Cape Town conference centre makes green history in southern hemisphere

The Cape Town-based Century City Conference Centre has made history as the first in the southern hemisphere and Africa to receive the globally recognised Green Key certificate in environmental responsibility and sustainable operations within the tourism industry. Read more below:

Alderman James Vos, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, was on hand for the official certificate handover ceremony, where he lauded the Century City Conference Centre team for their achievement.

Green Key certification is administered by the Foundation for Environmental Education and is recognised by, among others, the UN Tourism Organisation, UN Environment Programme and Unesco.

‘This recognition shows that Cape Town venues are setting the green standard for practices that centre on sustainability. The Century City Conference Centre has long been a champion for eco-friendly operations, having previously received a 4-Star Green Star from the Green Building Council of South Africa and winning the Sustainable Venue of the Year (Africa) Award during the Global MICE Awards in 2019. In a world and city that continues to grapple with the effects of climate change, it is pivotal that all businesses and industries at large prioritise sustainability,’ said Alderman Vos.

’For our team, the Green Key certificate together with a 100% audit score is a recognition of consistency and discipline. Being the first Conference Centre in Africa and the Southern Hemisphere to achieve this certificate matters, but what matters more is that it proves Cape Town venues can lead globally and set global benchmarks,’ said Gary Koetser, Chief Executive Officer of Century City Conference Centre and Hotels.

Such world-class and future-fit facilities are one of the main reasons why Cape Town is among the top 10 cities globally for average attendance per event, with approximately 717 delegates per meeting, according to the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) GlobeWatch 2024 Business Analytics Report.

The report highlighted that the number of international association meetings hosted in Cape Town increased from 42 in 2023 to 58 in 2024.

‘Foundational to our destination development strategy is to make Cape Town the go-to city in the world for events and conferences. It is for this very reason that the City funds and works with the Cape Town and Western Cape Convention Bureau, which is administered by Wesgro. In the 2024/25 financial year, the bureau confirmed 36 new conference bids, with a projected economic impact of R745 million and over 27 000 delegates expected through to 2028. Business tourism remains a key pillar of our economic growth strategy and we’re just getting started,’ said Alderman Vos.

The City further acknowledges the role of WESSA (The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa) as the national custodian of the Green Key programme. As the implementing partner responsible for managing Green Key certification in South Africa, WESSA oversees the certification process through which participating establishments are independently audited against rigorous international sustainability criteria and undergo annual verification.

Commenting on the milestone, Cindy-Lee Cloete, CEO of WESSA, said: “This certification is a signal of intent and a signal of value – it shows what is possible when sustainability is not treated as a side project, but woven into our everyday strategy and the decisions we make in doing business. What makes me most proud is the leadership that invests in both systems and people, and that understands sustainability must sit at the heart of how we operate if we want to remain a successful, resilient organisation. This award is not a final destination; it is the start of a journey that demands ongoing commitment and real courage to go beyond basic compliance, and to keep pushing for better practice every single day.”