib Desert Lodge, Namib Dune Star Camp and Desert Whisper as well as The Desert Grace, The Delight Swakopmund and Namushasha River Lodge and Namushasha River Villa received Five Green Flowers each.
Eco Awards Namibia is a sustainable tourism certification program, which is a result of the collaboration between the private sector and government organisation.
The standard evaluation, which awards one to five Desert Flowers, is awarded to accommodation establishments and tour operators focusing on the sustainability concept.
Eco Awards Namibia introduced the awards four years ago with a focus on the environmental sections of conservation, water, energy and waste management.
The participation in the Eco Awards programme is voluntary and applicants are re-evaluated every three years.
