Radisson Hotel Group, an international hotel group, has designated its 138-room Radisson Safari Hotel Hoedspruit in South Africa as Africa’s first independently verified net-zero hotel, bringing its emissions-reduction program to a safari destination near Kruger National Park. The milestone places renewable energy, electrified equipment, waste reduction and lower-carbon dining at the center of the property’s operations.

Located in Limpopo province, the 5-star luxury safari hotel sits near some of South Africa’s most prominent wildlife and natural attractions, where the environment is central to the visitor experience. Its certification also gives the hospitality group a model for adapting existing hotels to stricter emissions targets without abandoning the amenities expected by leisure travelers and corporate guests.

Inside the net-zero model

Radisson’s Verified Net Zero Hotels program covers direct emissions, purchased energy and emissions across a hotel’s wider value chain. The approach prioritizes reducing emissions from operations and suppliers before addressing residual emissions through carbon removal credits. TÜV Rheinland independently verifies compliance with the program’s hotel net-zero methodology.

The Hoedspruit property combines on-site solar generation with renewable electricity procured through renewable energy guarantees of origin. From 2027, a solar wheeling agreement is also planned, allowing solar-generated electricity fed into the national grid to be allocated to the hotel through a contracted arrangement.

Electrification extends into the hotel’s kitchens, hot-water systems and transport operations. Electric kitchen equipment, heat pumps and electric golf carts and three-wheel utility vehicles help reduce reliance on fossil fuels, while the renewable electricity strategy supports the hotel’s effort to cut emissions associated with power consumption.

Waste and water take priority

The hotel treats and recycles all its wastewater through an on-site treatment plant, while specialist partners handle materials recovered through waste separation. Shodulla Recycling processes plastic, glass and paper, and Egg Brothers turns food waste into compost through composting and worm-farming initiatives, supporting efforts to divert waste from landfills.

Bulk bathroom amenities reduce single-use plastic, with containers returned to suppliers through a closed-loop recycling system. Glass water bottles replace additional packaging, while guests can request extra amenities when needed. Towel reuse and flexible housekeeping options are also intended to reduce water consumption, energy use and cleaning-product demand.

Digital services form another part of the program. Radisson plans to use its STAY e-concierge app to bring hotel information and guest requests into one platform, reducing printed materials in rooms. Staff training, energy monitoring and preventative maintenance are designed to make resource efficiency part of daily decisions across hotel departments.

Lower-carbon dining and suppliers

Food is another target for emissions reductions. Working with sustainability platform Klimato, the hotel is introducing carbon-labeled menus that show guests the emissions associated with their dining choices. The data also helps chefs review ingredients and recipes, develop lower-carbon dishes and prioritize lower-emission options across menus and buffets.

The hotel is extending the approach to suppliers and packaging. Through Zanetti Collection, used Hausbrandt coffee bags are repurposed into reusable shopping bags by a local community sewing project. Compostable coffee capsules and Ronnefeldt tea products with recyclable packaging and compostable tea bags further support waste reduction while creating opportunities for local participation.

Radisson sets 2030 target

Tim Cordon, Radisson Hotel Group’s chief operating officer for the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia Pacific, said the Hoedspruit property demonstrates how existing hotels can combine renewable electricity, electrification and operational changes while maintaining guest comfort.

Inge Huijbrechts, the group’s chief sustainability and security officer, said independent verification gives guests, hotel owners and corporate customers greater confidence in the property’s environmental credentials. Residual emissions that cannot yet be eliminated are addressed through carbon credits procured via Greentrade from the South Africa-based GRASS project.

Radisson Hotel Group, headquartered in Brussels, operates more than 1,640 hotels across more than 100 countries, with a portfolio of 10 distinctive brands spanning Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific, according to the company.

The designation supports Radisson Hotel Group’s target of operating 100 Verified Net Zero hotels by 2030. The program, which already covers properties in the United Kingdom and Nordic markets, now extends to its first African destination, offering the group a test case for applying its emissions standards across different operating environments.