by Ecotourism Australia | Sep 6, 2023 | Article
The peak body for sustainable and ecotourism, Ecotourism Australia, and Australia and New Zealand’s largest hotel operator, Accor, are delighted to announce that four of its hotels in Queensland have been Sustainable Tourism Certified by Ecotourism Australia.
The certified hotels include Sofitel Brisbane Central, ibis Styles Brisbane Elizabeth Street, Novotel Brisbane South bank, and Pullman & Mercure Brisbane King George Square. These properties have demonstrated a commitment to sustainable practices and environmental stewardship, making them leaders in eco-friendly hospitality in the region.
Ecotourism Australia’s certification is a rigorous process that evaluates a hotel’s environmental performance, community engagement, and contribution to conservation. Ecotourism Australia assesses businesses across the four pillars of sustainability: sustainable management, environmental impacts, cultural impacts, and socio-economic impacts for which each business is independently audited.
Accor is proud to have achieved this certification for its Queensland hotels, which reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and responsible tourism. By implementing initiatives such as energy and water conservation, waste management, and community engagement, these hotels are setting an example for the industry and contributing to a more sustainable future.
“We are thrilled to have our hotels certified by Ecotourism Australia,” said Sarah Derry, CEO of Accor Pacific. “Sustainability is redefining our business model and we are proud to lead the industry forward by investing in our sustainability actions and activities in the region.”
“This achievement is a testament to our dedication to sustainable practices and our commitment to environmental stewardship. We believe that responsible tourism is crucial for the long-term well-being of our planet, and we are proud to lead the way in eco-friendly hospitality.”
“In addition to the Ecotourism Australia certification, Accor continues to work towards its sustainability goals. Global initiatives include ambitious targets for reducing energy consumption, water usage, and waste generation across all Accor hotels, apartments and resorts.”
Over the coming months, Accor will be enrolling a further 150 hotels in the Pacific into the Sustainable Tourism Certification program.
Ecotourism Australia’s Sustainable Tourism Certification program was introduced in 2022 and the standard is recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Sustainable Tourism Certification is designed for all tourism operators and businesses in the tourism supply chain to meet and gain recognition for best practice sustainability initiatives. Earlier this year, Accor entered into a strategic partnership with Ecotourism Australia to certify all Accor hotels, apartments and resorts across Australia and the Pacific as ECO certified or Sustainable Tourism certified businesses
Ecotourism Australia CEO, Elissa Keenan, said, “We are delighted that Accor Pacific is leading the industry across Australia and New Zealand with this commitment to achieving international best practice sustainability using Ecotourism Australia’s 30 years’ experience in sustainable tourism.”
“This is a key partnership for our organisations and we look forward to working with Accor properties across their hotel, apartment and resort brands on sustainable and responsible tourism practices.”
From luxury to economy, Accor has 19 international brands across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and French Polynesia, including Sofitel, MGallery, Art Series, Pullman, Swissôtel, Mövenpick, Grand Mercure, Peppers, The Sebel, Mantra, Handwritten Collection, Novotel, Mercure, Tribe, BreakFree, ibis, ibis Styles, ibis budget and Ennismore’s SO/.
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Media Contacts:
Ecotoursim Australia: Georgie Snare, Communications and Events Officer, (e): georgie@ecotourism.org.au (ph): 07 3256 6777
Accor Pacific:
Claire Haigh, Accor Vice President Communications, Pacific, T. +61 438 681 446, claire.haigh@accor.com
Naomi Hammond, Accor Communications Manager, Pacific, T. +61 434 738 380, naomi.hammond@accor.com
About Accor Pacific
Accor is a world leading hospitality group offering experiences across more than 110 countries in 5 400 properties, 10 000 food & beverage venues, wellness facilities or flexible workspaces. The Group has one of the industry’s most diverse hospitality ecosystems, encompassing more than 40 hotel brands from luxury to economy, as well as Lifestyle with Ennismore. Accor is committed to taking positive action in terms of business ethics & integrity, responsible tourism, sustainable development, community outreach, and diversity & inclusion. Founded in 1967, Accor SA is headquartered in France and publicly listed on Euronext Paris (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACCYY) in the United States. For more information, please visit www.group.accor.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok.
by Ecotourism Australia | Sep 5, 2023 | Case Study
Ecotourism certified operator
The Kimberley, Western Australia
Entered the Ecotourism Australia Hall of Fame 2023
Rugged orange ranges, crashing waterfalls, and arid wilderness – this stark scenery along one of the world’s last wilderness frontiers sets the scene for each one of Kimberley Quest’s cruises between Broome and Wyndham in Australia’s northwest corner.
Despite operating for more than 25 years, the view is just as magnificent as it was over two decades ago. Kimberley Quest’s cruises reach landscapes that others can’t, aided by the shape and design of their 25-metre vessel, the Kimberley Quest II, made for a relaxing and luxury cruising experience.
The Kimberley Quest crew understand that with access to pristine environments, comes the responsibility to protect them.
“Protection and conservation of the Kimberley natural assets – this is vital to Kimberley Quest’s long-term sustainable business growth,” states Kimberley Quest General Manager, Claire Marquis.
In 2023, Kimberley Quest celebrated reaching over 20-years of ECO Certification by Ecotourism Australia, earning them a spot in the Hall of Fame for their long-standing dedication to global best practice sustainability standards.
Throughout their time with Ecotourism Australia, it’s clear that their sustainability ethos drives is a key driver in creating memorable experiences for their guests.
“Kimberley Quest is proud our expeditions capture amazing sights and highlight the significant environment. Local expedition guides share their love and knowledge of country, history, culture, flora, fauna and marine environment with guests,” states Marquis.
The crew’s knowledge is aided by their mentor; an on-board Naturalist with 30-years of experience, and they champion sustainability initiatives such as minimal impact bush walking, implementing waste reduction measures and cleaning up rubbish they find, capping guest numbers, and modern cruise technology to cut emissions.
Leading by example, the Kimberley Quest crew make it their mission to spread their passion for protecting their surrounding environment.
Marquis stated, “Living and breathing the common principle of ‘take only photos, leave only footprints’, the Kimberley Quest crew enhance guests’ experiences through providing everlasting knowledge and tools that encourage respect and protection of the natural environment and culture.”
Even guests are taking notice of their sustainability efforts. One guest left a review stating, “The crew are very conscious on ecotourism and the impact on the environment. Only enough fish were caught for us to have for a meal, rubbish collection was done consciously and carefully. They were active in making suggestions to us all on how to do the least amount of damage to the environment when we were visiting any areas of interest.”
Their incredible legacy, recognised in Ecotourism Australia’s Hall of Fame, is no small feat. Check out experiences backed by over 20 years of striving for sustainable tourism: https://greentravelguide.org/listing/kimberley-quest
Ecotourism Australia invites you to attend our Annual General Meeting (AGM) at 11 am AEST on Monday, 20 October 2025, hosted online via Zoom. This is an important opportunity for members to engage in the governance of our organisation and shape its future direction.At this year’s AGM, the Board of Ecotourism Australia will present a proposed new Constitution for member approval.
The proposed Constitution has been designed to:
- Introduce a balanced structure of member-elected Directors (maximum 5) and Board-appointed Directors (maximum 4)
- Update Director terms from 2 years to 3 years, with a maximum of two terms (6 years total)
- Meet current regulatory requirements for a Company Limited by Guarantee
- Be modernised and contemporary to meet Ecotourism Australia’s strategic imperatives and our objectives
- Provide a streamlined and concise governance framework.
As required under the Corporations Act 2001, the new Constitution must be formally adopted by members through a special resolution at the AGM. This means that at least 75% of members present and voting will need to support the resolution for it to pass. Your vote is therefore important in shaping the future governance of Ecotourism Australia. The draft Constitution is available for download below.
We have an Expression of Interest (EOI) for Directors for the Ecotourism Australia board. Please note that while EOIs will be open, no new Directors will be appointed before the AGM.
Your participation is vital to ensure our governance reflects the strength, professionalism and sustainability goals of our membership.
Thank you for your continued support of Ecotourism Australia. We look forward to your involvement at the AGM.
by Ecotourism Australia | Aug 29, 2023 | Article
Ecotourism Australia has partnered with The University of Queensland (UQ) and Christmas Island Tourism Association (CITA) to strengthen tourism sustainability within the Indian Ocean Territories (IOT) Marine Parks with grant funding recently awarded by Parks Australia.
The grant project is building on existing enthusiasm for responsible tourism initiatives in the IOT by developing a pathway to sustainability and world-class ecotourism in the region and will run for two years. The IOT offers visitors an immersive nature experience to scuba dive reefs with abundant marine life, get to know the local culture or witness the iconic annual red crab migration on Christmas Island. Tourism Australia’s Global Future of Tourism Demand research in 2022 found that more than 75% of travellers from 20 key markets are committed to sustainability in some way. It is integral that small island communities, such as the IOT, are supported and equipped in tools to ensure tourism has a positive impact on their place and people as visitation to the area grows.
“The award of the IOT Marine Park Grant will boost the region’s capacity for and understanding of sustainable tourism by creating a pathway to globally recognised Certification through Ecotourism Australia’s Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard and for some operators, progression to ECO or Sustainable Tourism Certification,” said Ms Elissa Keenan, Chief Executive of Ecotourism Australia.
“Sustainability is no longer a nice to have, it is an essential aspect of any tourism business and visitor expectations are rapidly changing. Increasingly, experiences and destinations that are committed to minimising environmental impact and supporting local community and culture are prioritised by tourists. It is essential that we support the IOT community to equip them with the tools to attract responsible visitors who are considerate of the pristine place they visit.”
Regular engagement with key stakeholders including Parks Australia, Australian Marine Parks, CITA, local councils, the IOT Regional Development Organisation and tourism operators, will ensure the project continues to prioritise local industry needs.
“Collaboration with the Christmas Island Tourism Association will provide on-the-ground insights and expertise to engage operators more effectively in the Scorecard and Certification programs,” said Ms Keenan.
“Advanced Ecotourism Certified accommodation Swell Lodge is currently the only Certified operator on Christmas Island, and we look forward to other businesses joining them in the coming months and years.”
“Responsible tourism is the key to preserving the natural wonders that make the island so extraordinary,” said Ms Sarah Coote, Destination Marketing Manager at Christmas Island Tourism Association.
“We are thrilled to witness the growing demand among both visitors and locals to embrace sustainability and eco-friendly practices in our tourism industry.
“This project is an incredible opportunity for Christmas Island tourism operators to become ambassadors of sustainability, protective of our natural wonders, and advocates for responsible travel. By doing so, we not only safeguard our island’s treasures but also inspire sustainable tourism standards across the industry,” Ms Coote said.
The University of Queensland – one of Australia’s top research-intensive institutions – will be leading the project management and research arm of the project, exploring the topic of sustainable development and planning for tourism with input supplied by local industry.
“We are excited to receive this Indian Ocean Territories Marine Park grant from Parks Australia for this important ecotourism project in collaboration with Ecotourism Australia and Christmas Island Tourism Association,” said Dr Noreen Breakey, research project lead and ecotourism expert from The University of Queensland.
“This research will elicit the community’s vision for tourism activity in their precious part of the world, which will then inform the recommendations developed to support the Indian Ocean Territories in planning and realising a sustainable tourism future,” explained Dr Breakey.
In the first stage of the project, local operators have the opportunity to participate in a complimentary Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard thanks to the Parks Australia grant funding. The Scorecard enables businesses to learn sustainable business practices and receive personalised feedback for further business development. Ecotourism Australia will use the Scorecard insights to benchmark sustainability initiatives in the region to inform the next stages of the project. Operators will be invited to attend a workshop during an onsite visit in October by Ecotourism Australia and UQ. Conversation with stakeholders and industry whilst onsite will establish the project’s research priorities.
The second stage will oversee the development of a targeted sustainable tourism toolkit to address sustainability gaps and highlight local best practices identified in the first round Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecards. In the third stage, a final onsite visit to Christmas Island will be held to deliver ongoing assistance for businesses on their certification journey.
The IOT Marine Park Grant compliments the recent establishment of the Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Island Marine Parks in 2022. It seeks to enhance the protection, promotion, understanding of and engagement in the marine environment as well as increase local employment and sustainable economic growth on the islands.
Tourism operators located in the Indian Ocean Territories are eligible to register for a complimentary Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard, however places are limited. For more information and to register for a complimentary scorecard click here.
More information
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Media Contact:
Ecotourism Australia: Georgie Snare, Communications and Events Officer, (e): georgie@ecotourism.org.au (ph): 07 3256 6777
by Ecotourism Australia | Aug 23, 2023 | Case Study
Arakwal, Minjungbal and Widjabul of the Bundjalung Country / Byron Bay, New South
Created in the 1970s by an eclectic group of self-proclaimed hippies and artists, the Arts Factory Lodge is considered by some to be the birthplace of Byron Bay’s spirit and character.
Today, that original spirit lives on in their unique accommodation, renowned for its friendly atmosphere and interactive activities.
At Arts Factory Lodge, they recognise the value their guests place on sustainability.
Aimee Jeffrey, NZ Operations Manager for Tourism Adventure Group stated, “In a time where environmental concerns are at the forefront of our minds, Tourism Adventure Group recognises the importance of benchmarking our current sustainability progress and its impact on the environment. We understand that responsible travel and eco-conscious practices are not just trends, but part of our commitment to a better future.”
Their dream: to one day achieve one of Ecotourism Australia’s business certifications to ensure their operations comply with global best practice sustainability standards.
Before they took the leap toward certification, they wanted to gain an insight into where they are on their sustainability journey using the Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard.
Aimee said, “Adopting a scorecard to benchmark sustainability progress helps us by providing a structured framework for evaluating our sustainability initiatives. This approach offers clear representation of our sustainability performance, allowing us to easily identify strengths and pinpoint areas that require improvement.”
After receiving their comprehensive report from the knowledgeable Ecotourism Australia team, Arts Factory Lodge discovered they excelled in implementing environmental sustainability initiatives and had a specialty for getting their guests involved.
As part of their eco-commitment, a dollar contribution from guests at check-in goes toward reducing the business’ emissions and makes each stay a little greener. Guests are informed about how to respect the surrounding environment and wildlife, and providing seasonal vegetables from their eco-garden for accommodation volunteers are among their efforts to create a sustainable business.
Arts Factory Lodge value creating lasting connections with their local community, and even came to the aid of locals impacted by the devastating Northern River Floods of 2022.
Upholding their sustainability ethos has meant Booking.com awarded Arts Factory Lodge ‘Travel Sustainable Level 2’ for their investment in sustainable practices.
Aimee found Ecotourism Australia’s online portal made completing the Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard criteria incredibly simple.
“Navigating the Strive for Sustainability scorecard process was refreshingly straightforward, enabling us to assess our eco-friendly processes with ease.”
Among the sustainability wins, the company is looking forward to getting stuck into strengthening their sustainability journey using their scorecard results.
“Our next step once completing the Strive 4 Sustainability scorecard was to implement an energy monitoring process, which will allow us to track and manage our energy consumption more effectively. As Drucker said, ‘You can’t manage what you don’t measure.”
Aimee found the scorecard enhanced their sustainability knowledge, stating, “We now have a much better understanding of what our current impact is and the areas in which we need to work on to improve across the four pillars of sustainability.”
Discover Arts Factory Lodge’s subtropical paradise on your next getaway to Byron Bay!: https://www.booking.com/hotel/au/arts-factory-lodge.html
Arts Factory Lodge completed their Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard on 8 June 2023 and is a snapshot of their current sustainability practices. The scorecard is not a certification and is valid for 12 months upon completion.
Ecotourism Australia invites you to attend our Annual General Meeting (AGM) at 11 am AEST on Monday, 20 October 2025, hosted online via Zoom. This is an important opportunity for members to engage in the governance of our organisation and shape its future direction.At this year’s AGM, the Board of Ecotourism Australia will present a proposed new Constitution for member approval.
The proposed Constitution has been designed to:
- Introduce a balanced structure of member-elected Directors (maximum 5) and Board-appointed Directors (maximum 4)
- Update Director terms from 2 years to 3 years, with a maximum of two terms (6 years total)
- Meet current regulatory requirements for a Company Limited by Guarantee
- Be modernised and contemporary to meet Ecotourism Australia’s strategic imperatives and our objectives
- Provide a streamlined and concise governance framework.
As required under the Corporations Act 2001, the new Constitution must be formally adopted by members through a special resolution at the AGM. This means that at least 75% of members present and voting will need to support the resolution for it to pass. Your vote is therefore important in shaping the future governance of Ecotourism Australia. The draft Constitution is available for download below.
We have an Expression of Interest (EOI) for Directors for the Ecotourism Australia board. Please note that while EOIs will be open, no new Directors will be appointed before the AGM.
Your participation is vital to ensure our governance reflects the strength, professionalism and sustainability goals of our membership.
Thank you for your continued support of Ecotourism Australia. We look forward to your involvement at the AGM.
by Ecotourism Australia | Aug 15, 2023 | Article
Caravan Industry Association of Australia and Ecotourism Australia will collaborate to promote a pathway to sustainability for caravanning and camping tourism enterprises in Australia.
More than 6,000 businesses operate across the caravan and camping supply chain in Australia and caravanning and camping generated $7.4 billion in visitor expenditure in 2021, a 29% increase from the previous year according to Tourism Research Australia. This trend is expected to continue its upward tick with Caravan Industry Association of Australia reporting a 10% increase in caravan and camping visitor trips in the year to March 2023 compared to 2019 pre-COVID figures.
Caravanning and camping remain the number one provider of holiday nights across regional Australia with record levels of trips and nights undertaken up to March 2023. The pipeline remains strong post COVID, with a record number of Australians also registering new caravanning and camping product.
“Caravanning and camping trips are one of Australia’s favourite pastimes facilitating access to regional destinations. Of the 120 ECO Certified accommodations in Australia who have achieved global best practice sustainability standards, over a third offer caravanning, camping and glamping experiences. We look forward to seeing more parks undertake this journey towards ECO or Sustainable Tourism Certification,” said Ecotourism Australia Chief Executive, Elissa Keenan.
“The commitment by Caravan Industry Association of Australia to promote sustainability is significant. It is wonderful to partner with the peak national body for the caravanning and camping industry, Caravan Industry Association of Australia, to kickstart a pathway to sustainable tourism.”
Caravan Industry Association of Australia Chief Executive, Stuart Lamont, said the partnership was key to support the sector.
“We are pleased to partner with Ecotourism Australia to help promote the importance of sustainability to our caravan parks and associated operators.
“Caravanning and camping have immense potential to be part of the growing responsible travel movement in Australia and lead regional small to medium-sized business toward innovative sustainability,” he said.
The Sustainable Tourism pathway program supports the tourism industry and the tourism supply to address the four pillars of sustainability: sustainable management, environmental impacts, socio-economic impacts, and cultural impacts. It includes the Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard pre-certification benchmarking tool; and the foundational ECO Certification program (for nature-based tourism businesses) and the new Sustainable Tourism Certification for non-nature-based businesses, both of which have a standard recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).
Caravan Industry Association of Australia is not-for-profit collaborating with its membership base comprising of individual state caravanning and camping associations.
Ecotourism Australia’s Head of Sustainability and Business Operations, Nadine Schramm, will be presenting a session on managing sustainability at the Victorian Caravan Parks Association’s 2023 VicParks Conference on Tuesday 15 August.
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Media Contacts
Ecotourism Australia: Georgie Snare, Communications and Events Officer, (e): georgie@ecotourism.org.au (ph): 07 3256 6777
About Caravan Industry Association of Australia
The Australian Caravan and Camping industry is a $27.1 billion industry that directly employs 53,000 people, manufactures locally more than 20,000 vehicles per annum, services over 740,000 vehicles on the road, generates 12 million trips and 60 million visitor nights in caravan parks across the country.
Caravan Industry Association of Australia Ltd is the peak national body representing the Caravanning and Camping Industry in Australia. As an association representing the sector we undertake a number of activities each year aimed at increasing awareness of the industry, improving the industry and encouraging consumer participation within the sector. These activities include TV cooperatives, online marketing activities, advertising, PR activities, research, advocacy, lobbying, Recreational Vehicle Manufacturer’s Accreditation Program (RVMAP) and a parks accreditation program, plus an annual conference.
