Tourism for tomorrow judges announced

One of the judges, Tony Williams talks about his passion  for sustainability

Call for more entries

The World Travel&Tourism Council (WTTC) has announced the 12 independent finalist selection judges from around the world, for its 2012 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards.

Every year, WTTC recognizes innovative leaders in sustainable tourism through its Tourism for Tomorrow Awards – one of the highest accolades in the global Travel&Tourism industry honoring those companies, organizations, and destinations that are setting the standard for sustainable tourism best practice.

An international team of judges, appointed by WTTC and led by Costas Christ, Chairman of the Judges and a top expert in sustainable tourism, identify the global leaders in sustainable tourism following a rigorous three-step judging process, which also includes an on-site evaluation of all finalists to review first hand how they are putting sustainable tourism practices into action.

The 12 judges on the Finalist Selection Committee for 2012 are:

• Tony Charters, Principal, Tony Charters&Associates, Australia
• Jena Gardner, President, JG Blackbook of Travel, and President, The Bodhi Tree Foundation, USA
• Marilú Hernández, President, Fundación Haciendas del Mundo Maya, Mexico
• Gail Henry, Sustainable Tourism Product Specialist, Caribbean Tourism Organization, Barbados
• Judy Kepher-Gona, CEO, Base Camp Foundation, Kenya
• Graham Miller, Senior Lecturer in Tourism Management, University of Surrey UK
• Kauahi Ngapora, COO, Whale Watch Kaikoura, New Zealand
• Neil Rogers, Director of Marketing, Francis Ford Coppola Resorts and Special Advisor, Visit Sapmi Indigenous Tourism, Sweden
• Mahen Sanghrajka, Chairman, Big Five Tours&Expeditions, USA/Kenya
• Mandip Singh Soin FRGS, Founder&Managing Director, Ibex Expeditions (P) Ltd., India
• Jalsa Urubshurow, President, Nomadic Expeditions, Mongolia
• Tony Williams, CEO Hospitality, Just Sustainability, United Arab Emirates

The panel is selected on a multi-stakeholder approach reflective of the global travel and tourism industry in order to provide an opportunity for the private sector, academic institutions, non-profit organizations, and government to be represented among the judges.

The judges will  select a shortlist of 12 finalists by February 2012, in four award categories, including Conservation, Community Benefit, Destination Stewardship, and Global Tourism Business. Following the selection of finalists, the second stage of the judging process gets underway – the on-site evaluation.

In March, the finalists then move into the third and last stage of the judging process – the selection of the winners.

A five-member judge winner selection committee meets after a detailed review of the finalist selection committee judges' recommendations, the award applications, and the on-site evaluation report, selecting one winner in each award category. The winners will be announced on stage during the Awards Ceremony held at WTTC’s Global Summit on the evening of April 17 in Tokyo. All winners and finalists will also receive worldwide media exposure.

Costas Christ, Chairman of Judges, said: “The real question before us today is just how far sustainable tourism principles and practices will take us toward a greener future, as more of the global travel and tourism industry makes sustainability part of their business model.”

WTTC also takes this opportunity to make a further call for entries to all leaders of sustainable tourism.
Applications from all over the world can be submitted within one of the four categories: Global Tourism Business, Conservation, Community Benefit, and Destination Stewardship. Submit your applications online at http://www.tourismfortomorrow.com/Apply/

Applications must be submitted by December 1, 2011.

For more information on the judges, please to to: http://www.tourismfortomorrow.com/Judging_/Meet_the_Judges/ .

Valere Tjolle
Valere is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite 2011 Special Offers HERE