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Do the Olympics hurt or help international tourism?

admin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:18:22 +0000

With the Olympic games being one of the most sort after international events the world has ever experienced, many would argue that the games, combined with their publicity, fervor and global appeal, would truly help their host city’s economic stature. Tourism alone should boom due to the Olympics, while locales that would typically not seem to be a “top destination” are suddenly thrust into the limelight.

However, according to a study by the European Tour Operators Association (ETOA), the Olympic Games actually have a negative impact on their host locale. Over the last 20 years, tourism has actually increased throughout the globe, except for travel to “Olympic cities,” where tourism growth tends to be stalled (especially when compared to competitor destinations).

For instance, during the past 6 summer games – Beijing 2008, Athens 2004, Sydney 2000, Atlanta (1996, Barcelona 1992, and Seoul 1988 – all six host cities experienced a major disruption to their normal tourism market and none revealed any conspicuous tourism growth.

In the five years prior to the Sydney Olympics, Australia’s and New Zealand’s tourism was growing at the same rate. However, but Australia’s growth dropped off significantly immediately after the Olympics. It is clear that the Olympics did not materially help Australian tourism, or if it did, it made very little difference.

Sydney’s even underperformed against the rest of Australia. The situation became so pronounced that Australia ran an advertising campaign to promote itself as a destination with the now infamous slogan “Where the bloody hell are you?”

Perhaps the most alarming statistics come out of the Beijing 2008 games. During the month prior to the games’ commencement, international travel to Beijing plummeted to 30% less than the previous year. In the months after the Games, the tourism slump continued with international travel over 20% down.

In fact, 2008 was a dismal year for Asia Pacific tourism, with Beijing bearing the brunt of the hurt. While travel was down to mainland China by 2%, Beijing averaged out at an 18% loss over 2007.

Concern for London

“Every city is unique, and each city handles the Olympics in its own way,” said Tom Jenkins, executive director, ETOA. “But we have yet to have a games where tourism has not been disrupted and disrupted in a way that causes real harm. Even in the case of Athens, where they carefully restricted new capacity, there were considerable losses before and after the games both in the capital and throughout Greece.”

This does not bode well for London in 2012.

Last year alone, London experienced almost 15 million international visitors. If history repeats itself, the city could be looking at a loss of nearly 2.5 million tourists.

Generally, the Olympics should benefit a host city’s tourism economy. However, statistics suggest otherwise. What do you think – do the Olympics ultimately negatively impact the host city’s tourism economy? And if so, what can be done?

A new green hotels program comes to the South

Joe Ascanio — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:11:50 +0000

The State of South Carolina has just launched a new certification program for the hospitality industry called the South Carolina Green Hospitality Alliance. The program is aimed mainly at hotels, motels and restaurants; providing a means for establishments to boost awareness by demonstrating what they are doing to help protect and preserve the state’s environment.

The program is a joint effort between the state Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and South Carolina Hospitality Association.

“Each of us—government, business, industry and individuals—must do our part to help protect South Carolina’s environment,” said DHEC Commissioner Earl Hunter. “This program presents a unique opportunity for the hospitality industry to lead by example through the use of smart, sustainable, cost-effective practices that help conserve natural resources, save energy and reduce pollution.”

The South Carolina Green Hospitality Alliance is a free, voluntary program designed to help the hospitality industry reduce the environmental impact of its operations while recognizing and certifying facilities for environmentally friendly efforts with an annual certification.

According to Hunter, DHEC’s role in the partnership is to offer free, confidential assistance on a variety of issues such as waste reduction, recycling, composting, conserving energy and water, green cleaning, and environmentally preferred purchasing. DHEC’s assistance also includes site visits, workshops and a comprehensive series of best management practices fact sheets.

Tom Sponseller, president of the South Carolina Hospitality Assn., says that those hotels, resorts, restaurants and bars that participate in the Green Hospitality Alliance have all the tools available to help improve their environmental footprint, but also have a website to let consumers be aware of their efforts to sustain the environment.

“More consumers are looking to support businesses that exercise sustainable business practices to help protect our environment, and the Green Hospitality Alliance was designed to not only encourage hotels, resorts, restaurants and bars to be more earth friendly, but to let the consuming public be aware of those businesses that actually engage in green practices.”

The South Carolina Hospitality Association reviews all certification applications and rates facilities—from One Palmetto Tree to Three Palmetto Trees—based on a facility’s green practices. Already, 18 hotels, resorts and restaurants have been certified in the Alliance, two of which earned Two Palmetto certification.

For more information, visit www.GreenHospitalityAlliance.com.

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Las Vegas CityCenter’s holistic spa now taking reservations (or, ‘Why I need to go to Vegas’)

Joe Ascanio — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:41:47 +0000

Sin City’s sustainable wonder, CityCenter, is unveiling its the intimate Vdara Health & Beauty -a “sensuous spa sanctuary” focused on holistic health and well being – on December 1, 2009.

The 18,000-square-foot, two-level spa, salon and fitness center is committed to “sustainable luxury”. Selected by Green Spa Network to be network’s very first Las Vegas member, Vdara Health & Beauty carefully selects retail partners that share its concern for the environment; utilizing organic or wild-crafted, paraben-free products, implementing a recycling program and use of recycled paper for spa materials, and aproviding natural nail services using a vegan treatment line.

Vdara is an all-suite hotel and spa designed within the new Las Vegas CityCenter that caters to those who love the excitement of Las Vegas but prefer to enjoy it in an exclusive, non-gaming and smoke-free environment.

Solidifying CityCenter’s commitment to sustainability, Vdara has achieved LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Physically connected to Bellagio and adjacent to ARIA Resort & Casino, Vdara will offer access to all of the entertainment, gaming, shopping, dining and nightlife at CityCenter and throughout Las Vegas, while also providing a retreat from it all.

Soothing calm amidst the bustle of Vegas

Located on the second level of the CityCenter’s new Vdara, guests are welcomed by a two-story waterfall comprised of shimmering strings of beads that glisten as water cascades down them into the reflective pool below. Sapele wood floors with mink marble and river-stone floor accents will create a sleek and modern look throughout the space.

Each level of the spa will express a distinct atmosphere laced with luxury. The first level will be a light, social space where patrons can mingle in the main reception lobby, enter the fitness center and salon, browse the spa boutique or enjoy a glass of bubbly at the Champagne Bar. The wellness spa on the second level will inspire a calm and soothing energy.

Even the lobby itself will feature a champagne bar that will include a thoughtful selection of champagne and wine for guests to enjoy while relaxing in the lobby or experiencing a manicure, pedicure or hair service in the salon.

Finding wellness

Eleven private treatment rooms, retreats, and serene lounges featuring inviting soaking tubs and dramatic circular waterfalls allow guests to immerse themselves in complete relaxation while enjoying a selection of herbal teas and apothecary-infused water, redwood saunas and eucalyptus steam rooms.

Spa treatments, comprised of a variety of massages, body treatments and skin care services, focus on holistic health by incorporating high-grade and organic ingredients derived from fruits, herbs, flowers, vegetables and oils.

The salon at Vdara Health & Beauty will boast a full menu of services for men and women including nail care by “SpaRitual.” Known for creating eco-friendly products, SpaRitual has developed a collection of sophisticated nail products that are DBP, formaldehyde and toluene-free, as well as the first spa treatment line of vegan nail care products.

For those looking for a more active way to let off some steam, a variety of cardio equipment with individual entertainment centers, exercise machines and free weights will be available in the spa’s fitness center. Fitness classes will include strength training and yoga, with personal trainers and yoga instructors available for individual or group instruction. A registered dietician also will be available for nutritional consultation.

On the upper level of the spa, guests will be able to enjoy spa and salon treatments poolside at Sky Pool & Lounge – boasting six spa cabanas with interior seating, outdoor chaise lounges and private plunge pools. Poolside spa treatments will feature Akhassa, a line inspired by spa rituals from Thailand with properties of lemongrass, Kaffir lime, jasmine and hibiscus flower.

For more information about Vdara Health & Beauty, visit www.vdara.com.

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All aboard the month-long Climate Change Express to Copenhagen

Joe Ascanio — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:45:52 +0000

With the Copenhagen conference quickly on its way, a new and one-time train link between Kyoto and Copenhagen has just opened for traffic. Sponsored by the United Nations, the Climate Change Express is a one-month, 9,000-kilometer journey that symbolically joins the site of the last global warming pact with what is hoped to be the birthplace of the next major, and stricter, treaty to combat climate change.

The Train to Copenhagen will roll across the globe through the vast wilds of Russian Siberia and into Europe as part of the UN Seal the Deal! campaign. Aboard, environmental experts and climate change campaigners will send eye-witness accounts of global warming signs under way while working to raise awareness of the impact of the transport sector, which already accounts for over one fifth of global CO2 greenhouse emissions.

These emissions are projected to double within only 40 years and railways are crucial in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and developing sustainable transport systems.

Redirecting the “road to nowhere”

Launched by UNEP, WWF and the International Union of Railways (UIC), the Train to Copenhagen aims to galvanize political will and public support for reaching a comprehensive global climate agreement in December.

“We are on the road to nowhere if existing policies and economic models prevail with their over-emphasis on private cars and on shifting shipments of goods to the roads,” UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said. “The Train to Copenhagen project is a showcase of sustainable transport solutions that will be part and parcel of a resource-efficient, low-carbon Green Economy of the 21st Century.

“By Sealing the Deal on an ambitious climate agreement in Copenhagen, governments will get into gear to propel the world to a low-carbon future so that societies may also finally embark on a journey to more sustainable transport.”

Trekking through climate change “hotspots”

The Train to Copenhagen departs Kyoto station on November 5th – leaving behind the Japanese city where the Kyoto Protocol that sets binding greenhouse gas reduction targets for 37 industrialized countries and the European Union (EU) was adopted in 1997 – and make its way by ferry to Daejeon, Republic of Korea (ROK).

There it will board another ferry for Vladivostok in Russia’s Far East for that vast transcontinental journey to drum up support for a new compact with much stronger cuts to replace the Protocol on the expiration of the first commitment period at the end of 2012.

Rumbling across Siberia – a global climate change hotspot - it will be hauled along the famous Trans-Siberian Railway and go by ferry across Lake Baikal, the most voluminous freshwater lake in the world, and stop in Moscow, the Polish city of Poznan and then Berlin before arriving in Brussels on December 5th.

From Brussels, The Express will take on board more than 400 climate change negotiators, campaigners and other high-profile personalities going to Copenhagen, for a 12-hour on-track conference focusing on how to solve the challenges posed by the transport sector with regard to global warming.

On arrival, the Climate Express will remain at Copenhagen Central Station throughout the two-week conference, serving as a mobile exhibition open to the public about low-carbon transport solutions.

“It is clear that business as usual is not an option if we want to reverse current trends and prevent catastrophic climate change,” UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer said. “If we can really integrate the costs of pollution into the price of transportation, rail will be a big winner.”

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Does living “green” at home really effect how people travel?

Joe Ascanio — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:57:12 +0000

Due largely in part to consumer demands and environmental regulations – both ethical and economical – the hospitality and tourism industry is under great pressure to become more environmentally friendly.

A countless number of hotels have successfully instituted energy-use reduction and water conservation programs, as well as resource re-use and recycling. Linen and towel reuse policies, low-flow showers and toilets, programmable on/off light sensors, and occupancy sensor controls are just some advances in the “going green” arena.

However, a new study suggests that there is a significant difference in how people’s attitudes toward “green” lifestyles effect their actual travel purchases and behavior.

The study, conducted by a team of tourism and hospitality graduate students at Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business, found that people who actively practice an eco-friendly lifestyle at home behave entirely different when “on the road” at a hotel.

Researchers tend to agree that the hospitality industry itself has the ability to educate consumers to develop a greater level of understanding and concern about their environmental impact as hotel guests. With more and more hotels increasingly adopting “green” business practices, no one has really delved into whether or not such initiatives truly effect consumer knowledge, attitudes and behavior.

Supervised by tourism management professor Pamela Weaver, two master’s students – Melissa Baker and Eric Davis – set out to find the answer.

“It has been argued that if individuals became more knowledgeable about environmental issues, they would become more aware of the problems and be more motivated to act in responsible ways,” they said. “Prior research, however, has not shown this assumption to be true.”

Truth in numbers

In an online survey of 881 students in four Virginia Tech classes, questions were crafted to carefully gauge knowledge and personal attitudes about eco-friendly travel as compared to home behavior. 322 responses (36.5%) were gathered and analyzed.

While over half of the respondents agreed that being environmentally conscious while in a hotel will have long-term environmental benefits, only 35% stated they would prefer to stay in a green hotel instead of a non-green hotel.

Nearly 75% stated that hotels should use energy-efficient or automatic lights, while 50% felt that automatic sink faucets should be installed to conserve water.

As for their home-versus-hotel behavior, 60% of respondents recycle paper products at home, but only 30% recycle them while at a hotel. And while 60% of respondents conserve water at home, less than 40% do so while at a hotel. 80% of respondents take measures to conserve energy at home, only 40% do so while at a hotel.

“Individuals might feel more obliged to behave in an environmentally friendly manner in their local community as opposed to the tourist destination,” say Baker and Davis.

While some hotels may perhaps lack the necessary infrastructure to be “green,” engaging in green behavior may detract from the whole experience of being a hotel guest.

The research by Baker and Davis cites a “a strong trade-off between participation and the sacrifice of comfort and luxury.”

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Himalayan adventure in high style and luxury

Joe Ascanio — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:29:20 +0000

New and unique excursions by ITrekNepal, one of the most popular trekking companies in the region, aim to enhance the Everest and Annapurna trekking experience for adventurers by offering increasing value combined with an exceptionally high standard for excellence.

Already a trailblazer with its all-inclusive Standard treks – including clean and comfortable hotel accommodation before and after treks, the highest quality trekking equipment as well as three full meals a day and hot showers for the duration of the trek – ITrekNepal’s newest Classic treks go even further by offering guests the best possible standard of comfort in accommodation, food, travel and personal service whilst trekking the challenging terrain of the breathtaking Everest and Annapurna regions in Nepal.

“Since introducing our Classic trek option we have received many glowing testimonials from guests who love the personal attention and flexibility that we offer. Guests also really appreciate the extra level of comfort on a Classic trek, especially after a really challenging day of trekking. A Classic trek allows our guests to experience Nepal and the Himalayas as authentically as other trek options but without any unnecessary discomfort,” commented Andy Leonard, Managing Director of ITrekNepal.

ITrekNepal has grown rapidly in the last two years and provides both classic Himalayan trek itineraries such as Everest and Annapurna Base Camp treks as well as unique fully-flexible ‘off the beaten path’ treks and tours for both individuals and groups that will provide a wealth of memories long after the holiday has is over.

Catering to the adventurer’s comfort zone

On the ground, ITrekNepal’s Classic equips guests with new and spacious air conditioned vehicles whilst flights to all major trekking destinations in Nepal are included in the cost of the trek. Hotel accommodation before and after treks is the highest class possible; such as Dwarika’s in Kathmandu and the Shangri La in Pokkara. Dwarika’s is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the best preserved examples of traditional Newari architecture in Nepal where every brick is handmade and every piece of wood is a centuries old original.

ITrekNepal Classic guests also have the benefit of a dedicated one-on-one personal porter who not only assists in carrying your gear but also in helping you every step of the way to enjoy the mountains and your overnight stays by carrying a large supply of special foods – fresh fruits, chocolate, cheeses and biscuits – to complement your local teahouse meals.

ITrekNepal’s porters even go that little bit extra by bringing hot water bottles and pots of tea to the teahouse lodge rooms of Classic trek guests each evening at high altitude locations in the Everest and Annapurna regions.

Other highlights of ITrekNepal’s Classic trek option are the constant use of a mobile phone for immediate contact from almost anywhere in Nepal – including high altitude mountain locations – as we;; as access to a full-time personal concierge to handle any special requirements while in Nepal. Guests also receive upgraded mountain lodge (teahouse) accommodations to best available rooms with attached baths, full-day cultural tours of UNESCO world heritage sites in the Kathmandu Valley, personal customization of cultural tour itineraries and complete flexibility in changing trek and travel itinerary without extra charge right up until the day of departure.

Since the introduction of the Classic trek option this year, half of all ITrekNepal guests have selected this option for their Nepal treks.

For more information, visit http://syndacast.com/go/itreknepal.

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Starwood’s Element Hotels have a ‘Vision’

Kristen Geis — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:15:56 +0000

The popular “green” hotel brand has officially been named as a Travel + Leisure Global Vision Award Winner. The Awards, now in the fifth year, recognize the latest and best efforts at cultural preservation, environmental conservation, and community building as selected by a jury of eight members including Dan Barber, Céline Simone Cousteau, Bruce Mau, and Dr. Joseph E. Stiglitz.

Element, owned and operated by Starwood Hotels & Resorts, has consistently ramped up the expectations for sustainable hospitality with a cool and modern flare. Element is also committed to achieving LEED certification at all of its properties.

Other winners include the Rainforest Alliance for its outstanding efforts in sustainable travel, Ecoventura for charting a new course for travel to and in the Galápagos Islands, and Sassi di Matera Albergo Diffuso in Italy for transforming abandoned cave dwellings of a UNESCO World Heritage site into guestrooms.

Profiles of all 17 winners along with insights from the jury are featured in Travel + Leisure’s November issue, available on newsstands October 23.

“The individuals and organizations recognized in T+L’s 2009 Global Vision Awards epitomize the idea that travel is a force for good,” says Nancy Novogrod, editor-in-chief of Travel + Leisure. “Even in these challenging economic times, it is encouraging to see that important issues for our world and our industry are a priority for this year’s winners. We applaud their outstanding efforts and hope that they provide inspiration for both travelers and others in the travel world.”

Global Vision Award Winners in the Environment category include: Corporate Sustainability, Walt Disney Worldwide; Eco Certification, Rainforest Alliance, New York City; Wildlife Tourism, Northern Great Plains Restoration, United States; Green Cruising, Ecoventura, Galápagos Islands; Green Hotels, Element Hotels, United States; and Habitat Restoration, Vane Farm Sanctuary, Scotland.

The winners in the Culture category included: Arts Education, Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, Qatar; Cultural Heritage, Awamaki, Peru; Architectural Restoration, Qianlong Garden, Beijing; Culinary Heritage, Southern Foodways Alliance, Oxford, Mississippi; Historic Preservation, Banteay Chhmar, Cambodia; and Creative Redevelopment, Sassi di Matera Albergo Diffuso, Italy.

The winners in the Community category included: Community Empowerment, Koiyaki Guiding School, Masai Mara, Kenya; Voluntourism, GAP Adventures, Toronto; Job Training, Sala Baï, Cambodia; Disaster Relief, Asia Transpacific Journeys, Boulder, Colorado; and Grassroots Philanthropy, Spear of the Nation, Johannesburg, South Africa.

For more information, visit www.travelandleisure.com.

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What needs to happen for the Copenhagen Climate Change summit to be a success?

Joe Ascanio — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:47:37 +0000

With a little over one month to go before the UN summit on Climate Change in Copenhagen, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has outlined a handful of benchmarks that will determine the success of this international gathering of the minds.

Ban, in an opinion piece in the New York Times, suggests that every country – developed and developing – must do all it can to slash emissions from all sources, including deforestation and shipping.

“A successful deal must strengthen the world’s ability to cope with an already changing climate,” Mr. Ban said, stressing that “support for adaptation is not only an ethical imperative; it is a smart investment in a more stable, secure world.”

According to Ban, proper funding to allow poorer countries to transition to a low-carbon economy is absolutely crucial, while all involved must agree on an equitable global governance structure.

“All countries must have a voice in how resources are deployed and managed,” he said. “That is how trust will be built.”

Progress in sight

Although the the last round of climate change negotiations held in Bangkok, Thailand, earlier this month, resulted in a sort of stalemate, Ban insists that “the elements of a deal are on the table.”

“All that is needed to put them in place is political will,” Ban said. “We need to step back from narrow national interest and engage in frank and constructive discussion in a spirit of global common cause.”

A final round of negotiations will kick off next week in Spain, as a precursor to the Copenhagen summit.

“We are now at a rather critical juncture,” said Janos Pasztor, Director of the Secretary-General’s Climate Change Support Team. “There is a flurry of activity in the world’s capitals, with this uptick in activity expected to continue during the final stretch before the December summit. This is a good development as it is only governments who can make the deal and bring us success in Copenhagen.”

United States at the heart of transition

When leaders assemble in Denmark, they have the ability to “deliver an agreement on a range of fast-track implementation measures for which credible resources are needed and which governments need to make available,” Mr. Pasztor stated.

According to Ban, the United States government, under the leadership of newly-President Barack Obama, is a crucial factor in the global climate change struggle. He did suggest, however, that he is encouraged by last week’s bipartisan climate change initiative in the US Senate.

“We cannot afford another period where the United States stands on the sidelines,” Ban said, adding that an “indecisive or insufficiently engaged” US will result in unnecessary and unaffordable delays in tackling global warming.

Ban is, of course, referring to the U.S.’s lackluster environmental performance under the Bush administration of the previous 8 years as well as its reluctance to enter into the Kyoto Protocol agreements.

Come 2012, the Kyoto Protocol to prevent climate change and global warming will expire, calling for the urgency for a new international agreement. This December’s conference in Copenhagen from December 7-18, 2009 will bring together government representatives from 170 countries, accompanied by other governmental representatives, NGO’s and journalists.

For more information on the Copenhagen Climate Conference, visit http://en.cop15.dk.

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Is a “green plane” on the horizon from Southwest Airlines?

Kristen Geis — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:09:21 +0000

The popular American carrier has officially unveiled a prototype model for a “green plane” – an Boeing 737-700 that combines fuel efficiency, environmentally responsible products, customer comfort, and reduced waste and weight.

Good business sense

According the Southwest, environmental decisions and business practices can only benefit the business.

“Southwest is committed to continuing to lead the industry in emissions reductions through fuel efficiency,” said Gary Kelly, Southwest’s Chairman, President, and CEO. “Efficiency in fuel consumption benefits our Company as well as the environment, and this has been part of our business model since the beginning. As we look to the future, we know climate change remains of vital importance to our industry, our Company, and our Customers, so Southwest works hard every day in every area to be a responsible steward of the environment.”

All of the elements being tested on this Green Plane, when combined, will equate to a weight savings of almost five pounds per seat, thus saving fuel and reducing emissions, along with adding recyclable elements to the cabin interior and reducing waste.

“Southwest is proud to lead the aviation industry in environmental stewardship and honored to be working with these eco-friendly vendors and our partners at Boeing,” Kelly continued. “We are excited to test their forward-thinking products and expect these green products to not only help the environment, but also create a fuel and materials cost saving for Southwest.”

The new plane’s “green” elements include:

InterfaceFLOR Carpet – a 100% recyclable and carbon neutral carpet that reduces labor and material costs because it is installed in sections, thus eliminating the need for total replacement of areas such as aisles, where Southwest currently uses one single piece of carpet.
Seat covers – two new products that will be tested on the aircraft seats, offering more than twice the durability than the current leather seats as well as a weight savings of almost two pounds per seat. On one side of the aisle, e-Leather is an eco-friendly, lightweight and scuff resistant man-made alternative to traditional leather. It is made from recycled materials that have been discarded by the leather industry. It is then upgraded utilizing eco-friendly technology, resulting in composition leather, a man-made material. On the other side of the aisle, IZIT Leather, a new breed of premium leather alternative, is an evolutionary step beyond calf skin that offers a lightweight product that is both economical and durable, but with the genuine appearance and touch of luxurious leather.
Life Vest Pouch – more environmentally friendly because it offers a weight savings of one pound per passenger, replacing the current metal container with lighter durable canvas. The smaller pouch also creates more room under the seat for carry-on items and offers productivity improvements due to design change.
Foam Fill – A lighter weight fill from Garnier PURtec in the back of the seats that reduces weight while providing increased Customer comfort.
Passenger Seat Rub Strips – switching from plastic to aluminum will help with durability, which reduces waste, as well as being recyclable.

In addition to the green plane, Southwest also announced the Nov. 1 kickoff of a more robust onboard recycling program, which is a co-mingled system that will allow the airline to capture more recyclable material and divert it from the waste stream. This 18-month process involved team work from all areas of the Company to implement the program on the ground at its Provisioning Bases and re-working of waste collection procedures in the cabin.

“The initiative by the Southwest Airlines Green Team, Facilities Maintenance, Inflight Department, and Provisioning Department was a truly heroic effort; when you serve nearly 68 cities there are often 68 different ways to implement a program,” Kelly says. “We appreciate the hard work of our recycling vendor, Republic Services, and we are excited to take a very effective recycling program and make it even better.”

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Bike tours through New Orleans go green and motorless in the Crescent City

Joe Ascanio — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:33:41 +0000

Upon my initial visit in the Fall of 2004 (pre-Katrina), New Orleans became and remains today one of my favorite American cities. The history, architecture, cuisine and entertainment combine to make for one fantastic and surreal experience.

Subsequent visits later, I have allowed myself to see and learn more and more about the city and its wonderful and colorful elements. However, regretfully I have never partaken in an actual tour of the city – I have always relied on my own too feet as well as the famous trolley ride to get me around.

I have passed the horse-drawn carriages a number of times along the southern outskirts of Jackson Square, but never opted to take the ride; I have always been more of a “go-it-alone” site seeker.

Which is why I am very excited to hear about the Maison St. Charles Hotel’s new bike tour package – touring the city in an eco-friendly way via the brisk pace of two wheels. What’s better than that?

The Maison St. Charles Quality Inn & Suites, which is located in the city’s historic Garden District, has just unveiled the new bike tour package that includes standard hotel accommodations for (2) nights, use up to (4) bicycles including helmets and locks, picnic backpacks with lunch, water, wine, and cheese, keepsake t-shirts, city map, and complimentary breakfast.

The hotel sits just a few blocks away from many things New Orleans has to offer – The French Quarter, the Superdome, the downtown business district, New Orleans River Walk, the Port of New Orleans for cruise ships, and the New Orleans Convention Center.

Made up of historic antebellum homes and completely renovated in late 2008/early 2009, this hotel features standard guest rooms and deluxe guest suites – some with two bathrooms. It has great historic charm with modern features – including free high-speed Internet, over 2,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, on-site parking, free continental and hot breakfast, pool and whirlpool, guest laundry, and a St. Charles Ave. Street Car stop directly at their front door.

“We wanted to be unique,” said spokesperson for the management company (Expotel Hospitality Services) Vice President Jeff Iavarone stated. “We feel there are travelers out there who want to experience New Orleans in a different way, a more intimate way. Here is a chance to bicycle in Audubon Park, and pedal through some of the area’s most historic neighborhoods including Magazine Street and St. Charles Ave. Biking is one of the best ways to see this city that a typical visitor may never experience. The bike paths along the Mississippi River are a must. ”

“Even if you are spending 2-3 days visiting our great city, spending a day or two biking around gives guests the freedom to leisurely explore different parts of the city,” added Jeff. “Our weekenders have more options now to enjoy New Orleans.”

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Volunteer travel organization in Africa gains new accolades in Responsible Tourism

Kristen Geis — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:32:26 +0000

African Impact, a family-run African voluntourism organization, has been nominated for the prestigious Imvelo Responsible Tourism Award.

Built on a solid foundation of passion and pride, African Impact has taken the lead as the industry’s most renowned Africa-based volunteer travel projects. Based in Cape Town, South Africa, African Impact works in partnership with extensive office and field staff in Southern and East Africa, as well as volunteers from around the world.

Now in their eighth year, the Imvelo Awards have had a huge impact on tourism in South Africa, creating significant awareness of environmental management issues in the industry. The awards are in line with the Responsible Tourism guidelines for the South African hospitality industry and the UN World Tourism Organization’s code of ethics. Imvelo is supported by the Heritage Environmental Rating Program.

This year’s award ceremony takes place in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 11th November 2009.

A worthy journey

Since its humble beginnings in late 2004 at their Antelope Park Lion Rehabilitation Project in Zimbabwe, African Impact’s first volunteers were welcomed with open arms. Since then, Andrew and Wendy Conolly, along with a dedicated team of managers, office and field staff, have built African Impact into a voluntourism organization of which they are immensely proud.

“Having traveled to our volunteer projects throughout Southern and East Africa, I’ve seen a lot of fascinating things and met a lot of intriguing people!” said Sarah Graham, a co-founder of African Impact.

“From camping with Masai warriors and camels in the bush of Northern Kenya while scouting a new project; to tracking leopards with experienced scouts in Southern Botswana; taking a ‘chicken bus’ up to the lip of the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania, or having the time of my life reading to kids at our adopted orphanage in Mozambique, I have never failed to be continuously inspired, and re-inspired, by the people that I have met.

“Whether they were our very own African Impact project managers or participants or local partners such as headmasters in small rural schools or over-eager children with an amazing desire to learn, I am continuously awed by the beauty of the kind of humanity that can eclipse all boundaries and bring people together when working for a common cause.”

Creating real results

African Impact employs a “results-based assessment approach” to volunteer travel. The organization prefers to seek out the evidence and outputs that stand to support the work that they are doing as further proof that they are making a sustainable difference in Africa.

The African Impact team is made up of people with vast experience living, working and traveling in Africa. They raise up and invest in local staff wherever possible, and their colorful group is made up of people who have an unparalleled passion and enthusiasm for their work.

“The whole experience was absolutely incredible,” said Stuart Neath, a past volunteer to African Impact Volunteer Project in Mozambique. It was uplifting, rewarding, challenging, grounding, heart-breaking and soul-destroying in equal measure. To see the absolute joy on the faces of the children when we arrived to spend time with them, or their excitement at being given the opportunity to do something creative, was incredible. This is why I WILL do it again and why I would encourage anyone who is thinking about doing this to go and do it.”

“As a department, we truly appreciate your dedication and hope you recognise, as we do, the valuable role you play in building brighter futures for Zambia’s next generation,” reads a statement from the Zambian Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development. “Thank you for your continuing support. It is through the positive efforts of organisations like yours that we can change a lifetime for a child in need…”

African Impact is the largest on-the-ground facilitator of responsible volunteer projects in Southern and East Africa. In 2009 they were nominated as finalists in the World Travel Awards, as well as the prestigious Imvelo Awards, and are continuously striving to improve the nature of the work that they are doing in Africa.

“Without sounding trite, living in Africa and volunteering in this way has profoundly influenced my perspectives and outlook on life,” commented Victoria Blackwell-Hardie, another past volunteer to Kenya Medical and Community Project. “I re-evaluated my personal relationships, the way I interact with people, the things I value, my approach to material possessions, and my overall career goals. To say I loved living there would be an understatement.”

For more information on African Impact, visit www.africanimpact.com as well as www.africanimpact.com.

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The Bodhi Tree Foundation launches to protect the world through travel

Kristen Geis — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:43:00 +0000

Founded by travel industry veteran Jena Gardner, The Bodhi Tree Foundation aims to unite travelers to protect places, help people, and preserve cultures.

Gardner, President and CEO of JG Black Book of Travel founded The Bodhi Tree Foundation as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that identifies and offers assistance to highly-effective, community-based non-profit organizations that have a proven record of inspiring positive change within the communities they serve.

“Travel today is not only a means of enjoyment and enrichment, but also an invaluable portal to understanding the urgent need to protect the natural and cultural heritage of our planet and the well being of local communities around the world,” said Ms. Gardner. “The Bodhi Tree Foundation was established to harness the significant resources of the travel and tourism industry to directly benefit local communities and the travelers who gain immeasurable joy by visiting them.”

Entrepreneur, travel industry icon and marketing expert Jena Gardner has won several accolades and awards, including a 2009 Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales & Marketing HSMAI Adrian Award, 2009 Enterprising Women of the Year Award and Diversity Business’ Top 100 Women Owned Businesses in the State of New York. Ms. Gardner’s successful growth strategy has also landed JG Black Book of Travel on the 2009 Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America.

Assisting Ms. Gardner is a dynamic and forward-thinking Board of Directors that sees both the significant responsibility and unique opportunity leaders in the industry have to meet the challenges of our time. Directors include: Javier Arredondo, CEO of Editorial Mapas; Melissa Biggs Bradley, Founder of Indagare; Melanie Brandman, CEO of The Brandman Agency; Costas Christ, Global Travel Editor for National Geographic Adventure and Chairman of the World Travel and Tourism Council’s Tourism for Tomorrow Awards; Tom Jolley, COO and General Counsel for The Sundance Group, LLC; James Saleh, CEO of Habiquad; and Rina Spence, Founder and President of SpenceCare International.

For 2009, The Bodhi Tree Foundation will provide funding to five benefactors:

Fundacion Haciendas Del Mundo Maya: Established to rebuild highly marginalized indigenous communities in the Yucatan Peninsula by developing and implementing social projects based on five areas: health, education, housing, environmental and productive projects.
The African Wildlife Fund: Provides support to the people of Africa to ensure protection of the continent’s wildlife and wild lands. The Foundation is funding conservation efforts directed at the endangered black rhino population of the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania.
Protravel/FXB International Rwandan Village: Established in 1995 in the wake of the AIDS pandemic and devastation from the genocide to provide support to families and communities faced with the challenges of caring for thousands of orphans and vulnerable children left homeless.
The Southern Environmental Association of Belize: Works towards improving stewardship and the environmental integrity of key marine areas in southern Belize, including the Belize Barrier Reef System, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the second-largest coral reef in the world.
Heritage Watch: Dedicated to protecting Cambodia’s cultural treasures by working to prevent the looting and illicit trade of antiquities while promoting responsible, sustainable tourism and economic development.

The Power of One

The Bodhi Tree Foundation asks travelers and the travel industry to consider the Power of One – a campaign that will unite travelers around the world to stand as one in order to make a difference.

The campaign will shine light on the power of adding one dollar to every trip booked in order to change lives and give back to the people and places that make travel so rewarding. With 100% of Bodhi Tree Foundation’s donations going directly to the programs it supports, one person and one dollar can be a powerful force of change.

To help spread the word about the Power of One campaign and further engage travelers, The Bodhi Tree Foundation has enlisted the support of some of the most socially aware travel companies across the globe. The Bodhi Tree Foundation’s Leadership Council will lend their expertise, knowledge and leadership to support the Foundation’s efforts, while The Bodhi Tree Foundation’s Advisory Board will be more actively engaged in the Foundation’s growth strategy.

A number of founding partners have pledged to support the foundation through their business endeavors. David Morris International, a travel based sales and marketing firm, will add $1 to every customized travel program they book, travel specialist Entrée Destinations will add $1 per room night booked for their Canada and Alaska itineraries and Hotel Plaza Athenee New York is offering their guests the opportunity to donate to The Bodhi Tree through their guest amenity program.

For more information, visit www.thebodhitreefoundation.org.

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‘Unveiled Jordan’: Jordan tourism rebrands for cultural awareness, art, adventure and sustainability

Kristen Geis — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:12:01 +0000

Jordan - a land rich with diversity, ancient culture and Bedouin hospitality – is inviting to every type of traveler as an ideal place for a multidimensional travel experience.

The Jordan Tourism Board has unveiled a “unique image of Jordan” to coincide with the royal state visit to Italy by Their Majesties King Abdullah II and Queen Rania beginning on October 19, 2009.

The royal visit will include talks with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and senior Italian officials on means to foster bilateral ties. It will also include a speech by His Majesty the King at the Jordanian-Italian Business Forum.

Culture and art on display

While tourism is expected to take an important place during the visit, the Jordan Tourism Board JTB is launching a Jordanian Week entitled “Giordania Svelata” (Unveiled Jordan), which will be held October 22-30, 2009. The event will be inaugurated by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah and will include three photo exhibitions of Jordan’s majestic treasures.

The first, in “Via Dante 14 Gallery” is dedicated to images of Jordan for sale to the public and whose revenue will go to various Jordan River Foundation charity projects. The second will be a 300-meter-long street exhibition on the famous “Via Dante” pedestrian street in the heart of Milan, which includes 30 panels displaying 60 images of Jordan, as well as images by Jordanian photographers. The third exhibition will be located in the street linking the Dante Gallery to the Galleria Meravigli historical gallery.

In addition to the sounds of Jordanian music, and a special spa area for treatment with Dead Sea products, this part of the event will include a restaurant offering a food tasting of typical Jordanian dishes prepared by Jordanian chefs. The restaurant, which will be dressed up with Jordanian designs and colors, will be open daily for lunch and in the evening it transforms into a service and coffee lounge.

Finding adventure

Meanwhile, in the Western Hemisphere, the Jordan Tourism Board North America (JTBNA) is co-sponsoring the “Spotlight on Sustainability” luncheon and taking part in the Adventure Trade World Summit 2009 in Quebec, Canada on October 20 through 22 – all part of its cooperation with the Adventure Travel and Trade Association (ATTA).

At the summit, JTBNA will have the opportunity to present Jordan’s adventure and eco tourism market and highlight the steps the Kingdom has taken towards sustainability and conservation.

“Jordan is one of the hottest new destinations for adventure travelers,” said Malia Asfour, Director of JTBNA. “Our partnership with ATTA and National Geographic Adventure at the Jordan Travel Mart 2009 helped us introduce what Jordan has to offer to this growing niche market. We are very excited about the possibilities in positioning Jordan together as a premiere Adventure Destination for North American Tourists.”

As Jordan continues to witness a healthy flow of tourism from North America, JTBNA is aiming to introduce the ATTA members to the eco and adventure tourism products that the country has to offer.

For more information, visit the special “Giordania Svelata” page on the Jordan Tourism Board’s website or simply visit www.visitjordan.com.

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Help Congress protect our kids from toxic chemicals

Joe Ascanio — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:15:51 +0000

In 1976, over three decades ago, Congress passed a law to oversee safety reviews of common household chemicals. In over thirty years, this set of guidelines, called the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), has not been updated. So, the question is: what’s in your cabinet?

As a parent, I tend to stay up-to-speed on the latest warnings and hazards that may be involved in the common household products I buy and use, whether they be for cleaning, playing, or any other method within the daily routine. Recently, though, it seems that more and more “breaking news” continues to expose further dangers of toxic chemicals – in places you would sometimes never even think to look.

Scientific studies are emerging on an almost daily basis that continually link toxic chemical exposure to serious health problems, especially in young ones.

From bisphenol-A in baby bottles to phthalates in childrens’ toys and flame retardants in nursery furnishings, the modern world is filled with synthetic compounds that research now shows likely cause neurological and behavioral disorders, reproductive and developmental disruption, cancer and other troubles.

Modern families are exposed to literally hundreds of untested chemicals in the products they use every day. Since the TSCA’s passing in 1976, the EPA has investigated only 200 of the more than 80,000 chemical compounds available to manufacturers today.

Even still, TSCA critics say that it doesn’t give the EPA enough authority to demand that companies supply the information needed to evaluate a chemical’s risk.

New bill aims to protect kids from untested chemicals

A new and aggressive coalition of nearly 30 leading non-governmental organizations, called Safer Chemicals Healthy Families, is working to help Congress overhaul the nation’s chemical regulations.

The group supports new legislation proposed by several Congress-people, including Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), including the stringent requirement that new chemicals be safety-tested before they are put into products that children and others use.

Manufacturers would also have to prove that chemicals already in production are free of danger. This information would be publicly available so that consumers could see exactly what they’re bringing home.

Here’s what the bill can do:

Take quick action on the most dangerous chemicals.
Require full information on the health and environmental hazards associated with all chemicals.
Protect all people and vulnerable groups – including children and pregnant women – using the best science.

Coalition supporters include the Environmental Defense Fund, Healthy Child Healthy World and Seventh Generation, the maker of all-natural cleaning products and diapers.

Post continued below

What you can do

Follow a diverse nationwide coalition comprised of environmental groups, health professionals and others working to pass smart federal policies that protect us from toxic chemicals.

Learn more about Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families and email Congress to let them know you think it’s time to update the law governing toxic chemicals For more information on how you can help the proposed legislation become law, visit www.millionbabycrawl.com/.

Still think climate change is a hoax? 23 million starving Africans disagree

Joe Ascanio — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:58:37 +0000

As a definitive climate-change consequence, a four-year drought in East Africa is depleting 23 million Africans of food and water.

Although drought is common in East Africa, this new heightened frequency is cause for alarm. While the cycle of drought used to revolve in 10-year-intervals, now it is virtually constant. Scientists and government officials are attributing this dramatic shift to radical climate change.

Yes, climate change. Global warming. That nagging “Inconvenient Truth.”

The threat is real and is quickly encroaching on the lives of millions around the world. While we in the States are not directly feeling the impacts just yet, we soon will. As agricultural and water-supply devastation sweeps across the globe, our food and resource supplies will dwindle to nothing. On this small and fragile planet, East Africa is a lot closer than many will admit.

Emergency level threat

The dry lands of East Africa’s northern region are seeing its cattle collapse and die out from exhaustion, famine and thirst. Violence is breaking out over water rations and remaining livestock. Tourists visiting the area report home with images of barren landscapes littered with emaciated livestock.

Among the East Africans facing starvation, almost 4 million live in Kenya, where only one out of every ten people can survive on emergency rations. Kenya’s Rift Valley, typically an agricultural haven for the African nation, has been reduced to a wasteland. While intermittent rainfall does little to nothing to bring relief, aid agencies are preparing for geological and health disasters like flooding, cholera, malaria and hypothermia.

“For the last four years these farmers have held on to hope, but each year been left with despair as the rains failed,” said Fergus Conmee, Africa humanitarian manager for the Catholic aid agency Cafod. “This humanitarian crisis has pushed them on to a tightrope of survival and many farming families have been left destitute.”

Even still, hope for survival seems to be repressed by greed and corruption – more human catalysts (and symptoms) of the global warming crisis.

The Kenyan government has been accused of not doing enough to strategize and properly ration grain reserve. Dwindling tea and coffee production are each devastating the economy. Earlier this year, thousands of corn sacks went missing, only to magically reappear in Sudan. Grumblings suggest that this was the work of politicians seeking favors – both financial and material – from shady traders.

No room for debate

As stories like this will undoubtedly continue to unfold across the globe in the coming months and years, we as Americans are forced to turn our attention to the hurdles surrounding the climate change crisis. As I wrote in an earlier post, this country seems to be the only one actually debating the global warming crisis; fighting over words and spinning our wheels while the rest of the world continues to take bold action against climate change in spite of its problematic, angry-adolescent neighbor.

Climate change deniers continue to litter the media airwaves with unjustified accounts of “experts” claiming that global warming either a) is not real; b) is not caused, at least in part, by human activities; and/or c) is real, but is natural and a good thing.

A good thing. Try telling that to the millions starving across the globe, watching their livestock wither to nothing and their communities crumble.

We all need to step up and into action. Write Congress, join local action groups – become an environmental steward, even if in the smallest of ways.

For more information on how you can impact the climate change crisis, visit www.theclimateproject.org.

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Understanding Philanthropic Travel

David Chamberlain — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:33:33 +0000

“Philanthropic Travel is the ultimate luxury and a WIN-WIN-WIN formula on many, many levels.” -David Chamberlain CEO Exquisite Safaris Philanthropic Travel Worldwide

WINNER #1 Destination Communities

Destination communities win when philanthropic travelers arrive with open hearts and philanthropic intent. The economic generosity of those travelers allows communities to move past the daily march for survival by gifting education, medical facilities, clean water and entrepreneurial training. Philanthropic Travelers create a chain reaction of ‘pay it forward,’ goodwill that unlocks powerful community development and gratitude.

“What David is doing is wonderful because it combines the best of everything,” says Chellie Kew, founder of Qfund, a non-profit organization whose grassroots endeavors in Africa are sometimes observed by Exquisite Safaris travelers. “You get the world-class accommodations, the top-notch activities, and then end up at a project that is life-changing.” -Chellie Kew Q Fund Humanitarian NGO

“There’s something in all of us that hungers after the good and true, and when we glimpse it in people, we applaud them for it. Through them we let the world’s pain into our hearts, and we find compassion. When things go wrong or have been terribly wrong for some time, their inspiration reminds us of the tenderness for life that we can all feel.” -Bishop Desmund Tutu

WINNER #2 Philanthropic Travelers

Acting as committed and awakened ‘resource catalysts,’ rather than ‘day laborers,’ Philanthropic Travelers who donate to our NGO humanitarian partners are participating in the inspiration, education and empowerment of communities -better able to sustain themselves creating new local opportunities for upward mobility.

“Visiting the Matare neighborhood outside Nairobi was a powerful experience for our family. What we encountered grabbed our hearts. Living there does not make for an easy life, and it is so much different from what we know. And yet we found our hearts warmed from this unforgettable experience. Franklin opened the community up to us in ways we would have never been able to see ourselves. We enjoyed a chance to hear people’s stories, to learn about their hopes and dreams, and to enjoy playing sports with local youth. Franklin’s outreach is powerful, and since our visit we now feel like we can help him make a difference through our growing friendship. Our lives will never be the same and we look forward to visiting again.” -Amber Dowd, Exquisite Safaris Philanthropic Traveler

WINNER #3 Environment, Indigenous Culture and Wildlife

Once communities are empowered, they have the ‘personal bandwidth,’ to participate in the preservation of their environment, their cultural uniqueness and the wildlife that makes their neighborhoods so attractive to philanthropic travelers.

“Ultimately conservation is about people. If you don’t have sustainable development around these (wildlife) parks, then people will have no interest in them, and the parks will not survive.” -Nelson Mandela

Philanthropic Travel as a catalyst for a Peaceful, Prosperous, and Friendly World. Exquisite Safaris Philanthropic Travel Worldwide has been working hard to show meaningful benefits to conservation and communities.

“The ‘Enlightened Luxury’ experience of Exquisite Safaris Philanthropic Travel Worldwide revolves around a sophisticated high-end traveler who demands and requires a world class level of service and wants to play a leading role by traveling with philanthropic intent.

Our clients report that being the guest of a grassroots humanitarian outreach project for a morning or afternoon somewhere along their itinerary has profoundly expanded their understanding of the world. It has awakened powerful emotions, enlightened ideas, and concrete plans about how they intend to re-invent their future while leveraging their “quality time remaining.” -David Chamberlain

UNESCO on Tourism

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) states that if responsible practices are in place, Tourism is the natural interlocutor between the wealth and desires of the global traveler and the socio-economic needs of some of the world’s most remote, but heritage-rich communities, natural and cultural sites. It’s vital to manage, through collaboration, the impact of tourism and the low-volume, high yield operators particularly in the luxury tier are in a unique position to deliver service and stability to world heritage. UNESCO sees responsible travel as a delicate balancing act. Tourism involves a series of trade-offs but, within an agreed framework of goals and limits and a climate of educational, respectful relationships, we have one of our most powerful tools for poverty reduction.

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Sustainable tourism as an instrument of peace – building the ‘bridges of understanding’

admin — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:35:42 +0000

In a recent visit to the UNWTO headquarters, President Sleiman of the Lebanese Republic highlighted the importance of sustainable tourism as an “instrument of peace and understanding.”

Lebanon is a founding member of UNWTO. Since 1975, the country has held several key positions in the organization, and currently chairs the Commission for the Middle East.

“Tourism has become the best incentive for all economic and social policies,” said President Sleiman. He stressed the importance of UNWTO to “contribute more in highlighting the real image of Lebanon: an image of tolerance, openness, freedom, and democracy.”

President Sleiman underscored the great potential of tourism “to achieve peace and build bridges of understanding.” He went on to reaffirm the commitment of Lebanon “to the UNWTO Roadmap for Recovery www.unwto.org/pdf/roadmap_EN.pdf regarding sustainable tourism.”

His entire address his here:

“Thank you very much for your kind invitation to the UNWTO headquarters. This is an important place where many hopes are pinned to chart the correct path forward through responsible steps towards promoting tourism and activating its role within the appropriate frameworks.

“Lebanon is a founding member of this organization. It has occupied several positions in the organization¹s Executive Council and its subsidiary bodies, such as the Committee on Budget and Finance or the Program Committee. It currently chairs the Commission for the Middle East.

“In a world that is interconnected and, at the same time, full of contradictions, there is a need today, more than ever before, to reaffirm the idea and concept of tourism and to promote tourism as a fundamental factor for the mingling of cultures, the exchange of ideas, and contributing to the achievement of peace. Tourism calls for the unification of human efforts through communication among peoples, through mutual understanding and exchange of expertise, capacities, potentials, and interests, and also through tourism’s positive impacts on the economy, culture, and political behavior. Tourism has become the best incentive for all economic and social policies. That is why the tourism industry is so important to all countries, especially to Lebanon, which is a pioneer in this industry in our region thanks to our natural, archaeological, cultural, and human resources – in the global sense of the term.

“Distinguished audience, emphasis has been placed recently on the concept of responsible, sustainable tourism as one of the most important strategic goals of UNWTO because of its great potential to achieve peace and build bridges of understanding, communication, and solidarity among different peoples, societies, traditions, and lifestyles. This is good, although the culture of peace needs to be further explored and the culture of justice further enhanced.

“Tourism is a great engine for economic and social development. It creates new jobs, attracts investments, and develops local communities. It brings people together and helps shape individual relationships, making this world a small global village.

“Distinguished audience, on the occasion of my visit to the UNWTO headquarters, let me stress the importance of our request that this organization contribute more in highlighting the real image of our country, Lebanon: an image of tolerance, openness, freedom, and democracy; an image of civilization, security, and stability. The organization could play this role through awareness-raising and information activities. What we request for our beloved country applies also to all our sister Arab countries.

“Distinguished audience, we would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm to the UNWTO, represented here by its new Secretary-General, Mr. Taleb Rifai, our commitment to the Road Map regarding sustainable tourism, which was approved at the 18th session of General Assembly in Kazakhstan in order for tourism and travel to recover as a fundamental instrument for job creation and economic prosperity at a time full of challenges in the aftermath of the global financial and economic crisis and its impacts on tourism.

“Lebanon will naturally contribute to supporting the activities and executive programs of UNWTO in the field of combating poverty through responsible and sustainable tourism, through the application of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, and through actions aimed at implementing the UN Millennium Development Goals.

“Your Excellency, Mr. Secretary-General, Lebanon will be prepared to fully cooperate with the UNWTO in order to achieve the organization’s lofty goals, once Lebanon occupies its seat as a newly-elected, non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the period 2010-2011.

“Let us work hand in hand for active, prosperous, and responsible tourism that would make our world a better place to live in and that would help the country of the cedars recover its prominent role on the tourism map.

“Long live the UNWTO; long live Lebanon.”

For more information, www.UNWTO.org.

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Help Save ‘Tourism Concern’

Kristen Geis — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:18:55 +0000

With the global recession affecting all aspects of business and government operations, responsible travel organization Tourism Concern is having a hard time finding the necessary funds to stay in operation.

The organization desperately needs £40,000 – or just over $65,000 – to survive.

“Our core work supports people, particularly in the developing world, whose human rights have been severely impacted by tourism developments,” said Tourism Concern Director Tricia Barnett. “They often have no other recourse to get their problems heard and supported except through us”, says Barnett.

“Without £40,000 we will have to close the door to people all over the world who come to us for help and support. Often they live in fear of reprisals if they speak out about their land or water resources being snatched in the name of a tourism development. Other times they simply need an outside person to give them advice and guidance about how best to manage a difficult situation, such as poor working conditions.”

Tourism Concern, which was founded 20 years ago, has operated many successful campaigns throughout its 2-decade history, including:

The Sun, Sand, Sea and Sweatshops campaign – resulted in the UK’s leading tour operators adopting policies on labor conditions for hotels.
Trekking Wrongs: Porter’s Rights - improved the lives of hundreds of porters and their families.
Beyond the Brochure – raised awareness of thousands of children about key tourism issues.

The organization’s most recent effort, Putting Tourism to Rights, highlights cases of villagers deprived of water by new hotels and golf courses; indigenous people put on show like animals in a zoo; children exploited by tourism; lack of working rights for hotel staff; and land grabs and environmental erosion caused by unchecked tourism expansion.

Tourism Concern is also working with local groups in India and Sri Lanka to campaign against post-tsunami tourism developments that have resulted in people being forced from their homes and lands. A planned exhibition of stories and photographs.

“Tourism Concern’s tireless promotion of the rights of destination communities has raised the consciousness of the travel industry on these often difficult issues…this valuable contribution would be missed,” said Jane Ashton, head of sustainable development at TUI Travel.

Find out how you can help save Tourism Concern. Contact Tricia Barnett directly:
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7133 3800
Mobile: +44 (0)7896 337 690
Email: tricia@tourismconcern.org.uk

Don’t forget to visit Tourism Concern online at: www.tourismconcern.org.uk to learn more about their organization’s advocacy campaigns.

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Green travel vs. carbon offsetting: where do we draw the line?

Joe Ascanio — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:03:45 +0000

For a good part of the last decade, carbon offsetting has been a large player in consumer-based, green travel initiatives. Companies like Carbonfund and terrapass have become very successful by allowing travelers and organizations that are looking for a “green edge” to offset their carbon rations for things like flights, hotel stays, rental cars and more.

However, this week, popular sustainably-minded travel portal responsibletravel.com has taken a formal stand against carbon offsetting, calling the very idea of offsets “dangerously distracting.”

The website was one of the very first travel organizations to actually introduce carbon offsetting to the masses in early 2002. Now, it is one of the first to speak out against them – citing the travel industry’s need to reduce rather than offset carbon emissions.

“We have thought long and hard about how we can continue to offer our customers the leading advice they expect from a responsible tourism business when it comes to the fast growing impact of flying on the environment,” said Justin Francis, MD, responsibletravel.com. “We believe that the travel industry’s priority must be to reduce carbon emissions, rather than to offset.”

In a recent report by Friends of the Earth, carbon offsetting was deemed a “dangerous distraction” – a deterrent for tourists from the need to actually reduce their carbon footprint, creating a sort of guilt-free illusion of environmentally friendly travel.

Francis agrees with this report, and continues to say that “Too often offsets are being used by the tourism industry in developed countries to justify growth plans on the basis that money will be donated to projects in developing countries. Global reduction targets will not be met this way.”

In its place, responsibletravel.com is working with Friends of the Earth to put in place a clear, alternativeset of advice and guidelines to enable travelers to “carbon cautious.” for travellers offering

“Ultimately we need to reduce our carbon emissions,” continued Francis. “We can do this by flying less – travelling by train or taking holidays closer to home for example, and by making carbon reductions in other areas of our lifestyles too, alongside travel.

“There is no hiding the fact that tourists will continue to want to visit destinations requiring a flight, and that tourism contributes to livelihoods, local economic development and the conservation of the world’s cultural and natural heritage. We will continue to offer a more responsible choice of overseas holiday so that when tourists do fly they can ‘make their holiday count’ by choosing a more responsible holiday.”

Responsibletravel.com has also teamed up with leading responsible tourism academic Professor Harold Goodwin, Director International Center for Responsible Tourism on his FlySmart Campaign for Responsible Aviation: www.flysmart.org . The campaign supports a Carbon Friendly Flight Search functionality, enabling travelers to search and compare the cheapest and most environmentally friendly fares available around the world.

For more information visit www.flysmart.org and www.responsibletravel.com/carboncaution.

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What will the Arctic look like in 20 years due to global warming?

Joe Ascanio — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:01:02 +0000

Blog Action Day 2009 is upon us, with this year’s topic of discussion and debate being climate change.

The subject has been argued time and time again; it has been a highlight of U.S. Presidential and Vice Presidential debates, with of course the infamous 2008 Sarah Palin retort of:

“I’m not one to attribute every man — activity of man to the changes in the climate. There is something to be said also for man’s activities, but also for the cyclical temperature changes on our planet. But there are real changes going on in our climate. And I don’t want to argue about the causes. What I want to argue about is, how are we going to get there to positively affect the impacts?”

How can you solve a problem without understanding its real cause? For too long, too many Americans have fallen under this persuasion of “it’s not us, it’s nature.” I say “Americans” because, let’s face it, we seem to be the only country actually debating the cause and effects of climate change. Everyone else seems to have already gotten it right.

Think globally

But forget nationality for a minute. Forget patriotism and partisanship. We as world citizens have a stake in the future of the world’s complex yet fragile ecosystems. We need to seriously think about about climate change – its causes and consequences – and figure out what to do on a day-to-day basis to slow it down or, better yet, reverse its effects.

Sure, life gets in the way sometimes, and battling an all-encompassing foe like climate change could often be a bit too “inconvenient.” But consider the consequences if we let it slip: Floods, wildfires, storms, water and food shortages, natural resource depletion – the list is virtually endless.

Take for instance a new study by the Polar Ocean Physics Group at Cambridge University, which suggests that the Arctic will be ice-less within the next 20 years, due to rapid acceleration of sea ice loss from global warming.

The study, which compared ice thickness and density from a Royal Navy nuclear submarine over the span of two years, ruled out any miscalculations due to natural warming trends.

If correct, the waterways surrounding the North Pole will be free and clear – the Earth will lose its “white cap” as seen from space. This change is, thus far, the biggest impact global warming is having on the physical appearance of the planet.

“The North Pole will be exposed in ten years,” said Peter Wadhams, Professor of Ocean Physics at Cambridge. “You would be able to sail a Japanese car carrier across the North Pole and out into the Atlantic.”

Ice loss set at an alarming rate

According to the University of Colorado’s National Snow and Ice Data Center, Arctic ice coverage was the third-lowest since satellite records began in 1979.

The coverage was greater than in 2007 and 2008 largely because of cloudy skies during late summer. Each of the past five years has been one of the five lowest years.

Between March 1st and May 7th of 2009, a team of scientists covered 280 miles of the Arctic – taking measurements and drilling close to 1,500 holes in the sea ice.

This was too thin to have survived the previous year’s summer melting and indicated that the area of moving ice had been formed in open sea during the winter. Instead of dogs hauling sledges across the ice, the scientists waded the cold waters in immersion suits.

Sea of consequences

The loss of Arctic sea ice will have devastating effects on the polar region, according to WWF’s climate change adviser Martin Summerkorn.

Without ice to reflect sunlight, the Arctic Ocean would warm more quickly, resulting in the release of greenhouse gases stored in the Arctic permafrost soils and the acceleration of the melting of the Greenland sheet. These soils contain twice as much carbon as is in the atmosphere.

“This could lead to flooding affecting one quarter of the world’s population and extreme global weather changes,” said Summerkorn.

These changes in one part of the world will have obvious and devastating effects on a global scale. It is up to us to wake up and finally do something about it.

Visit www.blogactionday.org to find out more on how you can make a difference. Photo courtesy of Flickr.com.

TerraCurve.com - Go beyond green.

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Las Vegas CityCenter’s holistic spa now taking reservations (or, ‘Why I need to go to Vegas’)

Soothing calm amidst the bustle of Vegas

Finding wellness

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All aboard the month-long Climate Change Express to Copenhagen

Redirecting the “road to nowhere”

Trekking through climate change “hotspots”

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Does living “green” at home really effect how people travel?

Truth in numbers

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Himalayan adventure in high style and luxury

Catering to the adventurer’s comfort zone

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Starwood’s Element Hotels have a ‘Vision’

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What needs to happen for the Copenhagen Climate Change summit to be a success?

Progress in sight

United States at the heart of transition

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Is a “green plane” on the horizon from Southwest Airlines?

Good business sense

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Bike tours through New Orleans go green and motorless in the Crescent City

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Volunteer travel organization in Africa gains new accolades in Responsible Tourism

A worthy journey

Creating real results

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The Bodhi Tree Foundation launches to protect the world through travel

The Power of One

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‘Unveiled Jordan’: Jordan tourism rebrands for cultural awareness, art, adventure and sustainability

Culture and art on display

Finding adventure

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Help Congress protect our kids from toxic chemicals

New bill aims to protect kids from untested chemicals

What you can do

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Still think climate change is a hoax? 23 million starving Africans disagree

Emergency level threat

No room for debate

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Understanding Philanthropic Travel

WINNER #1 Destination Communities

WINNER #2 Philanthropic Travelers

WINNER #3 Environment, Indigenous Culture and Wildlife

UNESCO on Tourism

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Sustainable tourism as an instrument of peace – building the ‘bridges of understanding’

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Help Save ‘Tourism Concern’

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Green travel vs. carbon offsetting: where do we draw the line?

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What will the Arctic look like in 20 years due to global warming?