Talking Point: In uncertain times the tourism industry can promote peace

This year, the International Institute of Peace Through Tourism (IIPT) is celebrating its 30th Anniversary. President and Founder, Louis D’Amore and Prakash Sikchi, CEO of Inspirock, one of the IIPT’s technical partners and keen supporters, take a look back at the work undertaken by the organisation and its achievements.

                                                        International Institute of Peace Through Tourism

The IIPT was founded in 1986 with a vision to make travel and tourism the world’s first global peace industry and to promote the belief that, ‘every traveller is potentially an Ambassador for Peace.’ Since its founding, the organisation has remained dedicated to fostering and facilitating tourism initiatives that contribute to international understanding and cooperation, an improved quality of environment, preservation of heritage, sustainable development, poverty reduction and healing wounds of conflict.

Through the years, the IIPT has achieved a number of landmark firsts as part of its pioneering work. IIPT first introduced the concept of sustainable tourism development at its First Global Conference: Tourism – A Vital Force for Peace, Vancouver, 1988. IIPT also produced the world’s first Codes of Ethics and Guidelines for Sustainable Tourism, 1992; conducted the first international study of best practice, tourism and the environment, 1993; and organised the first major international Conference on Sustainable Tourism: Building a Sustainable World through Tourism, Montreal 1994. Today the IIPT has chapters in regions throughout the world including the Caribbean, Australia, Maldives, India and Pakistan.

It was at World Travel Market, following a presentation by Prakash Sikchi, that he and Mr, D’Amore first met. Prakash immediately identified with the mission of encouraging every traveller to be “An Ambassador for Peace” and to embrace the life changing experience and diversity afforded by travel.

As a result of this meeting, Prakash Sikchi and his colleagues at Inspirock began discussing how to support this valuable part of IIPT’s work and remain connected in a meaningful way with today’s modern traveller. Following these discussions and a subsequent meeting between Prakash and Lou D’Amore it was decided to integrate an online trip planner into the new IIPT ‘Travel for Peace’  website and make it a central component of the new Travellers for Peace campaign thereby providing travellers even more personal independence while arranging their trips and helping them to connect directly with local sights and cultures - while also bringing the IIPT direct connection with travellers and their planned adventures.

Integrating the trip planner to the IIPT’s new site seemed like a very natural way to do this as it offers visitors to the site a chance to plan a personalised travel itinerary that spans towns, cities, countries and even continents from a single source. It also lets travellers delve deeper into the local area and foster an understanding of different cultures. With these ideas in mind, Inspirock collaborated with other partners including the Crist Consulting Group and the International Coalition of Tourism Partners to create an interactive site where people can make their travel dreams a reality.

The Travel for Peace Campaign is the first of several major initiatives that IIPT has planned for its 30th anniversary year. Hotels, Travel Agents, Tour Operators and all sectors of the industry are invited to become charter members of the IIPT/Skal Travel for Peace Campaign. For more information on becoming a charter member of the campaign – contact Lou D’Amore: ljd@iipt.org.

Inspirock provided its online trip planner free of charge and is donating revenue it generates from bookings on the new site to the IIPT to help fund the organisation’s valuable work. For more information visit http://www.inspirock.com/ and contact denise.otero@inspirock.com

Source and acknowledgement: Green Hotelier

Green Key awarded to the second hotel in Romania

The Park Inn by Radisson Bucharest Hotel is the second establishment in the country that proved compliance with Green Key's criteria. The award was delivered during a small ceremony on 25 November.

Green Key Romania which is managed by the Carpathian-Danubian Centre of Geoecology is very pleased about the hotel's environmental and social engagement. Throughout the year, the Park Inn by Radisson Bucharest Hotel has organised plenty of different activities for raising awareness and actively supporting local, national and international initiatives. 

In February for example, the hotel donated bed linen to the Sfanta Irina Foundation, which  takes care of cancer patients in their final stage. In March, the hotel participated in the yearly Earth Hour and encouraged their guests to participate as well. Furthermore, the Park Inn donated care packages to the foundation Our Lady of Mercy for Romania which helps people in need.

Other activities carried out by the hotel were a blood donation campaign for the employees of the hotel, participation in a clean-up day in the forests around Bucharest organised by “Let’s Do It Romania!” , and the organisation of a lunch for disadvantaged children in cooperation with the United Way Foundation. During the lunch, the children painted four pictures which are displayed in the lobby. Guests have the opportunity to buy buy these pictures, and the money directly goes to the United Way Foundation.

Travel market in Finland sees sustainability as key to success: more than 50 Green Key awarded sites in two years

The travel market in Finland sees sustainability as a key competitive advantage. Nature is one of Finland’s main attractions, and concern for its well-being has led to tangible every day actions. Already 52  hotels and restaurants work for the benefit of the environment by joining the Green Key programme.

On  December 1st, four new hotels were awarded with Green Key and two hotels renewed their award, raising the number of Green Key awarded sites in Finland to 52.

The Lossiranta Lodge in Savonlinna, Eastern Finland, and Best Western Plus Hotel Haaga are the establishments that have already started their second year in the programme.

"We have had a super good first Green Key year! Environmental work creates added value for our guests. We have also seen tangible results or our work both for the environment and in saving costs during the first year" says Christine Lund, CEO of Lossiranta Lodge.

The Best Western Plus Hotel Haaga adds to the list of benefits of Green Key: 

"We have a lot of international customers, therefore Green Key was a natural choice. It is  an international eco-label and is recognised by our customers" explains Osmo Suominen, Business Manager of Best Western Plus Hotel Haaga

Furthermore, four new Sokos Hotels in Kotka, Kokkola, Mikkeli and Kuopio were awarded with Green Key. Sokos Hotels is the largest hotel chain in Finland. No less than half of their hotels are Green Key awarded.

"Green Key has made environmental work a natural part of our daily operations. Our aim is to have all hotels in the S-Group Green Key awarded by the end of year 2017" explains Janina Nurmela from S-Group.

In Finland, Green Key is awarded by Green Key juries in Mainland Finland and Åland. The members of the juries are experts within the fields of travel, hospitality, CSR and environmental protection. The constant development in the environmental work is an integral part of the programme. Therefore, all participants reapply every year with reports of yearly achievements. Green Key in Mainland Finland is operated by Suomen Ympäristökasvatus and in Åland by Ålands Natur och Miljö. 

Green Key growing in the United Arab Emirates

Three new hotels have been awarded the Green Key in the United Arab Emirates, raising the number to 31!

                                            The Green Champions of the First Central Hotel Suites, Dubai

Following the decision of the Green Key National Jury in the United Arab Emirates, we are pleased to welcome 3 new properties within the Green Key programme: Sheraton Grand Hotel, Dubai, First Central Hotel Suites and Auris Metro Central Hotel Apartments. These properties have demonstrated great dedication in implementing best practices, communications and policies. The Emirates Green Building Council which is responsible for the Green Key applicants in the UAE is pleased about the developments and is looking forward to supporting the hotels' sustainability efforts. 

Top of the Woods Camping and Glamping in Pembrokeshire, Wales wins national eco-award in the category of Green Key awarded sites

A Pembrokeshire campsite that has gone the extra mile to improve its local environment has been celebrated at national awards ceremony.

Top of the Woods Camping and Glamping in Boncath picked up the Green Key Award at the 25th annual Tidy Wales Awards.

The Green Key Award is a brand-new category at the annual Tidy Wales Awards, sponsored by Wybone, which celebrates businesses within the tourism industry that are working tirelessly to uphold high standards of sustainability.

Top of the Wood care passionately about sustainability and always promote green activities to their guests. The team has also worked hard to help their local environment by planting trees, improving access to the local Ffynnone Woodland, and managing wildflower meadows.

Staff from Top of the Woods were presented with their award by Carly Cooper from Wybone and rugby champion, Tom Shanklin, at a prestigious ceremony in Cardiff Bay on Monday 21 November.

Speaking at the ceremony, Soo Hammond said:

 “At Top of the Woods we our passionate about being sustainable, enriching and unique.  We want our camping guests to be happy and be inspired by nature.  For all of us to enjoy the benefits of nature, we need to protect and increase local biodiversity, flourishing for future generations. We also share with our guests and celebrate the fantastic local skills, quality artisan products and local businesses that are aligned with our values, so our guests can experience the beauty and vibrancy of Pembrokeshire.  Winning this award is amazing for us as it underlines that what we are doing is valued, but the work doesn’t stop here! This is a lifetime journey for all of us, with plenty still to do”

Carly Cooper, Southern Sales and Business Development Manager at Wybone, said:

"We are delighted to sponsor the 'Green Key' category at the annual Tidy Wales Awards. We’re keen to work with organisations that promote sustainability and help to promote environmental excellence across Wales."

The Green Key category was open to businesses that had achieved Green Key accreditation – an international FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education) programme run in Wales by Keep Wales Tidy.

Lesley Jones, Chief Executive of Keep Wales Tidy, said:

“The Tidy Wales Awards celebrates people of all ages taking part in a wide range of green initiatives, all with the common goal of making Wales a better and tidier place. They are an inspiration and a great example in their community. We would like to thank them for their hard work as well as thanking The Helping Hand Company for their support with this year’s awards.”

Sustainability for the taste buds

The Green Key awarded restaurant Smakbyn built its business around bringing back the local taste of the Åland Islands.

On the small Åland Islands, an autonomous part of Finland, sea and nature have always dictated the life of the population. Although modern lifestyles created some distance between the island inhabitants and nature, Ålanders try to reconnect to their heritage – through local food.

One of the restaurants that built its business around this demand is Smakbyn. The chef Michael Björklund and his wife Jenny who run the restaurant together put high emphasis on local ingredients and sustainable practices in the restaurant.

“It is important for us to work with good ingredients, clean flavours, work sustainably and according to season, says Nora Rosenström, environmental manager at Smakbyn.”

The focus on sustainability, however, is not only visible in the menu, where dishes with local fish and handpicked mushrooms and berries from the forests around the restaurant are offered, but also in the building itself. During the construction and furnishing of the restaurant, considerations were taken to reduce the water and energy consumption, and to use local products and design to give the restaurant a local touch.

The step to be Green Key awarded therefore seemed obvious to the team of Smakbyn.

 “We are already working with a lot of the issues Green Key touches upon. We care about sustainability and would like to make our work more visible. Green Key is a good tool in our undertakings. The programme’s strength is that the important parts are documented and followed-up on, but Green Key also gives us tips on what we can improve so that our own sustainability efforts are constantly up to date.”

Green Key for restaurants is on its first year on the Åland islands and the local Green Key coordinator Karin Rosenberg is very optimistic about the programme:

“We have a great opportunity on the Åland islands. The restaurants are generally of high quality and the participants in the programme are in many ways flagships for our entire local food culture. Through Green Key, restaurants get the opportunity to gain recognition for their work and take further steps towards a business in harmony with the environment”

Eco-Schools celebrations held in two Green Key awarded hotels in Jordan

In Jordan, the Green Key awarded hotels Sheraton Al Nabil in Amman and the Mövenpick Resort & Residences Aqaba hosted memorable Eco-Schools award ceremonies.

Eco-Schools celebration at the Sheraton Al Nabil Hotel in Amman

During the Eco-Schools award ceremonies, schools that are enrolled in the Eco-Schools programme and have successfully achieved its Seven Steps are awarded the Green Flag…and what location could be more appropriate for celebrating the Eco-Schools' achievements than Green Key awarded hotels? 

Under the patronage of HRH Princess Basma bint Ali, the Chairperson for the Royal Marine Conservation Society of Jordan (JREDS) and in corporation with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Environment, Green Flags were awarded to a total of 23 Eco-Schools in Jordan. The Flag is the reward for the environmental and social efforts the schools undertake in the frame of the Eco-Schools programme which is, just as with Green Key, a programme of the Foundation for Environmental Education. 

Sheraton Al Nabil Hotel in Amman (Green Key awarded hotel since March 2014), and Mövenpick Resort & Residences Aqaba (Green Key awarded hotel since March 2010) offered to host the ceremonies as part of their responsibility programmes.

Eco-Schools celebration at the Mövenpick Resort & Residences Aqaba

Organic Fest held in the Maison Blanche Hotel, Ukraine

On 16 July 2016 the Maison Blanche Hotel in Ukraine hostet the "Organic Fest", a day full of activities related to healthy lifestyle and well-being.

Symbolic of its dedication to detail and commitment to Green Key,  the  hotel Maison Blanche offers activities to their guests and staff that exemplify how a healthier and more sustainable life can be lead.   

Among other things, the hotel organises visits to organic farms and to enterprises that manufacture organic products as well as offering classes about well-being and how to lead a healthy lifestyle throughout the year. This summer, the establishment hosted a whole day of events dedicated to health and well-being. The day started with yoga classes, followed by a pottery class, a healthy cocktail class and a tasting of organic products.  Furthermore, the hotel offered lectures on healthy diet, organic products and ecological management.  After lunch a discussion about the necessity of biodiversity conservation was held. The day was rounded off with the screening of the movie "Seeds of Time".

If you would like to learn more about the hotel, you can visit their website here

Free water footprint tool available on Green Key's website

Green Key International is proud to present their new free water footprint tool for hotels on the Green Key website. 

The water footprint tool allows hotels to measure the total water usage, the water usage per occupied room, as well as the water usage per area of meeting space on an hourly basis. The methodology has been adopted from the Hotel Water Measurement Initiative Tool developed by the International Tourism Partnership. Eighteen global hotel groups and several technical consultants and global water experts have worked together to create the industry’s first consistent water measurement methodology.

The measurement of water consumption is part of a hotels' business operations, but each establishment or hotel group has its own way to do so, and includes different water sources and uses into the calculation. The new tool provides an industry-wide standardisation of measuring the consumption of water and the possibility to compare the results with other establishments. 

The original tool was launched during the SIWI World Water Week on 30 August in Stockholm. Green Key's adoption of the tool was kindly supported by the Radisson Hotel Group. 

Try our new tool here!