Since our establishment, Bella Vista Accommodation Nationwide has been committed to operating responsibly and reducing our environmental impact. Through local and nationwide initiatives, we continue to support our guests, businesses and communities in making more sustainable choices.
As our understanding of sustainability has evolved, so too has our commitment. We continue to adopt new programmes, review our business practices and invest in products and technologies that strengthen our environmental, social and economic responsibilities. Below are some of the key milestones that have shaped Bella Vista's sustainability journey.
c.2000 - A Quality in business from the start.
Quality has always been a founding principle of Bella Vista. From the beginning, every Bella Vista property has been required to achieve Qualmark accreditation, New Zealand's leading tourism quality assurance programme. Qualmark provides independent assessment of accommodation standards while also offering guidance on responsible business practices, environmental management and sustainable tourism.
2008 - Qualmark Enviro Assured.
Bella Vista joined Qualmark's environmental programme following the introduction of its Responsible Tourism criteria. This world-first initiative combined quality assurance with environmental performance, recognising tourism businesses committed to reducing their environmental impact through sustainable business practices.
2014 - Dream Green Bedding with Vendella.
Bella Vista began introducing Vendella's Dream Green bedding range, manufactured using recycled plastic bottles transformed into premium microfibre. This initiative reduced waste while maintaining the comfort and quality our guests expect.
2018 - The Tiaki Promise.
Bella Vista embraced the Tiaki Promise, encouraging both guests and operators to help protect New Zealand's environment, culture and communities. The Tiaki Promise is displayed throughout our properties, inviting visitors to travel responsibly and care for the places they visit.
2022 - Augmenting Our Sustainability.
Bella Vista established its Sustainability Committee to ensure sustainability remains central to our decision-making. Meeting regularly, the committee continues to guide our environmental initiatives and long-term sustainability strategy.
2023 - EV Chargers Installed Nationwide.
Type 2 electric vehicle chargers were installed across the Bella Vista network, supporting the growing number of guests travelling in hybrid and electric vehicles. The nationwide rollout enables guests to recharge as they travel throughout New Zealand while reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
2023 - Globally Qualmark Green.
Qualmark's Sustainable Tourism Business Criteria achieved recognition from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, confirming it meets internationally recognised sustainability standards. Today, around two-thirds of the Bella Vista network has achieved Qualmark Silver accreditation, demonstrating a strong commitment to sustainable business practices.
2023 - Sustainability and Social Responsibility Statement.
Bella Vista published its Sustainability and Social Responsibility Statement, reaffirming our commitment to responsible business practices and setting our long-term goal of achieving network-wide net zero emissions by 2050.
At Bella Vista Accommodation Nationwide, we are dedicated to building a sustainable future for our businesses. We seek to embrace environmentally conscious business practices and involve sustainability considerations in our decision making process. Bella Vista is aiming for network-wide net zero emissions by 2050.
2024 - Measuring Our Emissions.
Bella Vista introduced a network-wide carbon monitoring system, enabling each location to record and measure its greenhouse gas emissions across Scopes 1, 2 and 3. Establishing consistent reporting provides valuable benchmarks and supports future emissions reduction and offsetting initiatives. Alongside these nationwide programmes, every Bella Vista location continues to support local environmental and community initiatives that reflect the unique needs of their region.
2024 - Qualmark Gold.
Bella Vista Dunedin and Bella Vista New Plymouth became the first properties in our network to achieve Qualmark Gold status. This prestigious recognition reflects excellence in sustainable business practices and environmental leadership.
2024 - Carbon Emission Reporting.
Bella Vista introduced a network-wide carbon reporting programme, enabling every location to measure and report its greenhouse gas emissions using a consistent methodology aligned with Ministry for the Environment guidance. Covering Scopes 1, 2 and 3 emissions, the programme established a reliable benchmark for measuring our environmental impact and identifying opportunities to reduce emissions across the network.
2025 Qualmark Gold.
In August 2025, Bella Vista Wanaka became the third property in the Bella Vista network to achieve Qualmark Gold accreditation, recognising its commitment to excellence in sustainable business practices.
2026 - Publishing Our Carbon Emissions.
Building on our established carbon measurement and reporting programme, Bella Vista publicly released its first network-wide carbon emissions report, reinforcing our commitment to transparency, accountability and continuous improvement. The report showed that the total estimated emissions generated across Bella Vista's 27 locations during the 2026 financial year were less than 315 tonnes of CO₂, averaging less than 3 kg of CO₂ per room night stayed.
Please note: Bella Vista's emissions figures are calculated estimates derived from internally reported data and have not been independently audited or verified by an external party.
Bella Vista's nationwide environmental sustainability initiatives are complemented by a wide range of local community and biodiversity projects, with each Bella Vista operator proudly supporting initiatives that reflect their region and business.