Sustainable tourism masterclass – Lipman to talk

Professor Geoffrey Lipman to explore Green Tourism Futures at Masterclass

Professor Geoffrey Lipman, currently president of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners, director of Greenearth.travel and formerly (amongst others) President, WTTC; Executive Director, IATA; Assistant Secretary-General, UNWTO. Tourism Envoy; is to lead a session on Green Tourism Futures – a subject about which he is passionate.

Professor Lipman will join Keralan tour operator and social entrepreneur Gopinath Parayil, Climate Change and tourism guru Paul Peeters and Thomas Cook Sustainable Destination supremo Jo Hendricx.

The event will be held on14th March at leading travel PR and marketing company Four bgb in central London.

Said Valere Tjolle, masterclass convenor: " I am really pleased that Professor Lipman is joining us – in my view there is no-one in the world who is better experienced or more capable to lead a discussion on the future of sustainable tourism and with climate change already affecting tourism, Green Tourism Futures is the key critical issue of the moment. I am also particularly gratified that the masterclass is to be held at Four bgb where Managing Director Debbie Hindle has been committed to sustainable tourism over many years and is a special advisor to the Travel Foundation."

Subjects will include: Green tourism futures, green marketing, green town centres, green finance and support, green events, green co-operations, LOCAL GREEN FOOD, FOOD, FOOD

Destinations all over the world are making tremendous advances in creating car-free and soft-mobility destinations; potent local food initiatives, creating dynamic, sustainable, fun, profitable city centres; setting up innovative marketing partnerships and funding schemes. And curating their tourism products effectively, sustainably, profitably.

All this results in maximum, sustainable ROI – this masterclass is aimed at helping destinations achieve this primary aim.

Jo Hendrickx is Thomas Cook’s sustainable destination manager and has an enormous experience knowledge and understanding of destinations all over the world. Her latest success – ‘The Local Label’ SEE STORY HERE

Cat Gazzoli, dynamic American CEO of Slow Food UK she set up a way to engage with small and medium sized businesses with the Slow Food Supporter Scheme. Cat will talk about the increasing amount of small food businesses which are excelling thanks to their social impact and connected to the community edge. Responsible ethical business = profitable success stories.

And what that means for destinations is a double hit. New growing businesses AND an attractive food culture.

Well known to many as an indefatigable global campaigner for responsible tourism, Gopinath Parayil is a local Keralan tour operator (The Blue Yonder) who wears many hats, but is passionately engaged with making destinations socially, environmentally, culturally and economically sustainable.

Paul Peeters is associate professor of sustainable transport and tourism at the Centre for Sustainable Tourism and Transport, NHTV Breda University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands. He specializes in the impacts of tourism on the environment in general and climate change in particular and is an active member of ICAO CAEP WG3 that establishes a carbon dioxide emissions standard for civil aircraft.

Whether you are a small, medium or large destination you will benefit from the joined-up GREEN thinking that this masterclass will provide

Discussions will include:

Green tourism futures

Making the most of your destination climate credentials

Marketing & new green markets & new methods

Green food and drink as sustainable and profitable initiatives

How to get the advantages of being a GREEN destination

The masterclass format is short informative presentations by specialists followed by discussion – Chatham House rules (reporting of subjects but no reporting of names!)

So that all the important subjects packed into the day can be dealt with fully and satisfactorily and leave time for discussions and networking, the 12 hour intensive masterclass will include lunch, supper, and post event information.

The masterclass is kept to a maximum of 25 participants to provide in depth understanding and discussions of this complex and substantial opportunity. The current package cost includes full information pack, networking luncheon and supper: £500 per attendee – currently there is a special price of £250

There are also a few tourism masters students seats available for £150 each (you need to email [email protected] to claim a masters seat)

Sustainable Tourism Masterclasses have been held for the last six years and have attracted full houses of attendees and top speakers of global repute.

A full synthesis report is circulated to all attendees and all attendees are both invited to join the masterclass network and the closed online group.

Sustainable Tourism Report Suite 2012 current supporters are:  ABTA – The Travel Association, Discover Ltd., Innovation Norway, Thomas Cook Ltd., Cape Town Tourism, Green Tourism Business Scheme, Considerate Hoteliers Association, Amstel Botel