Sustainable tourism masterclass: best ever

Are you ready for coffee: Then I will get chef to bake some biscuits. That is how masterclass participants were greeted at the London Zetter hotel last Friday.

That short and very hospitable welcome says everything that needs to be said about sustainable hospitality and set the masterclass off to a very appropriate start.

The assembled class numbered a healthy 15 people from all walks of sustainable tourism life and from all over the world – Paris, Tanzania, Sweden, Portugal, even New Zealand. Naturally the long haul travelers extended their stays in London to make the most of their carbon expenditure.

The ‘Man who brought Farmers Markets to the UK’, Rob Weston, kicked off with a dynamic presentation about the power of tourism working in partnership with local networks to create both economic and social regeneration AND better experiences for clients.

A top-level global eco-marketer, Rob now operates in a number of tourism-related activities, runs his own sustainable B&B and has created a swathe of sustainable activities, from a successful organic bakery to a reclamation organization.

Largely related to his own personal experience, Rob delivered a presentation that emphasized the importance and power of tourism-related networks and co-operative ventures to have sustainable economic, financial, environmental and social benefits, for all stakeholders.

Gopinath Parayil (Gopi) is well known in the global responsible tourism world as founder and CEO of The Blue Yonder, trustee of ICRT India, trustee of the Nila Foundation and co-founder of the global Responsible Tourism Networking events.

The reasons that Gopi entered the travel industry and his indefatigable championship of grass roots tourism-related enterprises in Kerala are less well known. The assembled audience found his story gripping as it also offered many real lessons for practical development of sustainable tourism.

Gopi is certainly making it happen in Kerala – creating responsible tourism initiatives, co-operations and joint ventures that sustainably benefit locals – and his mission is to share this experience with others.

Gordon Sillence has been at the heart of global sustainable tourism institutional development for many years. The masterclass was priviledged to share Gordon’s insights and experience of views from the global corridors of power. 

The Destinet knowledge network, an enormous compendium of tourism related contacts, information and data is his current ‘baby’ and will be of real utility to anyone working in tourism. Gordon’s presentation covered the whole scenario of sustainable tourism development and distribution using complex and powerful knowledge networks.

ICT (Information and Communications Technology) is at the very root of all current current developments. Gordon outlined ICT for event organization, ICT for social networking, ICT for transportation, ICT for booking intermediaries, ICT for branding and cross marketing, ICT for destination search engines, ICT for national level green marketing, ICT for showcasing good practice, ICT for maximizing sustainability, ICT for news and news feeds, ICT for consumer feedback, ICT for certification systems, even for networking sustainability certification.

A sensational and very sustainable lunch was provided by the Zetter’s celebrity chef Bruno Loubet – this certainly oiled the wheels of intensive networking and discussions.

The afternoon session was begun by green hotelier and hotel consultant JP Bergqvist. JP certainly knows his sustainable tourism. With 15 years experience on the sustainable side of Scandic and Hilton and a seminal book Sustainability in Practice’  under his belt – he must be the best qualified green hotel consultant in the world. ‘Sleepwell’ JP’s consultancy, is set to deliver sustainable benefits for the global hospitality industry.

The riveting hour of his presentation focused on the four system conditions and their practical application in the hospitality industry. Case histories included Hilton/Scandic and upmarket hotel and spa operator Six Senses.

JP’s presentation also highlighted the real dangers of climate change and biodiversity reduction. In a presentation full of facts and figures no-one could escape the dangers of runaway unsustainable consumption and the real opportunities of enormous benefits from changing ingrained negative patterns.

The formal masterclass sessions were rounded up by Professor Stefan Gossling, a member of the IPCC and a world authority on climate change and tourism.

Stefan’s new book ‘Carbon Management in the Tourism Industry’ is to be published later this year and he was able to share new insights into opportunities for the tourism industry to recognize and mitigate its effects on global warming.

One new term explained was radiative forcing (ie a measure of global warming caused by all anthropogenic greenhouse gases – rather than the simplistic carbon measure). Although by CO2 measures tourism represented some 4% in 2005 it is set to increase to 7% by 2035.

Stefan rounded up his presentation and the day with really positive case histories from airlines, hotels, train systems, restaurants – even cruise ships and pet travel! From recent tests, it looks like carbon labeling may well be much more prevalent in future.

After a day of real inspiration and challenges, participants enjoyed rather more informal discussions over another delicious (and sustainable!) meal at the Modern Pantry.

The masterclass was declared “Best Ever”, More events will shortly be announced and the networking and information-sharing process continued.

Anna Hansen chef-patron of the modern pantry who delivered a great masterclass supper
 

Valere Tjolle

Get free sustainable tourism reports from Vision on Sustainable Tourism HERE

Valere Tjolle is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suitewww.travelmole.com/stories/1143624.php