I declare a climate emergency that is impacting tourism, society, and our home planet. The impacts of climate change on society are becoming more and more clear with each passing day. So too is the influence of climate change on the sustainability of tourism. I am committed to working to ensure tourism is a force for good in our world, and it is clear that climate change intersects with many of the challenges faced by tourism. The challenges of sustainability in the tourism system – environmental issues, preserving biodiversity,...

31 July, 2021 /

What does it look like when climate change starts to impact the tourism system? The conversation about the impacts of climate change on the economy has begun. Often these conversations talk about impacts on a wide range of businesses, but tourism and hospitality are often an important part of the story. This article from American Public Media’s Marketplace "More frequent, extreme heatwaves linked to workplace injuries" is a good example – raising issues around workplace conditions as temperatures increase. Several states – including California, Oregon, and Washington, have implemented new...

28 July, 2021 /

Which jobs in tourism require knowledge of sustainability? All of them (At least in the United States). When the Dept of Labor, working with The National Travel and Tourism Office of the Dept of Commerce and a team of experts from across the industry, developed the job competency model for Hospitality, Tourism, and Events, sustainability was a required competency right across the industry. Sustainability is included with other industry-wide competencies such as operations management, marketing and sales, safety and security, and understanding of key industry principles and concepts. It is...

22 July, 2021 /

Sustainability is a team activity. No single company creates a sustainable tourism experience – we each rely on each of our travel partners to do their part in making sure the final consumer experience is sustainable. By taking responsibility for our own businesses and encouraging our suppliers and customers to adopt sustainable tourism, all tourism businesses can contribute to a better future. A supply chain is simply the businesses that contribute components to a final product. For example, let us say you bought a vacation to an island resort...

14 July, 2021 /

It is fantastic to see so many people talking about various types of sustainable and ethical tourism. The energy and enthusiasm for positive change is starting to gain traction and all around the world, there are destinations, companies, and people making a difference. As we race forward it is important to remember the work that has already been done so we avoid "reinventing the wheel". For instance, did you know there is a Code of Ethics for Tourism? The Code of Ethics has 10 “articles” and outlines...

14 July, 2021 /

While there are many great initiatives that can be taken to achieve sustainable tourism, it is important to remember that sustainable tourism requires a policy framework to achieve its objectives. Policies that enable sustainable tourism are often developed by folks that do not consider themselves part of tourism, and many of the policies are not tourism or hospitality related. So what policies does the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) say are required for a sustainable destination? In a recent analysis of the GSTC Destination Criteria I carried out with...

09 July, 2021 /

This week – July 4-11, 2021 – is Naidoc week in Australia. Naidoc Week activities celebrate the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The theme for Naidoc Week 2021 is “Heal Country!” and the message could not be more critical. The themes raised by Naidoc, while not directed at tourism, have deep implications for our industry. There is growing recognition in sustainable and regenerative tourism of the value of indigenous wisdom in what we call “destination stewardship”. In the words of the Naidoc committee: The NAIDOC...

07 July, 2021 /

Scope Three carbon reporting is gaining importance and suppliers of business travel need to be ready. So what is scope 3 and why is it important? As concern for the climate crisis increases, many corporations are committing to measuring – and reducing – their carbon footprints. The Greenhouse Gases (GHG) that corporations produce are categorized within three “scopes” that are measured - and hopefully the focus of reduction strategies. Scope 1 measures the GHG that the company produces itself as it makes its products and services. Scope 2 measures...

06 July, 2021 /

How do you even start to become a more responsible traveler? The Travel Care Code identifies 10 easy steps to ensure that your travels are better for the communities you visit and the planet. Learn about your destinationDon’t leave your good habits at homeBe a fuel-efficient travelerMake informed decisionsBe a good guestSupport the localsDispose of Waste ProperlyProtect your Natural SurroundingsMake your travel zero emissionsBring your experiences home. Changing behavior is hard – but here’s a good place to start. Click through to learn more about the Travel Care Code Initiative. ...

01 July, 2021 /

The challenge of decarbonizing hospitality is one of the great challenges our industry faces. It is important that we consider the actions that will have the greatest impact on our carbon footprint. Unfortunately, the things we talk about most frequently are not the things that have the biggest impact. Here are just a few steps to decarbonizing tourism - the most commonly discussed first, the most impactful last. Green operations: So much of our conversation focuses on improving our energy efficiency and reducing our carbon footprint through our...

30 June, 2021 /
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