NTA, STI Join to Prove Sustainability Is Good for Business, Environment
September 7, 2011
With interest in sustainable travel on the rise, so are NTA’s efforts to help members understand how to better protect the environment, heritage and economy of the destinations they serve. In concert with our strategic partner Sustainable Travel International, NTA is offering enhanced education, a certification program, and a partner program.
On the education, NTA and STI have scheduled two Webinars, free to NTA members who want to jump on board the green train:
Sustainable Tourism 201: Putting Pencil to Paper (Oct. 5 at 1 p.m. ET)—This one-hour Webinar is geared to travel professionals who want to learn how to integrate sustainable tourism best practices into their existing operations. Presented by Bobby Chappell, STI’s director of eco-certification, the Webinar will show participants how to create positive triple-bottom-line results for your business, employees and community.
Destination Stewardship: An Innovative Approach to Sustainable Tourism Development (Nov. 17 at 1 p.m. ET)—Destination Stewardship is a holistic approach to tourism development that benefits local communities and the natural environment while enhancing economic viability. Jon-Paul Bowles, STI’s vice president of destination stewardship, will focus on strategies to attract new visitors while protecting destinations, including carbon neutral tourism programs, marketing plans and capacity building.
After the Webinars, the next education opportunity is at Convention, when leaders from STI and the Adventure Travel Trade Association will present "Adventure Travel and Sustainable Tourism" on Tuesday, Dec. 6.
You’ll be hearing more about this NTA/STI initiative, which includes a Green Travel Certificate Program for member businesses of all sizes and current levels of sustainability practices. The program will focus on the benefits of green travel in terms of profitability and market strength. Another opportunity on the horizon is a partner program that provides extended education, evaluation and consulting services, and enhanced exposure for your company or destination.
Click here to sign up for one or both of the free Webinars, and go here for more information about STI.