How Auckland’s most famous events and entertainment venue is supporting future generations
As one of Auckland’s leading event venues and hospitality providers, SkyCity knows their responsibility to be a pioneer in the sustainability space.
As a premier entertainment destination in Auckland’s CBD, SkyCity welcomes visitors from across the world. Event and conference guests enjoy the views from the famous 328m tall Sky Tower, the entertainment options at the casino and theatre, the range of luxury hotels in the complex offering over 320 rooms, and some of the best food in the city across several of its restaurants and bars.
SkyCity has been making sustainability moves for several years, as the first hospitality business in Oceania to set science-based targets and one of the first major New Zealand businesses to achieve carbon neutrality in 2019. Not comfortable with resting on their laurels however, the leading centre only has plans to improve.
“We’ve had quite a conscious shift in our mentality around how we think for the future,” says Anthony Thompson, SkyCity’s Sustainability Manager.
They are now setting their sights higher as part of their decarbonisation roadmap, working to reduce carbon emissions by 25% by 2025.
As well, SkyCity is aiming to achieve a 5% reduction in waste to landfill year on year, and to reduce their single-use plastic use by 10% year on year.
Wanting to bring others along the ride with them, SkyCity is also on track to have 100% of their contracted suppliers engaged to discuss measuring emissions and setting their own science aligned targets by the end of this financial year.
“As we look to the future, we’ve outlined our 2025, 2030 and even 2050 goals, and are putting together a roadmap for how we get there through our energy use, our waste diversion, and our ethical sourcing. Thinking sustainably and considering the long-term impact of our actions has now become the norm.”
“As one the largest conference and hospitality venues in Auckland, we aim to create sustainable experiences for tourists and event organisers alike,” says Anthony.
“More and more, organisers like to know that venue and suppliers have the ability to provide sustainable choices for event attendees – at SkyCity, we pioneer initiatives that mean we can provide these choices throughout every step of a business event.”
SkyCity is a member of the Auckland Convention Bureau and aims to create seamless and sustainable experiences for business event organisers.
For more about our members’ sustainability credentials, see: Link to come
Key stats:
- Awarded a Qualmark Gold Award for sustainable tourism
- Winner of the Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Award at Deloitte Top 200 Awards
- Member of 100% Pure New Zealand
- 95% energy savings in lighting across the SkyCity centre
- Developed New Zealand’s first ever low carbon restaurant menu
- Donates 150kg of food for redistribution across social service agencies
- Signatory to the Climate Leaders Coalition and Sustainable Business Council