Green Island Resort wins National award for Environmental Excellence

2nd of December 2024

Green Island Resort’s outstanding environmental practices have been recognised amongst the nation’s top hotels at the 2024 Australian Hotel Association Awards for Excellence. 

Representing Queensland, the boutique eco resort took out the award for “Excellence in Innovation, Sustainability and Energy Efficiency Practise”, highlighting innovative environmental practises and long-term commitment to sustainability, all while delivering an exceptional guest experience in a very unique and challenging location.

Tony Baker, Quicksilver Group Managing Director said, “While a small resort of just 46 rooms, we are very proud of the sustainability measures we have been able to introduce to an island in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef.”

In addition to refurbishing our public areas we have also made a significant investment on Green Island Resort’s ‘back-of-house’ facilities – with integrated energy-efficient technologies over one-quarter of the island’s energy needs are now solar powered, again not an easy task on a rainforest covered island, and innovative waste management practices turn food waste into organic fertiliser.”

The resort also provides sustainable off-grid essential services such as tertiary sewage treatment, desalination and power plants to service the island’s other facilities, and public facilities for day visitors.

Accepting the award at the gala presentation in Brisbane, Green Island Resort General Manager Sue O’Donnell said, “We are absolutely thrilled to be recognised nationally with this award. We’re privileged to live and work in a very special place and are very proud of what we do to help protect the island’s natural ecosystem and foster environmental awareness among guests.

Everyone contributes to ensure we follow best practice and this award is testament to our team's dedication to preserving the unique natural beauty of Green Island and minimising our footprint. It’s so rewarding to see staff invested in proactive projects such as upcycling and recycling through to organising beach clean-up events.

“We offer our guests complimentary marine biologist guided activities, and even ‘back-of-house’ tours where they are blown away with the infrastructure in such a small footprint and also with our diligence to waste management.”

Pictured left to right: Des Croft, Sue O'Donnell - Green Island Resort General Manager, Dave Salmond - Engineering Manager and Felecia Salmond.