WTTC Summit: Tourism for Tomorrow winners

Three companies and one destination have been recognised for their best practices in sustainable tourism at this year’s World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Tourism for Tomorrow Awards.

The awards include on-site evaluation inspections of all finalists, conducted by a team of expert international judges.

Community Benefit Award – Saunders Hotel Group, USA

This local family-owned hotel group has been a leader in sustainable tourism practices as far back as the early 1980s, when they converted an old police building in Boston, Massachusetts into an historic hotel and worked with local community partners to build affordable housing in the same area.

The group supports dozens of local charity and non-profit groups with a combination of financial backing, volunteer time, and in-kind resources

Conservation Award – Inkaterra, Peru

This hotel boasts long term conservation stewardship of 38,000 acres of rainforest in the Amazon basin and 25 acres of cloud forest within the Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary.

As well as a 100% carbon neutral hotel stay for every guest, Inkaterra has continued to implement a host of self-supported, sustainable tourism projects to facilitate a better understanding among tourists and local peoples about the need to protect fragile habitats in the Andes and the Amazon.

Destination Stewardship Award – Destination Røros, Norway

A multi-stakeholder approach has created a thriving sustainable tourism destination in the old mining town of Røros, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Since the end of mining in the late 1970’s, Destination Røros has been instrumental in reversing the area’s environmental degradation, guided by a management plan that actively engages and builds cooperation among local communities, municipal authorities, and private sector stakeholders.

Global Tourism Business Award – Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts, Singapore

In addition to strong sustainable tourism practices, Banyan Tree has also fully integrated sustainability monitoring and evaluation across the company.

Chairman of judges Costas Christ said, "Sustainability itself has emerged on the global stage as a new indicator of tourism quality, alongside traditional quality standards such as excellent guest services or a room with a view.

"What this means is that a measure of a company or tourism destination’s success, is now increasingly tied to their quality of sustainable tourism best practice."

The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards are organised in association with Travelport and the Travel Corporation’s Conservation Foundation.