The Travel Corporation Proudly Sponsors Tourism for Tomorrow Awards for Fourth Consecutive Year
Global CEO Brett Tollman presents sustainable tourism awards at the Global Travel & Tourism Summit
27, May 2011, Toronto -- For the fourth consecutive year, The Travel Corporation (www.TheTravelCorporation.com) and its Conservation Foundation (www.TTCConservationFoundation.com) is the proud Gold Sponsor for the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards which was held in Las Vegas on May 17th. The prestigious awards ceremony was organized by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) during the twelfth annual Global Travel & Tourism Summit. The four deserving winners, spanning from across three continents, received the coveted awards including two of which were bestowed by The Travel Corporation’s Global CEO, Brett Tollman. The contribution made by the foundation will foster the sharing of best practice among tourism operators and communities.
With over three decades of experience and leadership in the travel & tourism industry, Brett Tollman serves as a Vice Chairman of WTTC. As an avid supporter of sustainable tourism around the globe, he is also one of the founding partners of The Travel Corporation’s Conservation Foundation, the company’s non-profit organization which fosters sustainable tourism and helps protect culturally & ecologically sensitive areas around the world. The foundation’s feature projects include Trafalgar Tours’ (www.Trafalgar.com) involvement with The National Trust in the UK, with the protection of heritage sites & monuments, Insight Vacations’ (www.InsightVacations.com) partnership to preserve historic European battlefields and Uniworld’s (www.Uniworld.com) initiative aimed at improving the sustainability of river cruising on Egypt’s Nile. In addition, Contiki Holidays (www.Contiki.com) partnering with adventurer & filmmaker Céline Cousteau who for the next three years will help further educate travellers and staff about environmental issues, particularly marine ecosystems.
“Through The Travel Corporation’s Conservation Foundation, our brands will continue to fund this important work and provide additional support through our staff volunteering programs and our customers’ mitigation of their respective footprints when on holiday with one of our brands,” said Global CEO, Brett Tollman, “Our sustainable projects are empowering indigenous communities to protect their natural environment & culture, preserving historical sites, minimizing pollution and implementing water conservation to precious waterways.“
Now in their seventh year, the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards (www.tourismfortomorrow.com), under the stewardship of the WTTC recognizes best practices in sustainable tourism within the Travel & Tourism industry worldwide. Chosen from 12 finalists and over 180 Award entries from more than 60 countries, the four winners who best exemplified successful work in advancing sustainable tourism were Singita Pamushana - Conservation Award, Guludo Beach Lodge - Community Benefit Award, Alpine Pearls - Destination Stewardship Award and Intrepid Travel - Global Tourism Business Award.
“Winning the Tourism for Tomorrow Award in the Conservation category is a momentous endorsement of 17 years of conservation efforts at our Zimbabwe property, Singita Pamushan since it gives enormous encouragement to our team of research ecologists, anti-poaching scouts and all involved in the management and protection of this beautiful part of Zimbabwe”, said Mark Witney, Chief Operating Officer of Singita Game Reserves, “We hope that as a result of winning the award visitors will be encouraged to experience for themselves this success story in terms of both the preservation of habitat and wildlife and the significant community projects we support.”
The winners underwent a rigorous judging process by an international team of 22 independent judges, led by Costas Christ, Chairman of Judges, WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Awards and a leading expert on sustainable tourism. Mr. Christ is also an awarding-winning travel writer and eco traveller who has explored more than 125 countries.
Costas Christ commented: "We are entering a new era where sustainable tourism principles and practices are no longer represented by a handful of well-meaning companies. Instead, sustainability itself has emerged as an important global initiative for protecting natural environments and assisting the well being of local communities. With the support of companies such as The Travel Corporation, and their passionate commitment to help safeguard the cultural heritage and ecosystems of our planet, the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards continue to expand their impact and to showcase the ever-growing number of exemplary sustainable tourism practice initiatives.”
About The Travel Corporation:
The Travel Corporation is a highly successful international travel group with over 25 award winning brands including Trafalgar Tours, Contiki Holidays, Insight Vacations, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises and Red Carnation Hotels. The Travel Corporation’s guiding principle is one of providing the most enjoyable, enriching travel experience for its customers across the globe. www.thetravelcorporation.com
About The Travel Corporation Conservation Foundation:
The Travel Corporation Conservation Foundation is a not-for-profit organization which supports work that fosters sustainable tourism and protects culturally and ecologically sensitive areas around the world. The Conservation Foundation is a joint initiative by leading companies from the Travel Corporation family of brands. These travel brands act collectively in the spirit of cooperation, individual brands will often champion a cause on behalf of all Foundation members, acting as a Lead Sponsor for a project.
www.ttcconservationfoundation.com
Media Contact :
Marie Anne MacRae
Director of Public Relations
Email: marieanne.macrae@travcorp.ca
Phone: (416) 915-7016
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