WESSA & Century City: First Green Key-Certified Conference Venue in Africa
The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa, WESSA and Century City Conference Centre have marked a milestone moment for the global meetings and events industry, as the Cape Town venue becomes the first conference centre in Africa and the Southern Hemisphere to achieve Green Key certification – earning an exceptional 100% audit score in its first year of assessment. This achievement signals more than compliance. It signals leadership.
“For our team, the Green Key certificate together with a 100% audit score is a recognition of consistency and discipline,” says Gary Koetser, Chief Executive Officer of Century City Conference Centre and Hotels. “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.”
The milestone positions the venue among an emerging group of global leaders demonstrating that sustainability, when embedded into infrastructure and governance, delivers measurable performance at scale.
A signal to the industry
The certification is achieved through Green Key, one of the world’s leading eco-certification programmes for tourism and hospitality. Managed in South Africa by WESSA, the programme includes independent audits and annual verification, ensuring that certification reflects sustained performance rather than a once-off achievement.
“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,” says Cindy-Lee Cloete, CEO of WESSA. “What makes me most proud today 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.”
Sustainability built into systems, not added as an afterthought
Unlike initiatives that operate as stand-alone projects, sustainability at Century City Conference Centre has been embedded into the design and management of its operations.
From solar generation and effluent water reuse to advanced energy sub-metering and centralised building management systems, “environmental responsibility has been treated as a leadership imperative rather than a departmental function”, adds Koetser.
The Green Key audit confirmed full compliance across all imperative criteria, with several operational areas exceeding international requirements. Here are a few key highlights:
- Rethinking waste, from disposal to design: Waste management emerged as a standout strength during the audit process. Structured separation systems are implemented across kitchens, back-of-house operations and event spaces, including organic and hazardous waste streams. Clear documentation, robust compliance procedures and strong staff engagement ensure responsible management at source. The shift has moved the operational mindset from asking “how do we dispose of waste?” to “why did we create it in the first place?” – placing the venue on a clear path towards future Net Zero Waste ambitions.
- Water and energy stewardship in a resource-constrained context: In a country where water security remains a critical issue, the Centre has prioritised responsible water management through effluent reuse, dual-flush systems aligned with its 4-Star Green Star rating, formal leak detection protocols and continuous monitoring. Energy performance is managed through 100% LED lighting, solar generation, detailed sub-metering and centralised HVAC control via a Building Management System, enabling real-time optimisation without compromising guest comfort. The result is a venue that operates more efficiently, more predictably and with a reduced environmental footprint.
- Responsible procurement and conscious consumption: A strong focus on responsible purchasing reinforces the Centre’s sustainability framework. Eco-labelled chemicals and consumables are used where possible throughout the facility, supported by documented compliance processes and visual verification. A structured Food Waste Reduction Plan guides procurement, menu planning, portion control and storage, while refill water stations reduce reliance on bottled water and encourage conscious guest participation.
- Sustainability beyond the building: Sustainability at Century City Conference Centre extends beyond infrastructure to meaningful social impact. Ongoing partnerships with local organisations support youth development, community upliftment and inclusion initiatives, reinforcing the principle that responsible business must contribute to long-term wellbeing, not only operational efficiency.
For Century City Conference Centre, this milestone is not an endpoint but a foundation.
“Sustainability only becomes meaningful when it is replicated,” says Koetser. “Our focus now is on refining what we have built, scaling impact across our portfolio, and demonstrating that responsible conferencing can operate at the highest international standards.”
Attending the certification announcement, Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, welcomed the milestone as a win not only for the venue, but for Cape Town’s global competitiveness.
In a media statement issued on 22 February 2026, the City described the milestone as a significant moment for the destination’s global positioning, noting that sustainable conferencing is increasingly central to international event selection criteria and long-term economic competitiveness.
The City highlights that milestones of this nature reinforce Cape Town’s reputation as a responsible, future-focused meetings and events hub, strengthening the broader tourism, hospitality and investment ecosystem while demonstrating that local infrastructure can meet and exceed global sustainability expectations.
As global clients increasingly demand verified, measurable sustainability performance, this achievement sends a clear message: African venues are not merely participating in the global sustainability conversation, they are helping to lead it.
