Green Key is pleased to announce that voco Auckland City Centre, Holiday Inn Express Auckland City Centre, and Holiday Inn Express & Suites Queenstown have become the first establishments in New Zealand to achieve Green Key certification. The certification was awarded following a comprehensive auditing and documentation process, confirming the hotels’ compliance with Green Key’s rigorous environmental and social responsibility criteria.
“Green Key certification reflects the practical, hands‑on work our hotel teams do every day. Across the three hotels based in Auckland and Queenstown, our teams introduced initiatives that reduce waste, strengthen local partnerships and engage the surrounding community, from repurposing food and coffee grounds through local partners to supporting urban biodiversity with our rooftop beehives.” says Jason Sabin, from EVT Connect Hospitality New Zealand.
Across the certified hotels, teams have demonstrated strong environmental commitment with a series of circular economy initiatives. Stale bread is sent to a food rescue partner to be milled into flour and returned to the hotel for use in-house, while used coffee grounds are collected by a local family-run business and repurposed into artisan soap for VIP guest amenities. Additional coffee grounds are also made available to neighbouring office workers for home composting.
Food approaching the end of its shelf life is listed on the FoodPrint app at discounted prices, enabling local community members to purchase and collect meals directly from the hotel, helping to reduce food waste while improving access to affordable food. Two rooftop beehives also produce honey served at breakfast and used in guest amenities, while reducing food miles.
These actions show how sustainability comes to life in hotel operations when teams are empowered to make thoughtful, on‑the‑ground decisions that benefit guests and the communities they operate in.
Alongside environmental initiatives, the hotels invest in social impact through the RISE - Reaching for Inclusion through Scholarships & Experiences program established by Pro-invest Group. The program provides equity-based scholarships, mentoring, and work experience opportunities for individuals facing socio-economic barriers to entering the hospitality sector. RISE supports aspiring hospitality professionals to gain practical experience while building confidence and career readiness.
The certifications of these three hotels were possible thanks to Pro-invest Group, whose ambitious sustainability goal set under its One Earth, Countless Experiences strategy was established in 2022 to ensure all 15 Pro-invest Group fund hotels across Australia and New Zealand achieved third-party sustainability certification. The Group has successfully delivered on this commitment, with the New Zealand hotels marking a first for the country under the Green Key program.
About Pro-invest Group
Pro-invest Group is an integrated real estate investment platform specialising in private equity real estate, fund and asset management across Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. Established in 2010, the Group manages approximately A$3 billion in assets under management and manages the full asset lifecycle, with a portfolio spanning over 25 hotels (around 6,000 rooms) alongside commercial and mixed‑use assets. Building on its hospitality heritage and operational expertise, Pro‑invest Group is evolving into Flex‑Living, Build‑to‑Rent and Commercial real estate. The Group has a commitment to ESG backed by its One Earth, Countless Experiences ethos. For more information visit www.proinvestgroup.com
About EVT Connect Hospitality
Global brand, local powerhouse. EVT Connect Hospitality is a third-party management offering leveraging EVT’s local and extensive expertise to provide best in class insights and drive performance for the brand. From local talent development and operations, to driving market leading revenue strategies for third-party loyalty programs, distribution and brand standards. EVT Connect Hospitality is for owners that demand a global brand, paired with local expertise, flexible management and service solutions to maximise their asset’s success. For more information head to connecthospitality.com