Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives has achieved Green Globe Certification following a comprehensive independent audit conducted after a focused six-month sustainability programme. The resort attained an 86% compliance score, marking a significant milestone in its ongoing commitment to environmental and social responsibility.

Green Globe Certification is one of the world’s most respected sustainability standards in tourism, requiring verified compliance with more than 40 rigorous criteria spanning environmental stewardship, social responsibility, cultural heritage, and sustainable management. The certification process emphasises transparency, continuous improvement, and measurable outcomes, making it a notable achievement in the global hospitality industry.

General Manager Mark Eletr noted that the result reflects both strategic commitment and collective effort across the resort. As part of this approach, Kandooma established a new combined Sustainability Officer and General Manager’s Executive Assistant role to lead on-the-ground implementation, supported by expanded strategic oversight from the Director of Marketing, who recently completed tertiary qualifications focused on sustainability.

The resort’s organisational structure ensures that sustainability is embedded across operations, with both roles reporting directly to the General Manager. This framework has strengthened Kandooma’s strategic direction and reinforced its commitment to environmentally and socially responsible practices.

Achieving Green Globe Certification has also resulted in the establishment of robust policies, processes, and measurement frameworks that will endure beyond current leadership and staffing, forming a cornerstone of the resort’s annual planning cycle.

The certification aligns strongly with IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Journey to Tomorrow, the group’s global sustainability framework focused on people, communities, and the planet. The resort demonstrated strong performance across energy and water efficiency, waste reduction and recycling, marine ecosystem protection, responsible procurement, colleague wellbeing, and community engagement. Initiatives include coral reef conservation, marine education, staff sustainability training, and guest sustainability pledges, highlighting the resort’s holistic approach to responsible tourism.

Mark Eletr emphasised that the certification represents more than a formal recognition. The evidence-based Green Globe standards provide a clear roadmap for continuous improvement, ensuring the resort continues to evolve its sustainability practices year after year. Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives remains firmly committed to supporting responsible tourism, engaging guests in sustainable travel choices, and contributing positively to the protection of the Maldives’ unique natural and cultural heritage.