Both entities will collaborate in the development of three main areas to achieve the common goal of promoting a tourism model that presents sustainability as a key pillar. One of the first priorities is to promote the importance of companies and destinations shifting towards sustainability frameworks that align with the 17 United Nations SDGs. This is achieved by encouraging experience sharing and networking to promote the improvement of sustainability competencies.

After formalising the alliance, Andreu Serra, Conseller de Transició, Turisme i Esports of the Mallorca Council, the island’s institution for tourism promotion and planning, and the president of Green & Human, Ginés Martínez, signed an action protocol by which the island became one of the only two destinations, along with Tenerife, to be a part of this sustainability-promoting entity.

Green & Human represents a wide range of tourism sector companies, all with the same objective: to transform and invest in initiatives aimed at attracting higher quality and responsible tourism. Among the members of Green & Human are Jumbo Touris, Hyatt Leisure Group, and Viajes El Corte Inglés. Members benefit from additional resources and tools on the “three levers of change”: sustainability agora, project centre, and Biosphere Certification, a formula created to make the sustainable transformation efforts of companies or destinations recognisable.

Green & Human also provides its members with advice on sustainable projects and public financing, support and encouragement of investment, sponsorships, and the collaborations of private companies, public bodies, foundations, associations, and management companies for the dissemination of sustainable tourist destinations.

The article Mallorca teams up with Green & Human to develop sustainable tourism projects first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

Moreover, she explained how the company measure the impact and who are the most important KPIs.

Maya Sever participated in “Small Accommodations & Hostels Sustainability” panel discussion, along with Ayse Zeynep Sezerel, owner of No11 Hotel & Apartments, Istanbul, Abraham Group, Pegi Amarteifio, VP, Global PR & Communications, SLH and Catherine Gilvarry – Head of Supply Hostelworld, as Moderator.

GSTC2023 Global Sustainable Tourism Conference is held in Antalya, Türkiye, from the 9th to 12th of May.

The article Maya Sever (Abraham Group): “Tourists are looking for a more meaningful experience when they travel” first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

The Alliance is the leading global network for responsible hospitality working with a wide range of organisations across the hospitality sector to embed Net Positive Hospitality.

ECE Work & Live is already a leader within the industry in promoting sustainable hotel development and growth, with one of its main tasks over the next decade being to take into account future climate policy requirements, thus promoting the preservation of the value of real estate. Its focus is on long-term orientation and the assumption of permanent responsibility. Buildings currently account for 39% of global energy related carbon emissions.

The Alliance addresses key challenges affecting the planet and its people, local destinations and communities. The Alliance’s Pathway to Net Positive Hospitality programme sets ambitious targets to create a prosperous and responsible global hospitality sector that gives back to the destination more than it takes. It harnesses the power of the four pillars of people, planet, place, and prosperity combined with the industry’s transformative power, innovation, and resources.

Torsten Kuttig, Director Hotel Development of ECE Work & Live comments: “Joining the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance underlines our commitment to realize hotel projects that are in line with ESG-standards and our company-wide sustainability strategy. As the first developer within the network, we are keen on contributing our extensive expertise and we look forward to exchanging with the other members.”

Glenn Mandziuk, Chief Executive Officer, Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, said: “ECE Group Services joins the Alliance as an affiliate member whom we will work together with, to strengthen our network when it comes to addressing and delivering the Place aspect of our Pathway to Net Positive Hospitality programme. This announcement is an important step forward in promoting Net Positive Hospitality for hotel developers globally.”

The Alliance has over 30 members to date which have a reach of 7 million rooms and include world-leading hotel companies including Choice Hotels, Marriott International, Hilton, IHG, Hyatt and Radisson Hotel Group as well as regional brands and other stakeholders in the hospitality value chain.

The article ECE Work & Live joins Sustainable Hospitality Alliance first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

Moreover, Ayse Zeynep Sezerel answers the one-million-dollar question: Are the guests appreciating the new more sustainable practices?

Ayse Zeynep Sezerel participated in “Small Accommodations & Hostels Sustainability” panel discussion, along with Maya Sever, HR & Impact Director, Abraham Group, Pegi Amarteifio, VP, Global PR & Communications, SLH and Catherine Gilvarry – Head of Supply Hostelworld, as ModeratorSpeakers.

GSTC2023 Global Sustainable Tourism Conference is held in Antalya, Türkiye, from the 9th to 12th of May.

The article Ayse Zeynep Sezerel (No11 Hotel & Apartments): “Guests’ interest for sustainable hotel practices is growing” first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

In his speech, Ersoy highlighted the importance of sustainability in the tourism industry, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that Türkiye was one of the countries least affected by the pandemic, thanks to its rapid implementation of the “Safe Tourism Certificate Program.”

Ersoy also spoke about Türkiye’s commitment to sustainability in the tourism sector and the government’s efforts to develop a shared understanding of Turkish tourism with the participation of all tourism stakeholders. He announced that Türkiye aims to have all accommodation facilities sustainable tourism certified by 2030.

“Our country was the first to forge an agreement with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council in the presence of the government and to prepare the National Sustainable Tourism Program. In this respect, our work is an exemplary step towards sustainability on a global scale, and other countries have followed our lead. I especially want to thank GSTC and its esteemed managers for their valuable contributions throughout this process.” said.

“Within the scope of this Program, which was created to ensure sustainable growth in the tourism sector and to develop a shared understanding of Turkish tourism with the participation of all tourism stakeholders, accommodation facilities are the priority.

When we observe the dynamics of tourism today, we see that both global travellers and tour operators are looking for ‘sustainable tourism items.’ And we all know that the most important way to increase the competitiveness of tourism today is to act by ‘sustainability principles.’ Seeing this demand, we have brought regulatory standards to the sector.

In the Program, the transition will be carried out in three stages. The first phase of the Program, which is planned to be completed in 2030, will take place in 2023. The second phase will take place in 2025, and the final stage in 2030, aiming to ensure all international standards in this process. In the first phase, accommodation facilities will comply with 30% of the set standards and 70% in the second phase. There will be 100% compliance in the third phase, and all facilities will be Sustainable Tourism certified by 2030.

As of April 25, 2023, by meeting the required criteria, 1,382 enterprises received the 1. Level Certificate. The number of enterprises that have received 3. Level Certification is 202, and the total number of certificates reached 1,584. All facilities that have been entitled to receive certificates with 100% compliance within the scope of the Program are announced on the Ministry and TGA websites and Türkiye’s official tourism platform GoTürkiye.”

Furthermore, Ersoy highlighted Türkiye’s other sustainability initiatives, such as its Blue Flag beaches, UNESCO World Heritage sites, and Cittaslow cities. He also noted Türkiye’s commitment to sustainable gastronomy, with one of its restaurants receiving the Green Star award from MICHELIN for sustainable gastronomy.

“Our actions towards sustainable tourism are not limited to our accommodation facilities. For example, Türkiye maintained its rank in 2022 as one of the top three countries worldwide regarding Blue Flag beaches – 531 in total. Antalya, where we are now, has more Blue Flag beaches than any other city. Türkiye, among the top three countries that have registered the most elements in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List, has entered the list with 25 values to date. It should not be forgotten that these values increase public awareness of ancient cultural heritage and provide international visibility. Türkiye currently has 19 heritage sites, including 17 cultural and two mixed, registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List.” said Ersoy.

He added that the steps Turkliye have taken in sustainability also embrace Turkish cuisine. “Today, many chefs give more space to plants and vegetables in their kitchens as appreciation grows towards culinary cultures and restaurants that adopt an environmentally conscious sustainable model. From this perspective, we introduce our cuisine and gastronomic richness to the world, presenting a culinary tradition that has, for centuries, been sustainable, healthy and waste-free. As you know, last year, İstanbul was included in the MICHELIN Guide selection for the first time; among these restaurants, one was granted the Green Star, an award bestowed by MICHELIN to restaurants that are role models in sustainable gastronomy. In addition, we continue to work on this issue to acquire the sustainability label from the internationally recognised Biosphere for the appropriate recipes in the Century-Old Recipes and Turkish Cuisine book published in 2021. In addition, the Rami Library, the İzmir Culture and Arts Factory and the Adana Archaeology Museum we’ve opened recently have achieved the Biosphere Sustainability Certificate for the first time in Türkiye and Maiden’s Tower, due to be opened tomorrow, is in the candidacy stage.”

And he concluded: “As you all know, we attract tourists worldwide to our country thanks to the effective advertising and PR activities conducted through our Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency and our sector’s efforts. At the beginning of 2022, we set a target of 42 million tourists and 35 billion dollars in revenue. We revised this target three times during the year. At the end of the year, our tourism revenue had reached 46.3 billion dollars, and the number of visitors reached 51.4 million. Compared to 2021 figures, we are talking about a 53% increase in revenue and a 75% increase in the number of visitors.

I want to remind you that while the number of visitors fell by 72% worldwide due to the pandemic after 2019, we managed to keep this rate at 69% in Türkiye. We have announced our 2023 tourism targets as 60 million tourists and 56 billion dollars in revenue. As always, I hope we will achieve our targets one by one with the dedicated work and support of our valuable sector representatives.”

Turkish Minister of Culture & Tourism finally emphasized the importance of the 2023 Global Sustainable Tourism Conference as a valuable platform for the exchange of information and ideas among all participants. He expressed his hope that the conference would contribute to sustainability efforts on a global scale and that Türkiye would continue to progress rapidly towards becoming one of the prominent destinations in the world.

The conference, which runs from May 09-12, 2023, features valuable speakers who are experts in their fields and promises to deliver positive results and gains to the world’s tourism sector and Türkiye.

TravelDailyNews International is Media Partner of GSTC 2023.

The article “Türkiye is determined to transform the tourism sector into a more durable structure,” says Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

“CDB Aviation recognizes that climate change poses a fundamental challenge to the planet, society, and economy. Aviation, like all other industries, needs to transition to a low-carbon future,” contends Jie Chen, CDB Aviation Chief Executive Officer. “Achieving sustainable aviation is an industry-wide challenge that will only be solved by a collaborative and coordinated response. Therefore, we, as aircraft lessors, are playing an important role in this transition.”

In 2022, CDB Aviation formed a Sustainability Working Group, which was tasked with developing a comprehensive new sustainability strategy, bringing together the lessor’s activities across the areas of Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) and defining clear actions the company can take to improve its sustainability performance in the future.

“CDB Aviation’s inaugural sustainability report marks an important milestone on our business’ sustainability journey,” explains Jie Chen, CDB Aviation Chief Executive Officer. “Our team continues to evolve our business, with an unwavering commitment to facilitating positive change across the industry and creating a better future together. As part of this commitment, we are proud to be launching our sustainability strategy.”

The lessor’s comprehensive sustainability strategy is focused on the next three years, setting out clear actions in two key categories – those concentrated on “Managing Our Impact” as a business, and those dedicated to “Maximizing Our Influence” to help drive progress across the industry.

Managing Our Impacts: CDB Aviation will actively manage the material sustainability risks and opportunities facing our business.

• Continuously lower the environmental impact of the lessor’s fleet and operations by investing in the latest, most fuel-efficient aircraft, retiring older aircraft, and working with finance providers to develop opportunities related to sustainable finance.
• Institute leading practices on key aspects of the social agenda, specifically staff member wellbeing and development, with an immediate focus on formalizing the approach to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (“DEI”) and committing to community initiatives through a CSR program.
• Establish a strong governance foundation, with a focus on embedding sustainability into the governance framework and strengthening related areas, such as supply chain management.

Maximizing Our Influence: CDB Aviation will focus on collaborative efforts, forming partnerships and working with other stakeholders in the aviation ecosystem, in three key areas:

• Accelerate innovation in sustainable aviation fuel (“SAF”) and new technology;
• Advance progress on DEI initiatives; and
• Strengthen advocacy & sustainability leadership.

Today, CDB Aviation’s fleet consists of 273 aircraft, with an average age of 4.4 years. 125 of these aircraft are the latest generation models in their respective segments, i.e., the A320neo Family, A330neo, A350, 737 MAX, and 787 aircraft, boasting 20-25% more fuel efficiency and fewer CO2 emissions per seat than exiting older generation aircraft. The relative efficiency of the fleet on an Available Seat Kilometre (“ASK”) basis has already improved by 12% since 2018.

As part of the CDB Aviation Sustainable Fleet Initiative, the lessor targets to achieve 60% new generation aircraft by the end of 2025 (by aircraft count). This significant transition, from 12% of new generation aircraft in 2018 to 46% today and 60% by 2025, is happening through active portfolio management, exiting older generation aircraft and adding new generation types from the lessor’s orderbook and through acquisitions.

“Our sustainability strategy is underpinned by our belief that to achieve our corporate mission, we must respond to the sustainability risks and opportunities that will fundamentally shape our industry’s future and indeed the future of the world. We recognize that the long-term commercial success of our business relies on it. CDB Aviation is committed to being part of the solution. I firmly believe that together we can rise to the challenges that are before us,” concludes Chen.

The article CDB Aviation releases Inaugural Sustainability Report first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

The Hotels for Trees Foundation partners with hotels to convert daily room cleaning during hotel stays into newly planted trees. Since its founding in 2021, Hotels for Trees has contributed over 132,500 trees to (re-)forestation projects in the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Uganda, Madagascar, Mexico, Borneo, Vietnam, Bolivia and Ghana and is continuing to expand its global footprint.

“We are proud to team up with Hotels for Trees and actively promote their cause to our users. The partnership will open a new avenue for RoomRaccoon, with the help of our clients, to give back, make a tangible difference and create a more sustainable hotel industry,” says Tymen van Dyl, CEO and Founder of RoomRaccoon.

To celebrate the start of the partnership, RoomRaccoon is funding the planting of 100 trees on behalf of each of its employees. RoomRaccoon will actively promote Hotels for Trees to thousands of users around the world, and see the company give back to the cause on behalf of its users in the form of donations.

Floris Licht, Chief Tree Planting Officer of Hotels for Trees, shares: “With our current 152 partners in 20 different countries, we´re planting on average 400 trees a day and with the support of partners like RoomRaccoon the aim is to plant at least 1 million trees per year by 2025. We are very excited about this partnership and look forward to planting many trees together and contributing to a greener hotel world.”

The article RoomRaccoon partners with re-forestation NPO Hotels for Trees first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

These projects will now be replicated in the Dominican Republic, one of Grupo Piñero’s most important markets, where it has 13 hotels. Specifically, the Foundation is already starting to work on the restoration of the whale lookout at Punta Balandra together with the Dominican Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (MIMARENA) and on the delivery of containers for waste separation in schools as part of the “Biodiverse Samaná” project. Its objectives for 2023 also include the opening of composting centers in several locations and establishing cooperation agreements to promote its environmental education initiative, and the start of the ecosystem restoration program.

In the words of Grupo Piñero’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Isabel Piñero: “The arrival of the Eco-Bahia Foundation in the Dominican Republic demonstrates our commitment to offer a model of regenerative tourism based on responsibility and sustainability. Absolute respect for the environment is part of our DNA and we look forward to continuing to contribute to the care and conservation of all the natural resources of the destinations in which we operate.”

Preserving biodiversity for over 20 years

Since its beginnings in 1999 with the management of the program for the protection and conservation of sea turtles in the central coast of Quintana Roo, the Eco-Bahia Foundation’s projects in Mexico have continued to grow with the aim of increasing the sustainable impact of its actions, releasing more than 110,000 sea turtle hatchlings and attending to more than 1,000 cases of wildlife recovery and management.

In addition, the Eco-Bahia Foundation has also created its Environmental Education program, which manages collaborations with local schools, environmental events and scientific research partnerships to raise awareness of the scope and repercussions that human actions can have on the environment, thereby promoting a real change in the habits of all the people who participate in its activities.

With the expansion of the Eco-Bahia Foundation, Grupo Piñero continues in its mission to inspire change in the sector, promoting a better understanding of the importance of caring for the environment and encouraging the implementation of sustainable practices in the natural capital in which it operates.

The article Grupo Piñero expands its Eco-Bahia Foundation to the Dominican Republic first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

The launch was celebrated with government officials and top aviation and investment representatives at the ACI World Cocktail Reception on 4 May 2023, at the iconic Place Ville Marie, in Montréal, Canada.

The Sustainability Expansion Plan strengthens ACI World’s sustainability initiatives that support its global airport membership in all disciplines of airport management and that align with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The plan also contributes to ACI World and its member airports’ commitment to reaching the aviation industry’s goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, supporting the sustainable growth of the sector and generating social and economic benefits for the communities it serves.

Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec said: “The Government of Canada has made concrete commitments to strengthen our ongoing fight against climate change and play an active role in the transition to the economy of the future. The support granted to Airports Council International (ACI) World, to develop the Sustainability Expansion Plan, clearly illustrates this. Thanks to our non-repayable contribution of $283,334, provided through our collaboration with Montréal International, the organization will play a key role in promoting sustainable practices within the global aviation industry. This project will also enable the metropolis to continue to shine on the international stage.”

Martine Biron, Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women said: “The Ministère des Relations internationales et de la Francophonie du Québec is proud to contribute to the Sustainable Development Program implemented by Airports Council International (ACI) World, as it reflects Québec’s environmental and sustainable development values and objectives. This expansion shows how international organizations operating in Québec can help develop and promote Montréal as the civil aviation capital of the world. I would like to applaud ACI’s commitment to achieving sustainable development goals that will contribute to the future of civil aviation.”

Valérie Plante, Mayor of the City of Montréal said: “ACI World’s Sustainability Expansion Plan is an important step in making airport operations greener. As the civil aviation capital of the world, Montréal is proud to see ACI further support the green transition. Aviation is a major contributor to global economic prosperity. Hence, its role in the development of a sustainable energy transition that also promotes the overall health of our ecosystem has never been more as important.”

Luis Felipe de Oliveira, Director General of ACI World said: “The Sustainability Expansion Plan builds on a long-standing cooperation with Montréal International and its partners, the Government of Canada, the Government of Québec and the City of Montréal. The plan represents an important milestone in the strengthening of ACI World’s sustainability initiatives that support our global airport members. Despite the difficulties faced by the sector in the last few years, the expansion plan ensures our long-term commitment with Montréal and its position as the World Capital of Civil Aviation, providing employment and relevance to the whole aviation ecosystem.

“On behalf of ACI World, I thank Montréal International, its financial partners, and CEO Stéphane Paquet and his team who have been pivotal in this project. Together, through the investment in airports’ sustainability, we are accomplishing great things for the social and economic well-being of millions of people worldwide.”

Stéphane Paquet, President and CEO of Montréal International said: “Since the 1940s, Montréal has been recognized worldwide as a hub for civil aviation. The city’s fame in this sector is due in large part to international organizations such as ACI World that develop cutting-edge programs like the Sustainability Expansion Plan launched today. We ought to be proud and grateful for such initiatives that help build a green and inclusive economy and demonstrate Montréal’s international organizations’ leadership in decarbonizing our planet.”

The article ACI World launches the Sustainability Expansion Plan in Montréal first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

With a background working across private and public sectors, from Hilton and Mars to the White House in the United States, Daniella brings a wealth of experience to the Alliance.

The Alliance brings together the hospitality industry and strategic partners to address key challenges affecting the planet and its people, local destinations and communities. They develop practical free resources and programmes to create a prosperous and responsible hospitality sector that gives back more than it takes. In order to do this even more effectively, the Alliance is aiming to foster cross-industry collaboration and encourage best practice sharing from other sectors. Their members represent over 50,000 hotels – totalling 7 million rooms.

Welcoming Daniella to the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, CEO, Glenn Mandziuk, said: “The Alliance will benefit hugely from Daniella’s experience embedding sustainability into business models across the private and public sectors. The board and I look forward to working with Daniella and will draw on her knowledge and understanding to accelerate hospitality towards a sustainable and contributory future.”

In Daniella’s current role she is responsible for global public affairs and policy, and for embedding sustainability into the fabric of the divisional business model, including strategy and ambition development, stakeholder engagement, proactive issues management, implementation and impact stewardship.

She has a proven track record in driving strategy, change management, business integration and transformation across consumer goods, health, hospitality and government industries.

In her nearly 20 years of experience, Daniella has led corporate and government affairs, business turnarounds, environmental, social and corporate governance and strategic partnerships. Whilst at the U.S Department of State she led their partnerships and innovation agenda.

Daniella Foster said: “I’m delighted to be appointed as a trustee to the board at this very exciting time for the Alliance. Collaboration across sectors on key sustainability issues like climate change is so critical. As we often work within the same supply chains, there’s opportunity to apply best practices and work collectively to drive change. I look forward to working with the Alliance to help move the industry towards Net Positive Hospitality.”

Daniella is passionate about social entrepreneurship and serves as the Chair of the Emergent Leaders Network, a non-profit she co-founded that provides scholarships and mentoring to community college students. She’s also an angel investor, working with Pipeline Angels, which aims to invest in and create capital for female entrepreneurs.

Foster is board chair of the United Nations Global Compact Network USA. She also sits on the board of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and serves as a Commissioner for the Global Business Coalition Education’s Youth Skills and Innovation Commission.

The article Daniella Foster appointed to the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance’s board first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.