International Tourism Partnership launches

A new International Tourism Partnership (ITP) has launched with the aim of providing practical and business solutions for responsible travel and tourism.

ITP is inviting airlines, car hire companies and tour operators and existing hotel chain members and NGO’s to work together within the ITP to deliver responsible travel and tourism.

ITP said it will focus on “the areas of environment and community, and provide solutions through the mediums of education and research, as well as partnerships”.

ITP forms the parent organisation under which operates the International Hotels Environment Initiative (IHEI) and the Youth Career Initiative (YCI).

The organisation has formed an Academic Advisory Panel to incorporate international leadership in the academic field as well as to disseminate the solutions provided by the ITP.

Commenting on the new initiative, chair of the panel Dr Harold Goodwin said: “The Panel will strengthen the relationships between the travel and tourism industry and research and education; to achieve sustainable tourism it is important that we share and test best practise and that best practise from around the world is shared through publication and training.”

The founding members of ITP include the following:

• Marriott International
• Hilton International
• Carlson Hotels Worldwide
• Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
• Rezidor SAS Hotels and Resorts
• InterContinental
• Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide
• The Indian Hotels Company Ltd
• Accor

Mr Edwin Fuller, President and Managing Director, Marriott International said: “Marriott is very proud to be a Founding Member of this initiative as we believe that working together with other sectors of the travel and tourism industry will broaden not only our competitive base but also make our industry more responsible. This is especially important as the accommodation sector is the world’s second largest job provider.”

By introducing flexible membership packages, ITP hopes to align the individual operators and brands that trade in niche markets to a small and often elite section of the population with the big operators who operate on a global scale and cover mass markets. It hopes that this in turn “broadens the scope and impact of any environment or community initiatives and sustains the ability of ITP to facilitate a greater impact through use of non-competitive platforms”. Relevant not-for-profit organisations will also be asked to join as partners of the ITP.

For more information, contact Susie Maley, tel +44(0)207 467 3628, mailto:susie.maley@iblf.org