Madrid, Spain, hosted the 105th meeting of the Executive Council of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) between 11 and 12 May. The Meeting focused on current trends and challenges facing the tourism sector and on the three priorities of the Organization - safe, secure and seamless travel; the impact of technology in the tourism sector and sustainability.
Conference Aston, Birmingham's largest residential conferencing venue, is celebrating after attaining a TripAdvisor gold GreenLeader award for its commitment to environmentally friendly practices.
In a world where mass tourism has begun to have a seriously negative impact on holiday destinations, businesses need to turn their attention to making operations more sustainable in order to keep in line with increasing demands on our planet. A new report written by María Arribas of Horwath HTL Spain details eight reasons why tourism professionals should strive for sustainability.
The potential of mountain tourism to foster economic development, as well as to raise awareness on environmental protection, was the major topic addressed at the 3rd World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Euro-Asian Mountain Resorts Conference. The event was held in Tbilisi, Georgia on 4-7 April, under the patronage of the Ministries of Tourism and of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia.
As part of its sustainable development program Planet 21, which makes buildings a key priority, AccorHotels announced, at the second BBCA exhibition, the construction of the first Low Carbon Building labelled hotel, the JO&JOE Paris.
The 32nd meeting of the UNWTO World Tourism Network on Child Protection focused on the role of governments in advancing the fight against the exploitation of children in tourism (9 March 2017).
Visionary Travel Companies and Destination Leaders Honored During United Nations International Year for Sustainable TourismCoinciding with the United Nations International Year of Sustainable Tourism Development, the five winners of the 2017 National Geographic World Legacy Awards were announced today during an awards ceremony held at the Palais am Funkturm, the new official awards venue of ITB Berlin. The World Legacy Awards, a partnership between National Geographic and ITB Berlin, showcase the leading travel and tourism companies, organizations and destinations — ranging from large resorts to small eco-lodges and from wildlife conservancies to entire countries — that are driving the sustainable tourism transformation of the global travel industry.
World Legacy Awards honour sustainability projects +++ Announcement of best hospitals at the new Medical Tourism Pavilion +++ New Travelzoo survey – ITB Berlin on safety needs +++ Social Media Newsroom features news, photos, Facebook posts and Twitter exchangesThe Social Media Newsroom of ITB Berlin has online news at http://newsroom.itb-berlin.de/en on from the world's leading travel trade show.
Adventure Travel & Responsible Tourism is an expanding sector – 12th Pow-Wow for trade visitors with topical subjects and exemplary projects on all aspects of astro-tourism, adventure holidays and ecological travel – Hall 4.1b fully booked
World's Largest Travel Trade Show focuses on the 'International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017' – forward-looking projects and a new impetus for social responsibility in tourism on the stages in Hall 4.1 and at the ITB Berlin Convention
UNWTO activities at the 51th edition of ITB, taking place next 8-12 March in Berlin, include the 7thUNWTO Silk Road Ministers Meeting, events on the New Platform Tourism Services (or the so- called sharing economy), Child Protection and Indigenous Tourism.
Over three days (15-17 February) more than 100 speakers from 20 countries convened in Murcia, Spain to present solutions and experiences for 'smart destinations'. The 1st UNWTO World Conference on Smart Destinations was organized by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and the Digital Agenda of Spain and the Region of Murcia.
Portugal has committed to partnering with the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017. The commitment was presented to UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai, during his recent official visit to Portugal. Among the initiatives to celebrate the Year, Portugal is promoting the rehabilitation of historical buildings in the interior of the country and routes through natural areas.
Corporate social responsibility in tourism will be a dominant theme at ITB Berlin – ITB CSR Day features the key topic 'Sustainable Food and Beverages in the Hotel Industry and at Tourism Destinations' – admission to the ITB Berlin Convention is free for trade visitors
INVESTOUR, a unique platform for tourism businesses from Africa and Europe to meet has convened more than 20 African Ministers of Tourism at FITUR, the Spanish Tourism Fair. The initiative, now in its 8th edition, has taken place on 19 January in a joint initiative of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Casa Africa.
Guanajuato's State Ministry of Tourism (Mexico), Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group (Belgium), Govardhan Ecovillage (India) and Dutch Travel Trade Association (Netherlands) were the winners of 13th Edition of the UNWTO Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism. Nearly 150 initiatives from 55 countries applied for this edition.
4 days, 200 sessions, 400 speakers – all the latest topics ranging from geopolitical crises and disasters to artificial intelligence – numerous sessions will be streamed live on the internetAt the ITB Berlin Convention, which takes place from 8 to 11 March 2017, one of the key up-to-the-minute topics will be 'Disruptive Travel: The End of the World as We Know It'. Leading international experts will show how tourism professionals are successfully taking on controversial issues and current challenges such as geopolitical crises, travel safety risks and the use of artificial intelligence.
The International Tourism Fair in Spain (FITUR), taking place on January 18-22 in Madrid, comprises a number of events organized by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Activities will have a special focus on sustainable tourism, including the official presentation of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017 on January 18.
Coinciding with the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development to be celebrated throughout 2017, the third International Congress on Ethics and Tourism will be held in Poland, on 27-28 April 2017. Organized by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in collaboration with the European Commission (EC) and the Government of Poland, the event will focus on the shared responsibility of all stakeholders in promoting a more sustainable tourism sector.
UNWTO has announced the finalists of the 13th edition of the UNWTO Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism. The 12 finalists were selected among 139 applicants from 55 countries. The winners will be announced on 18 January 2017 at the UNWTO Awards Ceremony, organized for the fourth consecutive year in collaboration with Madrid International Tourism Fair (FITUR / IFEMA).