PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
As always, the goal of our gift guide is to encourage a more conscious approach to gift-giving by highlighting products, services and experiences that create value and benefits beyond short-term gratification for the recipient. Here’s this year’s list of some of the many companies, platforms and products that we’d be happy to support anytime.
WALKING THE TALK -
Naumi Hotels is raising the bar for eco-tourism with its holistic, conscious model — which includes repurposing existing buildings, incorporating living elements and providing employment for low-income women in India.
MARKETING AND COMMS -
The success of tourism pledges lies with destinations, not travelers; and for any pledge to be effective, it must be used as part of a destination’s wider sustainable tourism strategy, rather than an isolated destination-management intervention.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
The new Norwegian network of nine properties is on a mission to redefine business travel with experiences that embed and impart the very essence of sustainability and regenerative practices.
WALKING THE TALK -
Recent findings and the popularity of wildlife tourism show that tour operators should have an animal welfare policy in place alongside other social responsibility protocols that should evolve as new information becomes available. Travel companies needing to develop or update such a policy can begin with the tips below.
WALKING THE TALK -
Earlier this year, Tourism Vancouver Island evolved into a social enterprise called 4VI that supports communities,
businesses, culture and environment. A social enterprise is a revenue-generating business that identifies a social benefit and directs its revenues toward it; in the tourism industry, this is a completely new way to operate.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
Focusing resources beyond popular attractions, and a personal sense of pride and care for a place and its people, creates the conditions for well-supported communities. Because of this, regionally focused travel companies are uniquely situated to ensure tourism creates positive ripple effects where they operate.
WALKING THE TALK -
A Dutch advertising watchdog has ruled that a recent ad telling the airline’s customers they could fly carbon-emission free is misleading.
WASTE NOT -
Who knew that overused fry oil represented such an untapped health and sustainability market opportunity? FreshFry CEO Jeremiah Chapman breaks it down.
THE NEXT ECONOMY -
The tourism industry is responsible for approximately 8% of global carbon emissions. For every event that commits to more sustainable practices, the VR sector does its part in helping the tourism industry as a whole become more resilient in the face of climate change.
CLEANTECH -
Alaska, Delta share progress on meantime-measures, lofty goals ahead of industry net-zero targets.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
The futuristic hotel is being built using a ‘360-degree, holistic circular approach.’ With a data-driven approach to next-level ecotourism, Svart’s goals include not only its guests’ relaxation, but education on environmental conservation, and changes in ‘attitude and behavior.’
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
When the city of Franeker, Netherlands, turned off its lights for a night to reveal the now-rarely seen splendor of the night sky, it was a reminder of our inextricable link to each other and our universe.
WALKING THE TALK -
In our experience, it’s challenging to proceed from knowing your company’s emissions profile to crafting a climate action plan to reduce it. Successful companies will adopt the right mix of strategies for them — which is where the bigger challenge comes in.
THE NEXT ECONOMY -
To provide experiences that enrich destination communities and travelers alike, the new initiatives span 16 countries and include activities such as meals at local establishments supporting women, migrants and seniors; and immersive tours preserving Indigenous and ethnic minority legacies.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
The natural intersection of citizen science and tourism is obvious: If travelers are already participating in these activities, why not encourage deeper understanding and awareness about the natural world while also advancing scientific research?
MARKETING AND COMMS -
Given the pandemic pause, it’s hard to say whether these labels will sway
decision-making for travelers. Regardless, these publicly shared labels hold travel companies accountable for measuring, sharing and continuing to reduce their carbon emissions.
COLLABORATION -
The “1 Billion Green Trips” initiative, by B Corp-certified hotel booking platform Goodwings — now backed by Intuit, TechSoup, Impact Hub and six other partners — aims to remove travel-generated carbon emissions at an unprecedented scale.
WASTE NOT -
When COVID hit in 2020, tourism frantically tried to carry on, with hygiene at the crux — often by wrapping everything in plastic. As travel struggles to regain its footing, responsibility and sustainability must once again be given priority to futureproof the industry.
NEW METRICS -
Accor, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG Hotels & Resorts, and Marriott International collaborated with WWF and Greenview on the industry-wide waste-measurement methodology.