by Ecotourism Australia | Nov 13, 2023 | Article, Media Release
Ecotourism Australia is pleased to announce its inaugural Global Sustainable Tourism Summit in Meeanjin/Brisbane in 2024.
The conference will take place from 4 to 6 June at the Sustainable Tourism Certified Pullman Mercure Brisbane King George Square, with Tourism Australia as its first major partner.
Formerly known as Global Eco, one of the world’s longest running ecotourism conferences, the reimagined event is a significant opportunity for the visitor economy to hear from industry leaders and sustainability experts and exchange ideas for the opportunities and challenges for sustainable and ecotourism. The Summit will centre on the theme “People, Planet, Place, Purpose” based on the four pillars of sustainability: environment, socio-economic, culture and sustainable management.
“We are pleased to announce the return of our reimagined conference, Global Sustainable Tourism Summit, for its inaugural year in Brisbane in 2024 with Tourism Australia as the first major conference partner,” said Ecotourism Australia Chief Executive, Ms Elissa Keenan.
“The summit will provide a valuable opportunity for operators and stakeholders in the visitor economy to hear from expert speakers and learn about best-practice case studies that will help to inform and inspire them on their sustainability journey. It will also help to ensure Australia delivers against global travel demand and increased expectation of sustainable actions. This event will help to raise the importance of sustainability across the industry and champion the leaders, problem-solvers and enablers who are delivering world’s best practice.
“Early bird registrations are now available and we look forward to welcoming a diverse delegation to Brisbane for the first time in the conference’s history.”
Phillipa Harrison, Tourism Australia Managing Director, said they were proud to be the first partner for the event.
“We know sustainability is increasingly a key consideration in travel decision making for international travellers and Tourism Australia remains committed to increasing awareness of experiences and operators across Australia who are adopting sustainable practices. The summit will help to ensure sustainability remains a priority for our industry so we can continue to meet the expectations of our international travellers looking for sustainable travel options.”
The Global Sustainable Tourism Summit will make its Brisbane debut on 4 – 6 June 2024 at the recently Sustainable Tourism Certified Pullman Mercure Brisbane King George Square. The program will span three days of education and insights sharing and feature an ECO Destination Site Visit, a welcome function, sponsored by Tourism and Events Queensland, a conference day and social function, followed by an ECO Think Forum Day for operators and destinations.
by Ecotourism Australia | Oct 9, 2023 | Article, Media Release
Outstanding in the field of ecotourism: For a third year running, the Central Coast is celebrated on the global stage in the Green Destinations Top 100 List!
The New South Wales Central Coast is celebrating its official selection in this year’s Top 100 List, a respected annual tourism competition hosted by Green Destinations. Every year the Top 100 Destination Sustainability Stories competition collects outstanding, innovative ‘Good Practice Stories’ from locations across our diverse earth to inspire tomorrow’s travellers and today’s tourism professionals.
We’re extremely proud to announce the 2023 Top 100 List spotlights the Central Coast – the only Australian destination selected in this international competition!
The Central Coast is also the only Australian destination to achieve hat trick Finalist status in 2021, 2022, and now 2023, showcasing its commitment to sustainability and continuing to take steps to build a responsible tourism industry.
This win shows there is just so much natural beauty to unearth on the Central Coast… Steeped in natural assets, the Coast continues to attract conscious travellers keen to explore its diverse landscape. More than half of the destination is made up of national parks, state forest, bushland, open space, nature reserves, beaches and waterways. They are home to more than 200km of safe, shared cycleways and host one of the richest repositories of Aboriginal rock carvings in the world, with thousands of registered Aboriginal cultural sites – some older than Egypt’s Pyramids or England’s Stonehenge (between 7,000-20,000 years old).
This exciting achievement adds to the Central Coast’s growing list of accolades in the area of sustainable tourism, driven by a passionate team of destination managers and marketers within local government, who are carving the path ahead of the curve. With the tourism sector facing very challenging times in the past few years, the resiliency and hard work of all destinations in the Top 100 List to become more responsible is worth celebrating!
The Central Coast’s Top 100 sustainability story
“A Destination of Eco Advocates with Whales, Alpacas and Wheels”
The 2023 Sustainability Story selected for the Central Coast focused on the region’s commitment to building an ecotourism community, also known as its ‘Eco Advocates’.
Top 100 judges praised our region’s winning Good Practice Story under the ‘Destination Management’ category, titled ‘A Destination of Eco Advocates with Whales, Alpacas and Wheels’.
In just three years, the Central Coast of New South Wales has experienced a strategic shift in the way it presents tourism products to locals and guests. Rollover sanitised coastal hollow holidays, and rollout a refreshing new era of eco-conscious experiences respecting nature, culture, place and people, to naturally make you feel whole again. This positive change at a destination management and marketing level is led by a small tourism team, Destination Central Coast, within the region’s local government organisation, Central Coast Council. But the real heroes in this landscape are a cohort of “ECO Advocates” growing since 2020. These local tourism businesses joining the wider ECO Destination journey are championing sustainable tourism practices on their home turf and now, in 2023, the Coast’s ecotourism portfolio has never been stronger, more diverse, or better placed to showcase the unfurling value in promoting sustainable tourism best practice. These are the dedicated entrepreneurs walking the talk every day, for a living.
The Central Coast’s story shares with the world how it’s the small, people powered gestures that make up one big movement toward creating a more sustainable destination! Finalist status in this competition three years running confirms the NSW Central Coast is now part of a global list of respected locations leading the way for sustainable tourism.
The Central Coast’s finalist story, and the global 2023 Top 100 List is now available on the Green Destinations website.
What’s the Green Destinations Top 100 List?
The opportunity for the Central Coast to be part of the Top 100 was made possible through an ongoing partnership between Destination Central Coast and Ecotourism Australia, as part of the ECO Destination Certification program, supported by Central Coast Council since 2020.
Now in its 9th year, the Green Destinations Top 100 Stories is an annual list of innovative and effective Good Practice Stories selected from 100 international destinations inspiring responsible tourism leadership, while also creating more attractive experiences for their community and travellers. Each destination has proactively submitted a unique Good Practice Story that details a sustainability project the destination is executing.
All destinations vying for a spot in the annual Top 100 are required to also meet a minimum level of compliance with certain core ECO criteria of the Green Destinations Standard, which the Central Coast achieved with ECO Destination Certification awarded by Ecotourism Australia in June 2022. The Top 100 Committee emphasises selection to the Top 100 list does not mean the destination is holistically sustainable, but pre-selected based on meeting that minimum level of compliance and the merit of their Good Practice Story – both of which the Central Coast successfully achieved.
Green Destinations is a Netherlands-based organisation working on the assessment, capacity building and certification of destinations and businesses committed to sustainable tourism. The competition is held under the auspices of the Top 100 Partnership, with special contributions by: Green Destinations, QualityCoast, Travelife, ITB Berlin, Asian Ecotourism Network, Ecotourism Australia, Global Ecotourism Network, Sustainable First and GLP Films. This competition is also supported by the Future of Tourism Coalition.
by Ecotourism Australia | Sep 27, 2023 | Article
VisitCanberra have entered a partnership with Ecotourism Australia, the peak body for sustainable and ecotourism in Australia, to grow and strengthen the nation capital’s sustainable tourism products and experiences.
The partnership will provide free access to Ecotourism Australia’s pre-certification Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard program for a number of eligible Canberra visitor economy businesses. This collaboration will deliver the necessary boost to sustainable tourism in the territory by supporting local operators to measure and improve their sustainability practices.
Canberra is home to many iconic attractions including museums and galleries, as well as an abundance of nature tourism experiences. In the year ending June 2023, 5.5 million people visited the ACT, spending more than $3.4 billion in the region according to Tourism Research Australia.
“We are pleased to be working with VisitCanberra to kickstart operators’ sustainability journey with the Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard and to strengthen sustainable tourism as a priority for the region,” said Ecotourism Australia Chief Executive, Ms Elissa Keenan.
“Increasingly, visitors are becoming more conscious about positive environmental, community and cultural impact and they wish to support the businesses that adopt the same principles.
“The collaboration between Ecotourism Australia and VisitCanberra will provide direct support to a significant proportion of local tourism businesses to learn more about sustainable tourism practices and the increasing expectations of travellers to seek sustainable options.
“There are so many wonderful tourism attractions and tours in our nation’s capital, complimented by a growing number of restaurants, cafes, breweries, and other businesses supporting the visitor economy as tourism to the ACT continues to grow. This is a great commitment by VisitCanberra to amplify the importance of sustainability and support their local businesses in this journey,” Ms Keenan said.
The Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard is powered by Ecotourism Australia with marketing support provided by Founding partner, Tourism Australia. It provides a simple and affordable entryway for any tourism business to begin their sustainability journey and is based on the four pillars of sustainability: sustainable management and environmental, socio-economic and cultural impacts.
With the Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard, operators can get recognition for their current sustainability practices and receive valuable insights on how to improve with their own personalised feedback report. Operators can also demonstrate their sustainability performance to their guests with their scorecard.
“There is an abundance of high-quality tourism businesses in the territory looking to begin their sustainability journey and demonstrate their good practices to guests,” said VisitCanberra Executive Branch Manager, Jonathan Kobus.
“Our partnership with Ecotourism Australia is significant to develop, support and promote genuinely sustainable experiences in the ACT visitor economy.”
The Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard is supported by additional partners nationwide including Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (Distribution partner), Big Red Group (Key Enablement partner), and Industry Partners the Caravan Industry Association of Australia and Accommodation Australia.
Tourism businesses in the ACT are now eligible to participate in the Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard funded by VisitCanberra in partnership with Ecotourism Australia.
More information is available at: https://www.ecotourism.org.au/strive-4-sustainability/ACT
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Media contacts
Ecotourism Australia: Georgie Snare, Communications and Events Officer e: georgie@ecotourism.org.au ph: 07 3256 6777
VisitCanberra: Clare Szydlik, e: clare.szydlik@act.gov.au, ph: 0466 848 314
Cover image: Interior of the Nishi Building’s Grand Staircase warmly lit and surrounded with jointed, layered wooden panelling at Canberra’s NewActon precinct. Credit: VisitCanberra.
by Ecotourism Australia | Sep 9, 2023 | Article
Accommodation Australia (AA) and Ecotourism Australia have joined forces for the first time to forge a clear pathway toward sustainable tourism for the entire accommodation sector.
The nation’s peak accommodation body will encourage its thousands of member hotels, motels and caravan parks to begin their sustainability journey with the pre-certification benchmarking tool – the Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard.
Members can then achieve one of Ecotourism Australia’s global best practice certification standards – ECO Certification or the Sustainable Tourism Certification.
Accommodation Australia President Leanne Harwood said the partnership was a top priority for the newly formed AA board.
“There’s no doubt sustainability is one of the most critical issues for our guests, our members and the wider community,” Ms Harwood said.
“Guests want to see their favourite hotels do the right thing and implement eco-friendly and sustainable practices and our members are invested in doing what is right for the community in the long-term.
“AA’s partnership with Ecotourism Australia is an important way to promote the importance of genuine and measurable sustainability to our members.”
In recent years, consumer demand for sustainable accommodation has risen significantly. Global travel giant Booking.com’s 2023 Sustainable Travel Report found 65 percent of travellers feel better about staying in accommodation if they know it has a sustainable certification or label.
“Sustainability is no longer recognised as a unique selling point, but a minimum standard expected of accommodation,” Ecotourism Australia Chief Executive, Ms Elissa Keenan said.
“It is more important now than ever to ensure our industry meets guests’ sustainability expectations in an authentic way.
“We are pleased to be working with Accommodation Australia to bring sustainability to the forefront and provide a pathway to sustainable tourism for one of Australia’s largest tourism industry sectors through the Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard and Ecotourism Australia’s Certification programs.
“More than 120 accommodation providers have achieved global best practice sustainability standards through Ecotourism Australia’s ECO Certification or Sustainable Tourism Certification programs to date. We look forward to supporting more accommodation providers on their sustainability journey.”
Accommodation Australia CEO Michael Johnson said AA’s hotels have the potential to be sustainability leaders.
“This partnership will be vital for our members to improve their sustainability practices and credentials – it’s a win-win for everyone involved,” Mr Johnson said.
The Sustainable Tourism pathway program supports the tourism industry to meet international best practice sustainability standards across the four pillars of sustainability: sustainable management, and demonstrating positive environmental, socio-economic, and cultural impacts. It starts with the Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard, a pre-certification benchmarking assessment, before progressing to ECO Certification (for nature-based tourism businesses) and Sustainable Tourism Certification (for non-nature-based tourism businesses).
The certification standard used by ECO Certification and Sustainable Tourism Certification are recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Ecotourism Australia is one of only two global sustainable tourism certification standard providers in Australia.
Accommodation Australia is a leading industry body representing the needs and interests of accommodation providers in Australia. AA represents a diverse portfolio of more than 80 percent of all accommodation providers in Australia including backpacker hostels, motels, caravan parks, hotels, and resorts. The organisation also represents some of the world’s largest hotel groups, including Accor, which recently achieved Sustainable Tourism Certification for four of its properties in September 2023, and have committed to certifying a further 150 hotels as ECO Certified or Sustainable Tourism Certified in the coming months.
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Media contacts:
Ecotourism Australia – Georgie Snare, Communications and Events Officer, e: georgie@ecotourism.org.au, ph: 07 3256 6777
Accommodation Australia – Nikki Taylor, e: nikki.taylor@ahansw.com.au, ph: 0447 956 170
Cover image: Pullman Mercure Brisbane King George Square. Credit: Accor
Bottom image: Diamond Waters Treehouse Retreat.
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.
