INNOVATION
Jumbo Hostel
Jumbo Hostel is the world's first hostel in a Boeing 747-200 where visitors can experience the unique feeling of staying inside a converted jumbo jet and museum. Different room categories can accommodate one to three adults in comfort as well as a quad dormitory bed option, all with separate shared shower and toilet facilities. Stockholm Arlanda is the first facility in Jumbo Hostel chain and since the Jumbo (Liv) was relocated to its new permanent location at the entrance to the Airport it has become a significant landmark.
Further information: http://www.jumbohostel.com/


http://www.australiazoo.com.au
SUSTAINABILITY
Answer the Call
Australia Zoo are working with 'Fauna & Flora International' in a mobile phone recycling program 'Answer the Call' as coltan the valuable mineral used in mobile phones is being mined from the forest habitats of the lowland gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo in Central Africa. Recycling old mobile phones is reducing the need for coltan and raising funds to help with gorilla conservation. Further information: http://www.australiazoo.com.au
Sustainable regions, sustainable tourism

Tourism Queensland's Therese Phillips and Jayne Jennings will present a case study on the Sustainable Regions program that Tourism Queensland is embarking on from June - September this year. This project is an Australian first to implement a state-wide sustainability program for the tourism industry and adopts a bottom-up partnership approach.

Initially being delivered through five pilot regions, Stradbroke Island, Winton, Airlie Beach, Magnetic Island and Pioneer Valley/Cape Hillsborough, the aim of the project is to garner support from everyone in a tourism region to measure and lessen their carbon footprint, and then celebrate the journey towards developing Queensland sustainable regions.

Melbourne Convention Centre wins Prestigious National Environmental Award

The Melbourne Convention Centre has been awarded the prestigious Banksia Foundation Built Environment Award 2009 at the Banksia Foundation's 21st awards ceremony in Melbourne.

The Banksia Environmental Foundation is the leading national not-for-profit organisation that promotes environmental excellence and sustainability and Banksia's National Awards are regarded as the most prestigious environmental awards in the country.

Planet, People, Peace The I International Conference: The Costa Rican Tourism Model

Costa Rica is a leader in sustainable tourism on a global level. The country will carry to the forefront its experience and “best practices” that are intrinsic in their governmental policies and tourism industry so that other countries may use Costa Rica as a model for achieving this balance.

Planet, People, Peace The I International Conference: The Costa Rican Tourism Model will bring to the world almost four decades of innovation, leadership and revolutionary development of policies and environmental laws coupled with democratic progress, responsibility and creativity.
For more information or to register for the event please go to http://www.PlanetPeoplePeace.com

TRAVEL TRADE
Making Travel Greener


The UK-based Travel Foundation has unveiled a new sustainable learning program sponsored by the Association of British Travel Agents that aims to train the global travel trade in responsible, sustainable, ethical tourism

Further information: www.maketravelgreener.com

PROTECTED AREAS
New 7 Wonders of Nature
Two of Australia’s natural icons Uluru and the Great Barrier Reef have been selected from the top 77 nominees to progress as two of the 28 Official Finalists in the global New7Wonders of Nature campaign. Launched in 2007 by the New7Wonders Foundation, the global campaign is looking for the seven most wondrous sites across the world through the eyes of the public.

Nominations for the campaign were open to any clearly defined natural site, monument or landscape that was not created or significantly altered by humans for aesthetic reasons. More than one billion votes worldwide are forecast to determine the final New7Wonders of Nature.
Further information: http://www.australia.com

 

RESEARCH
Bleisure

Victoria’s tourism industry has rapidly evolved to adapt to a new breed of traveller – the ‘bleisure’ seeker. This new travel trend is the outcome of a new breed of professionals who are technologically savvy enough to blend business and leisure. According to UK based trend forecasting company

The Future Laboratory, an increasing number of business travellers are extending their business trips to include a leisure component, and driving onetime business-oriented services, such as hotels, to cater for travellers wanting to expand their beyond-business experience.

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

POLICY & PLANNING
Uluru-Kata Tjuta Draft Management Plan

Parks Australia has released a Draft Management Plan for Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.

The plan has been developed by the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Board of Management and the Director of National Parks in accordance with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and will guide how the park will be managed over the next 10 years.

Comments on the draft plan are due by 4 September 2009.

Further information: http://www.environment.gov.au

unwto.org/wtd/index.php
COMPETITION
Online Photo Competition

The UNWTO is running an online photo competition to commemorate World Tourism Day on 27 September 2009. The global competition is open to all people of all ages and aims to capture images showing the important role responsible tourism plays in promoting respect for different traditions and support to local communities. The best photos will be featured in UNWTO news, website and ITB Berlin Tourism Fair 2010. The winner will receive a round trip and accommodation to Ghana, with four digital cameras for the runners-up. Deadline is 30 January 2010. Further information: http://www.unwto.org/wtd/index.php

artserieshotels.com.au
INFRASTRUCTURE & INVESTMENT
Luxury Hotel
Independent luxury hotel group the Art Series Hotels will open six hotels across Melbourne from 2009–2011, injecting more than $300 million to the Victorian job market and economy.
 

Appealing to both the corporate and leisure market the hotels will provide guests with a unique visual experience. No two Art Series Hotels will be the same with each named after and inspired by famous Australian artists including Adam Cullen, John Olsen, and Charles Blackman.

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

 

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
National Indigenous Cultural Centre
The Western Australian State Government is planning to build Australia’s first national Aboriginal cultural centre on Noongar land along the Swan River waterfront. The centre would provide the Noongar people with the opportunity to be founders, and position them to invite other Indigenous people throughout Australia to showcase their arts and culture. It will also provide an opportunity for rarely seen private collections of indigenous art and artifacts to be displayed which will create unique experiences for visitors.

Further information: http://www.tourism.wa.gov.au

New Zealand Cycleway Projects

The New Zealand Government has allocated the first $9 million of its $50 million cycleway fund to seven projects expected to be underway by November 2009. The cycle routes that have been identified cover a wide regional spread and are located in areas where cyclists will not only be able to experience some of New Zealand’s natural scenery but also learn a great deal about our county’s regional history, culture and heritage. Feasibility studies are being arranged and co-funded by the Ministry of Tourism to look at the validity of the seven projects, with each study estimated to cost between $100,000 and $200,000.

Further information: http://tourism.govt.nz



CONSERVATION
Wolgan Conservancy Project
Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa, Australia’s first conservation-based luxury resort, marked its second National Tree Day with 90 volunteers planting over 3,000 native trees such as Black Cypress, Lemon Scented Tea trees, Casuarinas and Eucalyptus.
  With 4,000 acres of land dedicated as a wildlife reserve and bordered by two of Australia’s most prominent National Parks, the conservation programme includes the planting of thousands of native trees indigenous to the area, overcoming the effects of previous cattle-grazing. Scheduled for soft opening in October, the resort is the only in recent history to receive permission to be built within a World Heritage Area.
Further information: http://www.wolganvalley.com

BUSINESS EVENTS
Event Carbon Calculator
The Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau has launched a new Event Carbon Calculator to enable event organisers calculate the environmental impact of their Melbourne conference, meeting, incentive or event. The Carbon Calculator was developed in conjunction with the Carbon Reduction Institute and covers all aspects of running an event such as venues, food and beverage supply, accommodation, transport and even gifts. The website also offers tips and information on how to reduce the environmental impact of events through planning.

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

www.ecohotelsoftheworld.com
ONLINE
Ecotravel Website

A web portal has been launched by Eco Hotels of the World that provides information for eco conscious travellers to find their dream hotel, lodge, spa or holiday destination. Featuring a two-fold ratings system giving both green stars for environmental criteria, as well as a general rating for service, location and comfort, the site guarantees unbiased honest feedback and ratings from holidaymakers. The site currently features over 140 green holiday venues around the globe, and rates them with green stars in the areas of energy, water, disposal, eco-active and protection.

Further information: http://www.ecohotelsoftheworld.com/homepage.html


 

projectaware.org

tourism.tas.gov.au/news/investing_for_the_long_haul
savanna.cdu.edu.au
CONFERENCES AND EVENTS
Tourism Futures Sets the Agenda for 2020

Bringing the tourism industry up to a baseline of technological literacy was identified as a key agenda item for tourism, following the Tourism Futures conference last week.

Photo from left: Nick Bryant BBC World News interviewing Laurel Papworth Social Networks Strategist, Tania Major Young Indigenous Leader, Ben Southall Best Job in the World Island Caretaker at Dinner with Industry Leaders

A national delegation of around 300 industry leaders and government policy makers gathered on the Gold Coast to debate an agenda spanning climate change mitigation to the cutting edge technological applications revolutionising consumer purchasing.

It also saw the unveiling of innovative ideas, and futuristic technology which grabbed the attention of media from around the globe, including Japan, Russia, New Zealand and even the British tabloids.


Photo: Stefan Gossling Lund University Sweden andMatt Cameron-Smith
Tourism Australia on the Leaders' Forum Panel

The proceedings of the Tourism Futures National Conference 2009 which includes over 60 presentations are now available online.

Proceedings are available for delegates with password access and a CD Rom of the proceedings is available for purchase which includes powerpoint presentations, video proceedings of the international and national keynote speakers featured in the Topline Program, and panel discussions. To order a copy please download an order form.

For further information on the conference please visit: http://www.tourismfutures.com.au/

 
Regional Australia Faces New Frontiers
Regional Australia Faces New Frontiers is the theme for this year's Sustainable Economic Growth for Regional Australia (SEGRA) being conducted in Kalgoorlie-boulder from 26-29 October 2009.

Regional Australia plays a vital role in the economic well being of the country.  It also holds an iconic place in Australian culture.  The affects of climate change, peak oil and broader environmental, social and population pressures experienced by our major cities make the broader policy decisions regarding regional Australia even more critical.  These themes are critical to the SEGRA 2009 agenda.

Over 70 speakers, forums and panels will be discussing the latest issues, trends and forecasts, tools and models that work to promote a sustainable regional Australia. Special sessions will be devoted to Climate Change, Tendering and Evaluation Skills and an Economic Development Practitioners Toolbox.


The national Regional Australia Summit 2009 – a new agenda on 29 October will discuss strategic trends and directions for regional Australia in the context of sustainability over the next decade. 

For more information visit www.segra.com/segra
 
International Cleanup Day
Project AWARE’s longstanding International Cleanup Day event is the biggest underwater cleanup of its kind. Held annually on the 3rd Saturday in September each year, more than 370,000 volunteers clean over 33,000 miles of shoreline to remove seven million pounds of rubbish. Project AWARE partners with dedicated scuba divers to take part in practical cleanup solutions and collect data for the global Marine Debris Index which is vital to addressing global debris issues.
Further information: http://www.projectaware.org
   
Sustainable Tourism Industry Seminars
 

Qantas is hosting a series of tourism industry seminars around Australia as part of its commitment to sustainable tourism in 2009.

This year’s seminars ‘Investing for the Long Haul’ will help raise awareness of the potential environmental impacts of tourism operations and provide solutions for best practice in sustainability including highlighting opportunities to access government subsidies.

Further information: http://www.qantas.com.au or click here

Savannah Symposium

Savannah Way Limited, the CRC for Tropical Savanna Management and Savannah Guides are hosting the inaugural Savannah Symposium. The symposium incorporates a conference at Charles Darwin University from 17–19 November and then an optional workshop from 20–21 November in Kakadu National Park and Arnhem Land.

The conference will present new ideas and programs as well as successful case studies and developments in sustainable communities, conservation business, and ecotourism.

Further information: http://savanna.cdu.edu.au
   
Ecotourism Australia has Assembled Leading Sustainability and Ecotourism Figures

Ecotourism Australia's Global Eco Asia Pacific Tourism Conference brings together leading players from across the globe and is a venue for operators, policy makers, planners, conservation interests and researchers to discuss and debate emerging issues and to ultimately develop a more sustainable tourism industry.

Up to six Theme Stream Workshops feature on Day Two of the Conference, designed around EcoDesign, Indigenous Business Development, Tourism in Protected Areas, EcoMarketing, Sustainability and Climate Change and Technology.

Interactive Panel Sessions enable delegates to actively interact with speakers and delegates.

Register now, tap into this global knowledge and gain an edge on your competitors.