Opera house an enviro award first
05 March 2010
Just three months after it’s elevation to a 5 star Qualmark rated conferencing and events
venue, the Hawke’s Bay Opera House has become the first venue in New Zealand to be
granted a Qualmark Environmental Award.
The business achieved an Enviro-Silver award this week, by meeting Qualmarkhalf environmental criteria, covering all aspects of sustainable business practice, fromhalf community involvement, to water, energy and waste efficiency.
The awards recognise innovation and success in reducing environmental impact, andhalf venues are required to submit policy and procedural information as well as monitoringhalf and measurement data.
Hawke’s Bay Opera House general manager Roger Coleman says the Qualmark Enviro –half Silver award recognises the commitment of the Hawke’s Bay Opera House team tohalf sustainable business practice.
"The Qualmark Enviro-Silver award reaffirms the Hawke’s Bay Opera House commitmenthalf to providing the people of Hastings and the wider Hawke's Bay region with a performinghalf arts and conference facility of national significance".
Over 400 Enviro Awards now recognise tourism businesses for the work they are doinghalf to reduce environmental impacts and Qualmark chief executive, Geoff Penrose, says thehalf Opera House has shown leadership in their sector.
"Hawke's Bay Opera House has put effective initiatives in place and is monitoring tohalf ensure they are working towards a successful outcome, both for the business and thehalf environment," says Mr Penrose.
Since August 2008, the environmental performance of all tourism businesses with ahalf Qualmark has been assessed under Responsible Tourism Operations criteria as part ofhalf on-site quality assessments. Businesses performing well in reducing environmentalhalf impact in five key action areas (energy efficiency, waste management, waterhalf conservation, community activities and conservation initiatives) are eligible to apply forhalf an Enviro-Gold, Enviro-Silver or Enviro-Bronze Award.
The initiative, referred to as Qualmark Green, was unveiled to the tourism industry byhalf the Minister of Tourism on 27 May 2008. The introduction of the Responsible Tourismhalf criteria marked a 'world first', with New Zealand being the first country to have a fullyhalf integrated quality and environmental performance tourism assurance system.
