RESPONSIBILITY

The Dubai-based Jumeirah Group has published their first Corporate Responsibility report focussing on the areas of corporate governance, health and safety, the environment, as well as responsibilities towards customers, business partners, owners and the local community. The group also has plans to grow its portfolio of luxury hotels and resorts in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Maldives, Bali, Thailand, China, Argentina, Spain, England, Scotland, Germany and the US Virgin Islands.

Phillip Island is constructing a new Penguin Hospital at Phillip Island Nature Park using funding raised via the Penguin Foundation’s Adopt a Penguin program.

The hospital will be built in the next 12 months, aiming to enhance the protection and rehabilitation of native wildlife on Phillip Island.

The facility will provide training for emergency services and maritime incidents that impact Victorian’s sick and injured coastal-life.

Scenic Circle Hotels, New Zealand’s only 100 percent owned and operated hotel group is relaunching its brand to market its 18 properties under two distinct brands - Heartland Hotels and Scenic Hotels.

In addition to the re-branding, the company is putting a major emphasis on quality assurance by bringing its hotels into the Qualmark rating system, accelerating its environmental compliance programme and continuing with its capital investments.

Further information: http://www.scenichotelgroup.co.nz/

Emirates Airlines has introduced a mobile version of its website which is compatible with more than 3000 devices and allows the airline's passengers to manage aspects of their journey from the palm of their hand.

The mobile site integrates many of the features of the website, allowing visitors to check-in up to 24 hours before departure, and choose a seat or request a special meal.

Further information: http://www.emirates.com/ye/English/about/about_emirates.aspx

Indigenous Tourism Enterprise

Home Valley Station in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia is a $15 million pastoral-based tourism development owned and operated by the Balangarra people.

Working with Kimberley TAFE and Kimberley Group Training, Home Valley has established a modern, fully equipped training centre where Indigenous people can gain accredited, certificate level qualifications in pastoral operations, tourism, hospitality and horticulture.

Further information: http://www.homevalley.com.au/

Pet Friendly Tourism Strategy

A new Tourism New South Wales campaign is highlighting pet friendly holiday destinations for more than six million cats and dogs in Australia.

The website contains information about pet friendly accommodation, beaches, parks, camping areas, dog walking, grooming services, tips for travelling with pets and maps of ‘Sydney Pooch Trails’.

Further information: http://www.visitnsw.com/Pet_friendly_holidays_p3070.aspx

Business Events Strategy Implementation Group

The Federal Minister for Tourism has established a Business Events Strategy Implementation Group made up of representatives from industry associations, organisations in the Business Events sector and Tourism Australia.

The group will meet to monitor the implementation of the National Business Events Strategy 2020, which was released late last year.

Further information: http://www.businessevents.australia.com/rsc/National%20BE%
20Strategy%20for%20Australia%202020.pdf

Student Research Funding

The Skyrail Rainforest Foundation is providing students the opportunity to access funding for PhD, masters and honours projects that add to environmental management and protection of rare, threatened and vulnerable species and biodiversity. Since its inception, the Foundation has provided over $140,000 to support several research projects.

Applications will be assessed by representatives from Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, James Cook University, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. Organisations or individuals are invited to submit applications by 5 June 2009.

Further information: http://www.skyrailfoundation.org/funding.html

Tourism Queensland’s Best Job In The World digital success

Digital marketing aspects of Tourism Queensland’s hugely successful The Best Job in the World campaign will be on the agenda at Tourism Futures this year, with Tourism Queensland Director Digital Marketing Chris Chambers discussing the digital strategy and success of the campaign.

By cashing in on the popularity of online video sites such as youtube.com, the campaign raised awareness of the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef, inviting the global public to apply for ‘The Best Job in the World’ by submitting a 60-second video job application on www.islandreefjob.com.

Ecotourism Spotlight Award

Government websites that educate visitors about ecotourism and responsible travel options are eligible to win the Ecotourism Spotlight Award. The award was developed for municipal, regional, national and international governments working toward ecotourism and responsible travel.

Winners receive international exposure and are announced at World Tourism Day (September 27) as way of spotlighting best practice in responsible travel and ecotourism. Nominations close 30 June 2009.

Further information: http://planeta.wikispaces.com/spotlightaward

Tourism Award Winners Sponsored to Attend National Conference

The outstanding achievements of State and National Tourism Award winners is being recognised at the Tourism Futures National Conference.

Tourism Queensland and Australian Capital Tourism join with the Tourism Futures Secretariat in sponsoring 50 per cent of award winner registration fees and 25 per cent of award finalist registration fees.

Award winners and finalists can register online or contact the Secretariat for further information.

First Choice has unveiled a new online brochure that features hotels that provides an easy way for holidaymakers to make a more sustainable choice when selecting a package holiday either in store or online.

The Greener Holidays programme also includes details on sustainable activities and top tips on what holidaymakers can do to make a difference, both before and during their holiday.

Further information: http://www.firstchoice.co.uk/greener-holidays/

Calling for industry responses to tourism challenges

Tourism Futures, in conjunction with Roy Morgan Research, is conducting a survey addressing the major challenges facing the Australian tourism industry, as well as ways to maximise sustainable growth in this industry.

In addition to having an opportunity to provide vital opinions you will also go into the draw to win a 2 night holiday at Kingfisher Bay Resort on the beautiful Fraser Island including catamaran transfers from Hervey Bay.

We encourage you to click on this link http://www.surveys.roymorgan.com/surveys/915837/ and take a couple of moments to give your opinions.

Results will be incorporated into the Tourism Futures National Conference 2009 from 17-19 August 2009.

Eco-Index

The Eco-Index of Sustainable Tourism is a website dedicated to promoting businesses in Latin America and the Caribbean that are certified or have demonstrated a commitment to sustainability.

The free site currently lists over 175 sustainable businesses and is designed to help tourists and tour companies find certified businesses. It currently receives over 10,000 visitors per month and will be expanded to include interactive maps, videos and other multimedia tools to make the site more user-friendly.

Further information: http://eco-indextourism.org/en/home

Centre for Responsible Travel

The Centre for Responsible Travel is an international non-profit institute affiliated with Stanford University and headquartered in Washington DC.

It conducts policy-oriented research, programs and field projects designed to minimize the negative impacts of tourism and maximize the positive contributions to host destinations and conservation.

Its core programs include coastal and marine tourism, market research, ecotourism, certification and philanthropy which aim to help tourism businesses and travellers contribute to projects in the host communities.

Further information: http://www.responsibletravel.org

World Ocean Day

SEE Turtles is offering a free volunteer placement service that matches interested volunteers with sea turtle conservation projects in Mexico, Costa Rica, Tobago, Guatemala, and Nicaragua to celebrate World Ocean Day on 8 June 2009.

The program creates opportunities for people to participate in turtle conservation alongside biologists and sea turtle researchers. Applicants need to submit preferred destinations, dates of travel, budget requirements and desired accommodations. Volunteers will then be matched to partner organisations and projects that best fit their preferences.

Further information: http://www.seeturtles.org/

Ecotourism Australia announces new CEO

Ecotourism Australia has pleasure in announcing the appointment of Ms Kym Cheatham as its new Chief Executive Officer effective from August 2009.

In announcing the appointment, Mr Rick Murray, Acting Chairman of Ecotourism Australia, welcomed the appointment of Ms Cheatham after an extensive recruitment search.

“The Board of Ecotourism Australia were excited by both by the calibre and number of applications received for this position,  which we believe is a strong indication of the broader understanding and crucial importance of the issues of both sustainability and certification in our Industry. After an exhaustive process, we are confident that Kym brings a breadth of skills and experience to lead Ecotourism Australia into the next era of operation and opportunities” said Rick Murray.

“Kym brings a wealth of Tourism industry experience in senior marketing and management positions in the Tourism industry, including roles in Associations, Convention Bureaux and in both the private and public sector. She has had extensive experience in membership organisations and in managing multiple stakeholder interests.” said Rick Murray.

Online Carbon Calculator

The Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre now offers the services of a tailor made carbon calculator delivering clients the opportunity to stage carbon neutral events.

Designed in conjunction with the Carbon Reduction Institute to specifically measure the environmental impacts of all types of events held at the Centre, the goal of the calculator is to offer clients the option of determining the carbon footprint of their events. The centre's calculator encompasses room occupancy, menu selection, event services and is applicable for all events.

Further information:
http://www.bcec.com.au/about-us/sustainability/carbon-calculator.aspx

The Price of the Planet

How are you going adjust to an economy effected by climate change policies?

The World Business Climate Summit in Copenhagen hosted 800 global business leaders recently and heard inspirational news from leading corporates such as Cadbury Schweppes which aims to cut its emissions by 50 per cent by 2020. Royal Mail (UK) plans to slash its emissions by 50 per cent by 2015.

Momentum is swelling – or is it all just hot air?

Discussion continues in the online forum:
http://www.tourismfutures.forumup.com.au

Contiki Holidays has released its annual Travel Trends Research Report - The Skilled Set, carried out by Galaxy Research.

The report is a comprehensive national survey of young Australian traveller attitudes and aspirations. It provides the latest trends and insights in the Australian youth tourism market.

Further information: http://contiki.com.au/pages/840-the-skilled-set-report

The Tourism Australia’s Brand Health Monitor measures consumer perceptions and actions on the global issues of climate change and environmental degradation among long haul travellers when planning a holiday.

Research indicates that consumers are concerned about these issues, but they are not top of mind when it comes to holiday planning. The majority of consumers are yet to take any actions to reduce their impact on the environment and indicate they are likely to do so in the future.

Further information: http://www.tourism.australia.com/AboutUs.asp?sub=0303

A survey has found that travellers are willing to spend extra on experiencing different cultures
and more efficient and simple service.

The Visa and the Pacific Asia Travel Association ‘Determining
Travel Preferences in 2009 and Beyond’ survey asked 5,554 respondents from 11 key Asia Pacific travel source markets about past and future travel plans. Respondents were internet users
aged 18 years or above who had travelled for holidays in the past
two years or had the intention to do so in 2009/10.

Further information: www.pata.org/patasite/index.php?id=2332&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news
%5 D=427&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=1904&cHash=bfdfac0d80

The World Ecotourism Conference and Green Tourism Exhibition will be held in Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR from 15 to17 July, 2009. The conference is supported by the UNWTO, PATA, TIES, governments and academia.

It will present innovative approaches to sustainable tourism development, provide a forum to exchange global best-practice in ecotourism / community-based tourism and seek solutions to mitigate climate change and environmental degradation.

Further information: http://www.worldecotourismconference.com/

Building a strong, sustainable and vibrant tourism industry to emerge from the current downturn, will be the central agenda for the prestigious Tourism Futures conference, set for 17-19 August on the Gold Coast.

Top-line keynote speakers from Australia and overseas will present the latest, cutting-edge thinking to help redefine the future for Australian tourism. All members of the industry are invited to attend and participate in the discussions that will shape the future of the industry.

Just how to build a ‘smart’ tourism industry that is green, sustainable and desirable across all price points will be a key theme for discussion, and understanding the new direction will be vital to all businesses wanting to keep pace.

Embracing Indigenous experiences and building Business Events will also be examined by some of the most respected experts in the industry, along with the latest in online marketing and distribution and consumer research.

For full program details and registration please visit www.tourismfutures.com.au

Highly Interactive Tourism Workshops
National and international tourism industry experts will get together in Alice Springs in November of this year for a series of highly interactive and specialised full day Theme Stream workshops. These workshops, designed for optimal interaction and discussion with leading experts on a global level, will focus on:

EcoDesign
The EcoDesign Theme Stream focuses on sustainable tourism and ecotourism physical planning of Ecolodges, Sustainable Hotel Design and Sustainable Infrastructure and will provide a practical approach to EcoDesign.

EcoMarketing
Heritage Tourism, Ecotourism, Indigenous tourism and other niche sectors often operate on a small to medium scale and often in remote areas. How do you break through to global eco and experiential travellers? Obtain the latest knowledge and trends in consumer behaviour from marketing, technology and distribution leaders.

Indigenous Tourism Development
Drawing on global examples this Theme Stream workshop will examine the opportunities, tools and methods of building and sustaining Indigenous business opportunities in the tourism industry.

Sustainability and Climate Change
Many of the climate hotspots are critical tourism destinations – reefs, wetlands, alpine, coasts and islands. The focus will be responding to climate change – what is the consumer demanding? What practical response can tourism operators take? What are the opportunities provided by climate change?

Technology
Innovative design and technology in the areas of water use, waste treatment and in particular the use of alternative energies such as solar power feature in the Technology Theme Stream. This traveling workshop gives you the opportunity to explore real examples of innovative technology in Alice Springs – Solar City.

Tourism In Protected Areas
At no time has there been a greater focus on the role tourism can play in sustainability and conservation. Public and private protected area tourism, fauna parks and best practice sustainability all have a place in the agenda of this Theme Stream.

Tourism and Protection Through Partnerships
Many innovative partnerships have been developed over the years to preserve communities, cultural, natural and heritage sites. How are these partnerships developed, what procedures are put into place to protect the environment and what role does tourism play in this?

The workshops take place on Day 2 of the Global Eco Asia-Pacific Tourism Conference which is held 9-11 November at the Alice Springs Convention Centre in the Northern Territory. For more information and registration details visit the conference website: www.globaleco.com.au

The major cruise industry event in Australia, the Cruise Down Under Conference will be held in Adelaide from 26 to 28 August, 2009.

Keynote speakers for ‘Riding the Cruise Boom’ will include Ann Sherry AO from Carnival Australia, Chris Martin from Holland America Line and Darius Mehta from Silversea Cruises.

Further information: http://www.cruisedownunder.com/conferences

The International Ecotourism Society's annual Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference will be held in Portland, Oregon from 1 to 3 November, 2009.

The conference will bring together over 400 experts, industry leaders and community stakeholders to discuss the latest trends in ecotourism and sustainable tourism, learn practical skills, and participate in invaluable networking and knowledge sharing.

Further information: http://www.ecotourism.org/site/c.orLQKXPCLmF/b.4835409/k.DB9E/ESTC_2009.htm