2007 Tourism for Tomorrow winners announced

Lisbon, Portugal – 12 May 2007 – The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) last night announced the winners of the 2007 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards at the Gala Dinner for the 7^th Global Travel & Tourism Summit. The Awards recognize and promote the best practices in tourism development all over the world. The winners of the four categories are:

Destination Award – Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Conservation Award – Aspen Skiing Company, USA

Investor in People Award – Nihiwatu Resort, Indonesia

Global Tourism Business Award – Lindblad Expeditions, USA & Global

The winners were selected by a panel of five judges, chaired by Costas Christ, world expert in sustainable tourism. The judging process included on-site evaluation visits of all award finalists by a team of sustainable tourism experts around the world. The panel of judges consisted of:-

Costas Christ, Judging Chairman, Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, UK

Graham Boynton, Group Travel Editor, The Telegraph Media Group, UK

The Hon John Briceño, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources, Local Government and the Environment, Belize

Fiona Jeffery, Managing Director, World Travel Market, UK

Hitesh Mehta, Director of Ecotourism, EDSA Landscape Architects, Planners & Graphic Designers, USA

WTTC Chairman Geoffrey Kent applauded the work of the winners and finalists of this year’s Awards and commented, “Over the past few years, we have witnessed a positive growth in environmentally sustainable business activity not only among the Travel & Tourism industry but also beyond. Consumer consciousness has encouraged companies, and especially WTTC companies, to engage in sustainable programs by delivering environmentally friendly products.” He added, “While there remains a need to generate profit, the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards are helping demonstrate that companies can balance business and economic growth with ethics and sustainability.”

During the official ceremony, Costas Christ said, “The 2007 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards winners represent a major turning point in the global tourism industry. Gone are the days when there were only a handful of ecolodges or a few small tour operators who were doing sustainable tourism successfully. Today’s best practice models also represent major tourism destinations and global tourism companies that are helping to protect cultural and natural heritage and support the well being of local peoples.”

The awards are sponsored Adventure in Travel Expo, British Airways, Espírito Santo Tourism, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Opodo, Reed Travel Exhibitions and TAP Portugal. Media partners include 4hoteliers, BBC World, ETurboNews, National Geographic Adventure, Newsweek, Simon & Baker Travel Review, The Telegraph Media Group, TravelDailyNews, the Travel Channel, TravelMole, Travel Weekly, TTN Middle East and WOW.travel.

www.tourismfortomorrow.com

DESTINATION AWARD

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA), an Australian Government statutory authority, is charged with managing the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest UNESCO-recognized World Heritage Area and one of the world’s most recognizable tourism icons. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (the Marine Park) welcomes nearly 2 million tourists and 4.9 million recreational visitors each year. 

The Marine Park tourism industry is based on the iconic status of the Great Barrier Reef.  The future well-being of both the Marine Park and the tourism industry are inextricably linked – a healthy Marine Park tourism industry will always need a healthy Great Barrier Reef to present to its visitors. The increasing realisation of this interdependence has led to the development of a strong and active partnership between the GBRMPA and the Marine Park tourism industry.  This partnership directly helps achieve a well-managed and sustainable industry as well as significantly improving environmental, cultural and business outcomes in the Marine Park.

www.gbrmpa.gov.au

CONSERVATION AWARD

Aspen Skiing Company operates the four mountains in the Aspen/Snowmass area – Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk, hosting 1.4 million skiers and employing 3,400 people each winter, demonstrating a rare example of large scale tourism that operates on a sound environmental management plan.  Aspen Skiing Company has been internationally recognized for its pioneering environmental work. Aspen Skiing Company was the first US ski resort to buy wind power, use biodiesel, build certified green buildings, and comply with the ISO 14001 standard. And, with 100 percent of its electricity use coming from renewable energy through the largest purchase of renewable energy certificates in the ski industry, Aspen has taken a major stand on global warming while educating its employees, guests and media on the urgent need to address climate change. The company has won over thirty awards for environmental programmes and has been featured widely in the media, including ABC News, Fast Company, TIME, Outside and National Public Radio.  

www.aspensnowmass.com/environment

INVESTOR IN PEOPLE AWARD

On every count, Nihiwatu Resort stands out as a truly exceptional island resort; it is wild, remote and makes for an amazing destination for the adventurous. 14 exotic villas and bungalows are sculpted onto the cliff’s edge using thatch, bamboo and wood. Large rooms display tribal artefacts and ikat weavings, and you can relax into rattan chairs outside on the sea-facing balconies. The setting is pristine and endlessly peaceful.

Nihiwatu is the perfect romantic escape for honeymooners and couples, the resort Spa experiences are unforgettable. Excitement seekers need look no further; there is world class fishing, diving and surfing. Nearby are Stone Age sites and local villages, waterfalls and fabulous secluded beaches to explore. Luxury is the lure at Nihiwatu, but three’s a truly remarkable humanitarian story at work here. The owners camped on one of Sumba’s isolated beaches for several years with no electricity or running water while developing friendships with local people and gradually building a luxury resort that has done wonders for the health and education of the island’s local communities. Nihiwatu is the 2006 Condé Nast Traveler’s “Green List” top-scoring resort, a 2006 Tatler Travel Guide “101 Best Hotels in the World”, and the 2005 Responsible Tourism Awards’ “Best Hotel”. 

www.nihiwatu.com

GLOBAL TOURISM BUSINESS AWARD

The Lindblad name has been synonymous with expedition excellence and responsible travel for nearly 50 years. In 1958, Lars-Eric Lindblad pioneered the style of expedition travel known by many as ‘eco-tourism.’ Today, Sven Olof Lindblad, his son, extends that vision through innovative expedition travel programs spanning the globe in Galapagos, Antarctica, Baja California, Alaska, the Arctic, and beyond. Lindblad Expeditions (LEX) continues to focus on sustainable and innovative tourism practices that include philanthropy, conservation, education and micro-enterprise. The company launched the Galapagos Conservation Fund (GCF) in 1997 as an opportunity for guests to contribute directly to local conservation. The GCF has since raised more than US$3.5 million, with 100% supporting local projects. More than 150 Galapagos teachers have also participated in the Teachers on Board program, designed to deepen local teachers’ natural history knowledge and inspire conservation stewardship. Sven Lindblad has received many environmental awards including the UN Programme Global 500 Award, and recognition from HRH, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, for his dedication to the conservation and environmental stewardship of the Galapagos archipelago. Recently, the Seafood Choices Alliance awarded LEX the prestigious 2007 Seafood Champion Award for its “Seafood for Thought” program, promoting environmentally responsible seafood choices. National Geographic recently formed a partnership with Lindblad Expeditions to inspire more travellers around the world to explore and care about the planet.

www.expeditions.com