A word from Amanda Wills, Managing Director of Virgin Holidays, headline sponsors of the Responsible Tourism Awards 2008:
Virgin Holidays enters its second year as headline sponsor of the 2008 Responsible Tourism Awards, and we are delighted.
Recognising those in our industry that put sustainability on the agenda and keep it there, mirrors our own position as a tour
operator taking an active role in shaping a sustainable reality for travel.
We see these awards as an outward statement of our continued commitment to sustainable tourism solutions, as new community projects,
research and industry partnerships drive our own efforts and progress behind the scenes at Virgin Holidays.
Richard continues to drive our position from the top by putting his money where his mouth is and committing that all profits and dividends
the Virgin Group receives from Virgin Holidays, Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Trains (estimated to be $3bn over 10 years) are ploughed into
research and investment to develop energy sources that don't contribute to global warming.
What will future holidays look like? What story will they tell? We continue to join our industry peers to ensure the right one is told.
Therefore, it is an honour to be sponsor of the Responsible Tourism Awards again this year.
Read more about Virgin Holidays' commitment to responsible tourism
The Adventure Company
Sponsor of the Best responsible tour operator category
At The Adventure Company we recognise we are accountable for the way we affect the destinations and the local communities we travel to.
For many years we have placed Responsible Travel at the heart of our business.
During our tours you'll travel like locals; on trains, camels or boats, and stay with local families or in local guest houses.
All our guides also live in the destination countries so you benefit from their knowledge and they benefit from the money and skills which go,
and stay, in the area.
We are also committed to improve our destinations' infrastructures through the Adventure Company Foundation. Funds donated by our passengers
are put towards carefully selected community projects. These are small grass-roots initiatives that really make a difference such as building
houses in Sri Lanka, a community centre in Nepal and equipping schools in Morocco and Ecuador.
Finally, if you decide to travel with us you'll receive our responsible travel leaflet; a simple travellers' code, which helps you make a
positive difference to the countries and places you're journeying through.
We are dedicated to managing our business in a way that respects and benefits the destinations we travel to, without their environment
and way of life the fascination of travel is lost.
Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
Sponsor of the Best large accommodation category
Global Hyatt Corporation, one of the world's premier hotel companies, offers today's travelers more than 730 hotels and resorts
(more than 140,000 rooms) in more than 45 countries.
The company's affiliates own, operate, manage and franchise Hyatt-branded hotels and resorts under Park Hyatt™, Grand Hyatt™, Hyatt Regency™,
Hyatt Resorts™, Hyatt®, Hyatt Place™ and Hyatt Summerfield Suites® brands, as well as the company's newest global luxury brand, Andaz™,
which recently opened its first property in London. Global Hyatt Corporation is also the owner of Hyatt Vacation Ownership, Inc. operator of
Hyatt Vacation Club and fractional residential properties and U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc, which franchises Hawthorn Suites and Microtel Inns
and Suites.
Today, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts® specialise in deluxe hotels with meeting facilities and special services for the business traveler,
operates hotels in major and secondary cities, airport locations, and leading resort areas throughout the world.
In many cities Hyatt Hotels & Resorts® has made a significant contribution to revitalizing the area and spurring business and
population growth. With the new hotels under development, Hyatt International Corporation will be creating more than 20,000
job opportunities throughout the world. Hyatt Hotels & Resorts® have a reputation not only for their physical distinctiveness,
incorporating local art and design, but also for the amenities and services provided. These special services include Hyatt Gold
Passport®, Hyatt's renowned recognition and award program for the frequent traveler; Regency Club® and Grand Club®, VIP concierge floors;
complimentary morning newspaper; specialty restaurants; and custom catering.
'Hyatt is proud to be associated with individuals, companies and associations that are involved in environmental and social responsibility.
We strongly believe in the sustainability of tourism and the future development in this field. Recognition in this field is vital, and the
recognition of these people who are providing a significant contribution across the globe, is critical for all of us in this industry.
Responsible travel is a growing movement and an increasing trend that we must all be aware of and focus on.'
VisitBrighton
Sponsor of the Best small accommodation category
VisitBrighton is the official tourism organisation for the city of Brighton & Hove and is a division of the Brighton & Hove City Council.
VisitBrighton includes the Visitor Information Centre, the call centre, a conference sales team and marketing team. Our main tool is our
website www.visitbrighton.com where visitors can search and book accommodation, find information about restaurants, shopping and events in
the city as well as download maps and get all the latest news about what's happening.
We wanted to be involved with the Responsible Tourism Awards as the city is well known for being green and was recently voted the most
sustainable city in Britain. Apart from the green spaces we have a lot of health food shops and restaurants serving organic and local
sourced food. As a compact city there is no need to use a car and so we always encourage people to walk or cycle their way around Brighton &
Hove.
We decided to sponsor the Best Small Accommodation category as we have a wide variety of small hotels and guest houses.
From stylish boutiques to uniquely themed, all the properties have their own character and have led the way in responsible tourism.
Exodus
Sponsor of the Best in a mountain environment category
We believe passionately in the preservation and long-term sustainability of the mountain environments of our world.
We take huge pride in being the leading UK operator of worldwide walking and trekking holidays.
By supporting this award Exodus hope to inspire other operators into a similar love affair and commitment to the world's great mountain ranges.
Exodus and a history of Responsible Travel
We were founded by travellers under an ethos of responsible tourism. For 34 years we've been running small group, low impact travel that benefits the local community.
We don't just pay lip-service about responsible tourism, we do it. Thousands of our customers see our projects in operation all around the world. Here are a few examples:
NEPAL
We have helped re-house 40-50 orphans through the building of the Nava Kiran Orphanage
ETHIOPIA
We are restoring the vision of many people through the work at the Gondar Eye Surgery
INDIA
We help finance work done to stem the horrific poaching practises aimed at the tigers of the Bandhavgarh National Park
- Best Tour Operator in Responsible Tourism Awards 2004
- We believe in establishing long-term relationships with our overseas operators, and developing mutual partnerships that benefit all
- We believe in paying our operators a fair price for a fair delivery of quality
Maison de la France
Sponsor of the Best for low carbon transport & technology category
Maison de la France is the French Government Tourist Office and has been based in London since 1920.
It is the main point of contact for British travellers to France and for UK tourism professionals.
France offers an exceptional variety of expansive landscapes. From the north to the south, east to west, 80% of France is countryside. 59 national and regional parks make sure that visitors can enjoy France's natural beauty responsibly.
Environmental laws ensure that France's 5,500 km of coastline are protected from property developers. France is also one of the key players in the Kyoto Treaty talks.
It's never been more eco-friendly to travel to France from the UK, thanks to the numerous ferry and train connections between the two countries. Most notably, France can boast the TGV high-speed trains which emit very low levels of carbon and connect the French regions and cities at speeds reaching 357mph!
Maison de la France will continue to support responsible travel to France, and is proud to sponsor the Best for low carbon transport & technology category in the Responsible Tourism Awards.
South Australian Tourism Commission
Sponsor of the Best for conservation of endangered species or protected area category
The South Australian Tourism Commission is the official tourism organisation for the state of South Australia.
We actively promote tourism to our destination in the UK and throughout the world, and endeavor to encourage environmentally responsible tourism experiences. South Australia is a premier wildlife destination boasting natural and geographical attractions, where you can see and experience wildlife in the wild. Destinations like Kangaroo Island, the Eyre Peninsula and the Flinders Ranges, including Wilpena Pound, are some of the key areas of South Australia that have an abundance of wildlife unique to Australia.
The protection of South Australia's flora and fauna is a key focus of the State Government with key strategies in place such as the 'No Species Loss' Nature Conservation Strategy. This is a 10 conservation strategy, which commenced in 2007, and central to the aim is the concept of biodiversity and maintaining South Australia's land, fresh water and marine ecosystems. The goals include aims to maintain healthy ecosystems, through community ownership & stewardship for biodiversity, ecological knowledge for decision makers and general public alike, understanding the impacts of climate change and adjusting our practices to minimise this.
The South Australian Tourism Commission will continue to support and promote responsible tourism practices which conserve the natural attractions which make South Australia such a unique and amazing Australian wildlife experience and we are delighted at this opportunity to sponsor the Responsible Tourism Award for Best Conservation of Endangered Species or Protected Area.
Jamaica Tourist Board
Sponsor of the Best for conservation of cultural heritage category
The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), founded in 1955, is Jamaica's national tourism agency and is headquartered in the capital city of Kingston. The Board is responsible for the worldwide marketing and promotion of the uniqueness and diversity of destination JAMAICA. The JTB's mandate has been to promote Jamaica as a preferred travel destination; identify new and emerging consumer groups; cultivate new relationships with travel partners and disseminate timely and useful marketing information to its offices and travel partners worldwide.
The JTB is the most preferred point of contact for persons travelling to Jamaica. Throughout the years, the JTB has been recognized for its exceptional leadership and outstanding service with accolades from industry and trade partners both regionally and internationally.
All of JTB's programmes are based on the policies espoused in the 10-year Masterplan for Sustainable Tourism Development. One of the pillars of this Masterplan is the concept of responsible tourism and the JTB encourages every effort, whether domestic or international to get more tourism entities to function in a responsible fashion. Many of our own hotels and attractions have been recognized for their efforts in this regard. The JTB is proud to sponsor the Best for Conservation of Cultural Heritage in the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards.
Intrepid Travel
Sponsor of the Best volunteering organisation category
Intrepid Travel operate small group adventures and cultural trips in most corners of the globe and were Overall Winners of the awards in 2006.
Since our first day of operations, almost 20 years ago, Responsible Travel has been at the heart of all that we do. Wherever we go in the world, we travel in a way which respects and benefits local people, their culture and the environment.
This award is particularly meaningful to us as we have recently taken our commitment to local communities one step further with our MAD (Make a Difference) range of adventures. More than just a holiday, MAD adventures are a chance for volunteers to live and work in rural villages contributing to grassroots community development.
Intrepid Travel is proud to be associated with companies who are involved in grassroots community development and we applaud their efforts in this field. It's important that as travellers and travel operators that we do all that we can to spread the word of sustainable tourism and actually follow through on the intent. The world is an amazing place and we hope to share it with many generations to come.
Conservation International
Sponsor of the Best destination category
Conservation International (CI) is a global leader in biodiversity conservation and has twenty years of experience working on tourism projects in Latin America, Africa and Asia/Pacific regions. CI's mission is to conserve the Earth's living heritage, our global biodiversity, and to demonstrate that human societies are able to live harmoniously with nature. With 700 million people traveling each year and over 33,000 protected areas worldwide, nature based tourism is a growing source of revenue for the management of Protected Areas, and the communities living within and around them.
Tourism is one of the largest and fastest growing industries, drawing an estimated $3 trillion dollars in revenues each year. CI's ecotourism projects help forge a direct link between the economic benefits from ecotourism and the protection of biodiversity. Nature-based tourism is growing at a rate of 10% each year and can generate viable economic alternatives for local people living near Biodiversity Hotspots and areas of high biodiversity. In South Africa, for example, approximately 60% of all foreign tourists visit a national park or game reserve. With this income, the South African National Parks Board finances up to 80% of its annual budget from tourism receipts alone.
While unstructured poorly planned tourism can lead to problems such as waste, habitat destruction and the displacement of local people and wildlife, well-planned nature based tourism can provide tremendous incentives for conservation. Thoughtful tourism policies, strategic planning, and community involvement in nature-based tourism development can help ensure sustainable use of natural resources with maximum benefits for the local communities who are their stewards.
