How Can the Travel Industry Lead the Way:
A Holistic Approach to Sustainable Travel ?
Panel 1: Pioneering Sustainable Tourism Development
This insightful discussion involved: The challenges and potential of the travel industry in bringing about change.
They focus on measuring carbon footprints, promoting sustainable practices, collaboration, women-led businesses, and regenerating spaces.
HIGLIGHTS
Diane Binder
“Regeneration is about what we do today and how it feeds back into the system. We have launched 10 initiatives in a Moroccan abandoned village that wanted to restore their ancient greenery by using 4 pillars to develop them: Economic development, preservation of cultural heritage, the restoration of national ecosystems and women’s environments”.
Robin Wood Sailer
“Partnerships like local electrical companies giving free electricity on charging ports within rural roads allow the promotion of sustainable tourism and gives more opportunities for future travelers to explore new landscapes”.
Carla Gautier
“After I saw the destruction (of Hurricane Maria), I realized that we cannot continue to build the same way we’re building right now, because the construction industry causes 40% of the carbon emission”.
Shelley Worrell
“When we developed our Caribbeing space, we proposed the idea of transforming it to a marketplace. We reached out to local artisans who did not have distribution channels, and now we are on our eight year working together, and we’re able to provide a space for them to sell their products all year round. 90% of our vendors are female artisans, so we were able to succeed in the challenge of bringing economic opportunities for female entrepreneurs”.
Panel 2: The Industry’s Voice – Showcasing Inspiring Progress in Sustainable Travel Speaker
Our Industry’s Voice panel highlighted the importance of sustainability in the travel industry, efforts to reduce carbon footprints, the need for innovation, and the role of alternative aviation fuels.
The significance of empowering locals was also emphasized, as well as transparency in sustainable practices, and the speaker’s optimism about the future.
HIGLIGHTS
Jeremy Baines
‘It’s exciting to see the many aspects of sustainability. Flying is essential for connecting the world, but it also contributes significantly to environmental heating. We need to find balance by making flying more sustainable, and solutions like sustainable aviation fuels are now available at industrial scale. However, without ongoing innovation to defossilize aviation, tourism and travel could be severely limited.’
Grace Hu
“After Covid, I realized that my hometown in China plays a crucial role in global sustainability, leading me to join Dossen, one of the largest hotel management groups. I discovered that sustainability is about identity and corporate presentation, so I integrated it into our vision, values, and market strategies. I researched hospitality criteria and decided to join GSTC as a member, using their system to verify our group’s structure and initiate a revolution in our approach to sustainability”.
Jessica Kramer
“Innovation in sustainability in tourism has two aspects. First, it involves what owners and operators can do at their properties, focusing on supply chains and operations. The second aspect is the traveler’s role: how they book travel and their awareness of the environmental footprint of hotels and their own travels. With travelers aged 40 and younger primarily making decisions based on experiences, the challenge is to create highly desirable experiences that prioritize sustainability”.
Hector Zapata
“We represent over 350 families that have a strong connection with Tripping Cool. The biggest thing that we are learning and really putting on practice is to bring the economies of the communities first. We think about the families first because we want to give back to them, those ones that are primarily worried about bringing food to their houses. That is our compromise. Being able to bring peace to their homes will allow them to understand the impact we can make together regarding sustainability”.
Panel 3: The Traveler’s Voice – Inspiring a Sustainable Future Speaker
Our Traveler’s Voice panel included a focus on sustainable travel, responsible tourism, technology, and cultural integration. The speakers emphasized connecting with nature, supporting local communities, avoiding greenwashing, and immersing oneself in local culture.
We also discussed the future of the tourism industry, highlighting regeneration, integrating technology with traditional spaces, and the importance of community, sustainability, and diversity in entrepreneurship.
HIGLIGHTS
Gab Mejia
“My role is to be this bridge for the communities I record, for them to tell their own stories and how they want to be seen and not to be studied or exoticized as it often happens in social media or traditional media. Being able to travel slowly allows you to listen to these stories, as opposed to what normally happens within the travel industry right now, which is really driven by big consumption”.
Ben Brown & Ciara Doyle
“The future of traveling is a combination of adventure and innovation, and having the spirit of gathering tricks as you go along. The most memorable trips we’ve had were born out of no plans and included little to no emissions. Don’t expect perfection but demand documented progress out of yourself”.
Kemoy Gray
“As part of an industry that serves people, we need to make our audience knowledgeable. We need to walk them through the steps, and if there are challenges, we need to let them know how we’re trying to overcome those challenges and how we’re planning to bring the community as well. Once you have the backing of communities and partnerships, it will be a lot easier to accomplish your goals”.
