Imvelo Awards: Finalists announced

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The Imvelo Awards recognise tourism projects that uplift local communities

© African Safari Lodge Foundation

The 2012 finalists for the Imvelo Responsible Tourism Awards, organised by the Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa in conjunction with the Department of Tourism, have been announced.

Imvelo rewards tourism businesses that have demonstrated sustainable and responsible practice in their operations in the social, economic and natural environments.

The awards encourage industry members to accept voluntary guidelines promoting responsible tourism

Thirty-nine tourism businesses made it to the finals in this year’s awards programme. They are:

• African Impact
• African Safari Lodge Foundation
• Amakhala Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape
• Beacon Island Resort
• Calabash Tours
• Cape Grace Hotel
• Cape Town International Convention Centre
• City Lodge Hotels
• Da Vinci Hotel and Suites in Sandton
• Drakensberg Sun Resort
• Garden Court Blackrock
• Garden Court Hatfield
• Garden Court Polokwane
• Garden Court Sandton
• Kamogelo Guest House near the Pilanesberg
• Intercontinental Sandton Towers
• Kievitskroon
• Kondowe Game Reserve in Limpopo
• Maliba Mountain Lodge in Lesotho
• Open Africa
• Oude Werf Hotel
• Princes Grant Golf Estate and Lodge on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast
• Protea Hotel Bloemfontein
• Red Carnation Hotel Collection
• Riverside Sun Resort on the Vaal River
• Sandton Convention Centre
• Sandton Sun Hotel
• Scan Display
• Southern Sun Waterfront Hotel
• So We Too
• Sun International Zambia
• Sun City Resort
• Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company
• Tongabesi Lodge in Zambia
• Tsogo Sun Group
• Ulusaba Private Game Reserve
• Vineyard Hotel and Spa
• White Shark Adventures
• Zalala Beach Lodge and Safaris in Mozambique

Awards will be made in the following categories: best social involvement programme; best practice – economic impact; best overall environmental management system; best single resource management programme – for energy, water and waste; most empowered tourism business; and investing in people. 

Sandra Mombelli of the African Safari Lodge Foundation said: 'It is the 1^st year we have entered and we are so pleased to have been nominated.

'Our philosophy is based on the fact that tourism is a great driver of economic upliftment and personal empowerment. We are looking forward to the awards evening and announcement of the winners.'

Winners will receive their awards at a ceremony to be held in Johannesburg on 31 October.
 
The awards are supported by Absa, the Department of Water Affairs, Eskom and the Industrial Development Corporation.