This article presents an account of the effectiveness of implementing eco initiatives to recycle water and food waste in selected Cape Town hotels as well as whether these initiatives would be a successful future endeavour to pursue. It suggests corporate travel policies demand travellers to seek out environmentally friendly hotels. The research strategy gathers facts relevant to the theory of the article. Therefore, it employs a multi-strategy research approach as it was effective to corroborate the findings from both quantitative and qualitative data. Case studies, questionnaires and interviews were utilised and the article shows that earthworm farms convert organic food waste into usable compost and reduces the production of waste. Rainwater harvesting further stores captured rainwater for future use and serves as an alternative source of surface water. The findings show a positive response from hotel staff towards implementing these initiatives which suggests it would be a successful future endeavour. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.