Bakhresa Group in Tanzania has appointed Verde Hotels to develop and manage the old Mtoni Marine Hotel in Zanzibar.

The resort, which is two kilometres from Stone Town, will be upgraded to a brand-new five-star property to be known as Hotel Verde, Zanzibar. It will feature 142 ultra-stylish rooms, luxury suites, a spa, gym, restaurants, entertainment and marina.

Bakhresa Group said it had commissioned Verde Hotels to manage the development of the new hotel and operate it as a certified sustainable establishment that offered a carbon-neutral hotel experience. “We approached Verde Hotels to develop our property to be one of the greenest hotels in East Africa,” said Chairman, Said Bakhresa.

Hotel Verde Zanzibar will be pursuing independent certification, utilising the green-star rating tool from the Green Building Council of South Africa. Verde Hotels intends to integrate sustainability into every facet of the construction as well as throughout the hotel’s daily operation.

Sustainability strategies that will be implemented in the redevelopment phase include passive and active design that optimises resource efficiency.

“Verde Hotels is proud to have signed a management contract with Bakhresa Group, proving that going green is not only viable but makes good business sense,” said Samantha Annandale, CEO of Verde Hotels.

Verde Hotels operates Hotel Verde in Cape Town, South Africa.