Eden Park Retains Qualmark Sustainable Tourism Business Gold Award
Dec 3, 2023In a world where sustainability and responsible tourism are becoming increasingly vital, Eden Park is proud to retain the prestigious Qualmark Sustainable Tourism Business Gold Award. This award reflects the venue’s commitment to delivering a quality tourism experience to visitors across all facets of the operation.
Designed to be instantly recognised by travellers, the Qualmark Sustainable Tourism Business Gold Award is a symbol of excellence in the New Zealand tourism industry, awarded to organisations that demonstrate a commitment to sustainability, environmental responsibility, and a dedication to delivering high-quality experiences for visitors.
Retaining the Qualmark Sustainable Tourism Business Gold Award recognises Eden Park’s past achievements and underpins the stadium’s ongoing commitment to sustainable practices and exceptional visitor experiences.
To achieve the Qualmark Sustainable Tourism Business Gold Award, a number of pillars need to be met. Here’s a snapshot of how our team are working to provide exceptional experiences for everyone who comes to Eden Park:
Environmental Impact:
Eden Park’s staff are fully engaged in sustainability initiatives designed to cement Eden Park as a world leader in stadium sustainability, including:
- Collecting 16 million litres of water from the stadium roof and using bore water is used for ground irrigation.
- Replacing the stadium halogen lights with LED.
- Following the success of the onsite composting, Eden Park is now working with offsite providers to ensure game-day food waste doesn’t go to waste.
- The community garden has 200m of grow space which has utilised 23 tons of compostable waste. 360k bees on-site produce more than 700 jars of honey.
- Working with Communities Feeding Communities, produce goes out in weekly food parcels in a foodbank model.
- Rubbish separation occurs on site and compostable packaging is used where possible.
- Glamping accommodation utilises Forest and Bird amenities and the snack selection utilises products with compostable packaging.
Community & Culture:
Sustainable tourism encompasses a commitment to engaging with and supporting the communities in which it operates, including welcoming a diverse range of customers. Whether through employment opportunities, cultural exchanges, or community projects, in all our operations, our community ae at the heart of our operations. Here’s what we’ve acknowledged for:
- All our tour guides are capable of accommodating the needs of international sports fans right through to retirement village residents.
- Because our tours are not scripted, it enables the guide to share personal experiences and their passion for Eden Park with visitors. The interpretation panels are in multiple languages which means visitors from around the world can enjoy the richness of Eden Park’s 120 year history.
- Providing free entry to Super rugby and Mitre10 Championship for disabled members of the community.
- The installation of Comfort Zones which provide better wheelchair access and TV screens. A sensory break out room is located in the stadium to provide a quiet place for children with special needs.
Health & Safety:
Eden Park was the first stadium in Australasia to earn the globally recognised WELL Health-Safety seal: an evidence-based independent accreditation that a building or space has taken necessary steps to prioritise the health and safety of staff, visitors and stakeholders. In addition, our CEO, Nick Sautner is a Certified Venue Executive with IAVM. Nick is an invited member of the New Zealand Crowded Places Business Advisory Group and has ensured New Zealand’s Crowded Spaces Strategy is integrated into the risk assessment for all events and activities.