Category: Latest Travel News

Valletta (Malta) – February 22, 2020 (travelindex.com) – Under the banner of “A Plan For Our Kids”, Leslie Vella and Prof. Geoffrey Lipman, Chair and President of SUNx Malta (Strong Universal Network), will discuss in open forum the initiative of the Government of Malta, under Tourism and Consumer Protection Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli, to create a global Centre for “Climate Friendly Travel” – measured to manage: green to grow: 2050 proof to meet the Paris 1.50 Climate Targets. The Centre will action the 50-year vision of Maurice Strong, father of sustainable development, for Travel & Tourism to respond powerfully to the climate crisis.

They will also present the results of their first Annual Climate Neutral 2050 Review of the Travel & Tourism Sector co-published with WTTC; as well as the Ambitions Registry that Malta will host to encourage intensified company and community carbon reduction in line with the Paris Accords and the EU Green New Deal.

Because the Climate Crisis is increasingly recognized as eXistential (threatening life on earth) governments are developing incentives and penalties to move all companies, communities and consumers to become climate neutral in the next decades.

This exchange will show the travel community how they can refocus their strategies to meet this new reality.

The session has been designed to be topical, lively and interactive – It will be held in Room Beta5/Hub27, which is connected to Hall 1.2, from 10:00 – 11:30 on Thursday 5th March.

Koror (Palau) – February 20, 2020 (travelindex.com) – PATA is honoured to welcome Palau First Lady Debbie M. Remengesau as the opening keynote speaker for its 2020 annual summit.

As chairperson of the Palau Legacy Project, First Lady Remengesau co-founded and launched the Palau Pledge, an internationally–acclaimed, world–first immigration stamp requiring all visitors entering Palau to take a pledge to protect the environment. This is a modern expression of Palau’s traditional conservation wisdom interpreted in way that all visitors can understand. The Palau Pledge continues to gain world recognition for its innovative approach.

First Lady Remengesau is an active member of a variety of organisations, including the Palau Conservation Society, the global Leading Women for Oceans Network, the International Association of First Ladies for Peace and the Palau Soroptimist International. She passionately utilises all of her memberships to strengthen programs and initiatives that support the Palauan community.

In the opening keynote, First Lady Remengesau will share the success behind the innovative Palau Pledge and why all of us should be asking more of the tourists who visit our places.

Join us on March 31st to April 3rd in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE to together drive forward the sustainable growth of the tourism industry in Asia Pacific and beyond at the PATA Annual Summit 2020 under the theme ‘Partnerships for Tomorrow’.

For more details on Palau and a detailed travel guide go to www.visitpalau.net

Paris (France) – February 21, 2020 (travelindex.com) – Accor, a world-leading hospitality group, and Visa, the global leader in digital payments, announced a global partnership to bring new payment experiences to ALL-Accor Live Limitless loyalty members. Partnership will deliver enhanced payment experiences to ALL-Accor Live Limitless loyalty members.

The partnership will bring together Accor’s loyalty program and Visa’s global payment capabilities to create the new ALL Visa card. Members who apply for the new Visa card will be able to use it for everyday purchases everywhere Visa is accepted. Accor will be collaborating with Visa partner financial institutions and banks in key markets across Europe, North and South America, Middle East and Asia Pacific to issue the new ALL Visa card. It will offer members tailored rewards based on customer preferences and the ability to earn more loyalty points when staying at an Accor property or when making purchases.

Accor boasts a portfolio of strong and iconic brands across all segments in the most promising markets around the globe. Through strategic acquisitions and partnerships with prestigious luxury and lifestyle brands such as Raffles, Fairmont, Sofitel, Banyan Tree, Mondrian and Delano, the Group offers unique experiences through its 39 hotel brands, in more than 5,000 hotels and residences across 110 destinations.

Through the partnership with Visa, Accor is enhancing the benefits of its recently launched loyalty program, ALL–Accor Live Limitless, to its 64M loyal member base and more than 250M customers globally. The introduction of the ALL Visa card will enable the Accor Group to engage customers beyond their stay, via an industry leading loyalty program, offering ALL members the ability to earn points, enjoy new experiences and even more hotel nights.

The introduction of ALL Visa payment cards aims to leverage Accor’s augmented hospitality ecosystem to engage customers beyond their stay via industry-leading benefits and innovative digital, mobile-first experiences.

The cobranded payment cards will generate additional customer engagement in hotels and new member recruitment opportunities for ALL as well as spend uplift.

Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Accor, said:
“Partnering with Visa will be a huge boost to Accor as we embark on the shared journey to develop an innovative co-branded payment card. This new initiative will provide unmatched benefits to our members and reinforce the success of our ALL loyalty program by increasing our member base driving additional engagement and giving each member incentives to stay with us more frequently and easily. The development of ALL is a major milestone for us, and in Visa we are very pleased to have found a partner which shares our passion for delivering everyday rewards and recognition.”

Al Kelly, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Visa, said:
“We are delighted to partner with Accor and support the introduction of a new customer loyalty program. Today’s digitally-savvy consumers expect rewards that are tailored to their needs and offer new and unique experiences. I am extremely excited about the power of Accor’s expertise in hospitality coming together with Visa’s global network and digital capabilities. This combination will translate into attractive loyalty and payment products that will be at the forefront of the hospitality market.”

ABOUT ACCOR
Accor is a world-leading augmented hospitality group offering unique experiences in more than 5,000 hotels and residences across 110 destinations. The Group has been acquiring hospitality expertise for more than 50 years, resulting in an unrivalled portfolio of 39 hotel brands, from luxury to economy, supported by one of the most attractive loyalty programs in the world.

ALL, Accor Live Limitless is a daily lifestyle companion that integrates rewards, services and experiences bringing value to everyday life inventing a completely new aspirational way to live limitless…

Accor is deeply committed to sustainable value creation and plays an active role in giving back to planet and community via its Planet 21 – Acting Here program and the Accor Solidarity endowment fund, which gives disadvantaged groups access to employment through professional training.

Accor SA is publicly listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACRFY) in the United States.

ABOUT ALL
ALL – Accor Live Limitless is a new daily lifestyle companion. ALL offers benefits, rewards and unique experiences to its most engaged members throughout the world, whether they’re at work or play. A host of new services will make the everyday lives of the programme’s members more rewarding, not least in terms of entertainment, well-being, sport, coworking and mobility.

With ALL, Accor offers more than a mere hotel stay, delivering new services and new ways of laying on bespoke experiences, bringing the Group’s augmented hospitality strategy to life by increasing points of contact with its customers through a network of nearly 5,000 hotels and 50 brands.

ABOUT VISA
Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) is the world’s leader in digital payments. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, reliable and secure payment network – enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. Our advanced global processing network, VisaNet, provides secure and reliable payments around the world, and is capable of handling more than 65,000 transaction messages a second. The company’s relentless focus on innovation is a catalyst for the rapid growth of digital commerce on any device, for everyone, everywhere.  As the world moves from analog to digital, Visa is applying our brand, products, people, network and scale to reshape the future of commerce. For more information, visit About Visa, visa.com/blog and @VisaNews.

Macao (Macao SAR) – February 21, 2020 (travelindex.com) – Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) and Hospitality Technology Next Generation (HTNG) announce the inaugural HITEC Asia to take place December 8-10, 2020 in Macau, SAR, China. The two international, nonprofit associations are the sole organizations that bring hospitality professionals together for education, networking, best practices, innovation and exclusive marketplaces.

“The HITEC brand of conferences is celebrating its 48th year and has become known as ‘the’ place to learn about and purchase hospitality technology around the globe,” said HFTP CEO Frank Wolfe, CAE. “After years of requests from stakeholders to bring the HITEC brand to Asia, HFTP is excited to announce this event and also very pleased to have HTNG as co-producers for this new venture.”

HITEC Asia expects to attract over 300 hoteliers and feature some of the best technology suppliers in the region. It will also feature educational seminars presented by global experts and leading-edge innovation pitches from regional start ups.

“HTNG has been successful in the region for over a decade solving industry standards problems and developing best practices,” said HTNG CEO Mike Blake. Due to the strength of HFTP’s HITEC brand and HTNG’s success and network in the region, we mutually decided that our nonprofit organizations could make a much larger impact by teaming up for a stellar conference and exhibition.”

About HFTP
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) established in 1952, is an international, nonprofit association, headquartered in Austin, Texas, USA, with offices in Hong Kong, United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Dubai. HFTP is recognized as the spokes group for the finance and technology segments of the hospitality industry with members and stakeholders spanning across the globe. HFTP uniquely understands the industry’s pressing issues and assists its stakeholders in finding solutions to their challenges more efficiently than any organization. It does this via its expert networks, research, certification programs, information resources and conferences/events such as HITEC.

About Hospitality Technology Next Generation (HTNG)
The premier technology solutions association in the hospitality industry, HTNG is a self-funded, nonprofit organization with members from hospitality companies, technology vendors to hospitality, consultants, media and academic experts. HTNG’s members participate in focused workgroups to bring to market open solution sets addressing specific business problems. HTNG fosters the selection and adoption of existing open standards and also develops new open standards to meet the needs of the global hospitality industry.

Currently more than 400 corporate and individual members from across this spectrum, including world leading hospitality companies and technology vendors, are active HTNG participants. HTNG’s Board of Governors, consisting of 22 top IT leaders from hospitality companies around the world, itself has technology responsible for over 3 million guest rooms and world-leading venues. HTNG publishes workgroup proceedings, drafts and specifications for all HTNG members as soon as they are created, encouraging rapid and broad adoption. HTNG releases specifications into the public domain as soon as they are ratified by the workgroups.

HITEC® and HFTP® are registered service marks of Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals

Athens (Greece) – February 20, 2020 (travelindex.com) – The Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) paid a high-level visit to Greece to meet with the Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism and offer the United Nations’ specialized agency’s support as the country works to grow and diversify its tourism sector.

Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili was in Athens for high-level talks with political leaders, as well as high-level representatives from across the private sector. The discussions focused on the key issues of harnessing tourism as a driver of education and opportunities for all, encouraging entrepreneurship and promoting tourism investment.

Working with UNWTO gives Greece the chance to learn from the lessons of other countries, share positive experiences and build useful partnerships in the areas of education, innovation and sustainable development

Mr Pololiksahvili said: “Greece is one of the world’s true tourism leaders. They also chair the UNWTO Regional Commission for Europe, highlighting the country’s commitment to international cooperation and to sustainable and responsible tourism.” Looking forward to returning to Greece in the very near future, he added: “I am delighted to be further strengthening our partnership and look forward to working more closely with Greece to make sure as many people as possible, including rural and coastal communities, are able to enjoy the many benefits tourism can bring.”

Greece Committed to Working with UNWTO

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis welcomed UNWTO’s visit and support of the national tourism sector and showed a sincere interest for prospects of the cooperation with the Greek tourism sector. At the same time, Minister of Tourism for Greece Harry Theocharis expressed his thanks to the UNWTO for the official visit and welcomed its readiness to work alongside Greece in promoting year-round tourism and digital transformation.

He added: “Working with UNWTO gives Greece the chance to learn from the lessons of other countries, share positive experiences and build useful partnerships in the areas of education, innovation and sustainable development.”

European context

UNWTO welcomed Greece’s commitment to sustainable tourism development, making the case for tourism as pillar of stability in uncertain times.

The visit of UNWTO to Greece comes as UNWTO assumes leadership of the global tourism sector’s response to the climate challenge. Later this week, Secretary-General Pololikashvili will address the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN). The intervention in Brussels will be made against the backdrop of the first meeting of the Tourism Task Force, with its Members to discuss the place of tourism in the European Green Deal, including both the opportunities and challenges.

Bangkok (Thailand) – February 19, 2020 (travelindex.com) – The Carlton experience has arrived. With its first property in Thailand, Carlton Hotel Group brings to Bangkok the hotelier’s distinctive design concepts, superior facilities, meticulous service standards and outstanding dining choices. Doors at Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit are open – and they reveal a genuinely distinctive hotel experience in Thailand’s capital city.

The difference emerges straight away well before one enters the hotel. Rising 34 storeys above downtown, a dramatic building catches the eye with bold curves set against soaring verticality. Difference emerges too in the hotel’s grand lobby where an extraordinary chandelier of hand-brown glass ornaments twirls down from eight storeys above. Other specially commissioned art works throughout the hotel lend similarly captivating visual effects.

All quite a sight. But there’s more than meets the eye – and every glimpse of just-opened Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit provides new perspective on the upper-upscale, city-centre hotel experience in Bangkok.

Well-placed for upper-upscale

Speaking of perspective, providing a keenly observed one is Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit’s general manager, Mark Bulmer.

Bulmer, with eight years’ experience with Carlton Hotel Group including six as general manager of both Carlton hotels in Singapore, says, ‘I’ve been with Carlton for some time and I know why our hotels have such a fine reputation, and I know how we’re always enhancing it. I’ve also lived and worked here in Bangkok, so I can say from experience that Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit combines the absolute best of Carlton and Thai hospitality. Guests will enjoy five-star luxury at superb value, especially given the hotel’s prime location between BTS SkyTrain Asoke and Phrom Phong stations.’

To location can be added many other advantages. Accommodation at Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit comprises 338 rooms and suites ranging in size from 37 to 129 sqm. Features and amenities in all rooms include floor-to-ceiling soundproofed window with electric curtains and blinds, 49-inch smart TV with Chromecast mirroring and Apple TV, king or twin bedding with Sealy Posturepedic mattress, bathroom with rain shower and separate bathtub and washlet, large wardrobe, work desk, in-room wired and wireless internet, electronic safe, and minibar refrigerator. Additional advanced technologies in all guest rooms include motion sensor-controlled lighting for decreased energy consumption when guests are away. Guests also benefit from in-room IPTV technology providing information, entertainment and hospitality services via a single digital source.

Culinary excellence and more

Carlton hotels are highly regarded not only for their accommodation, facilities and services but also for superlative dining. In fact, for three decades famed Wah Lok restaurant has made Carlton synonymous with fine Cantonese cuisine in Singapore.

That very same culinary excellence can now be enjoyed at Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit’s own Wah Lok restaurant. Expect an upscale Hong Kong-style setting with main dining area capacity for up to 194 guests, along with private dining rooms available for business and social occasions. Providing direction at Wah Lok Bangkok is the same chef who helped open the original Wah Lok at Carlton Hotel Singapore over 30 years ago, Master Chef and Guangdong native Lam Kok Weng.

A distinguished collection of venues further upholds Carlton’s culinary reputation in Bangkok:

Plate – all-day-dining restaurant serving expansive buffets and à la carte selections in a contemporary setting. Featuring international classics, Thai favourites and Carlton’s signature Peranakan Straits-Chinese cuisine.

Tuxedo – lobby-level espresso bar for vanguard coffee culture including Thailand’s first Modbar espresso machines in a five-star hotel setting. Also, pâtisserie, boulangerie and viennoiserie made daily in the adjacent glass-fronted pastry kitchen. Singapore-style Carlton Afternoon Tea served daily. Beer, wine and cocktails also available.

Cooling Tower – chilled-out rooftop bar with draught beers, imaginative cocktails, New and Old-World wines and fine spirits complemented with tasty bar bites.

Plunge – poolside juice bar for refreshing juices and smoothies as well as beer and house wines. Light meals and snacks available.

The hotel’s entire 10th floor, meanwhile, is dedicated to leisure, recreation and fitness. Guests enjoy a 30 metre outdoor pool with waterfall feature, a pool bar, exercise studio with 24-hour access, luxury spa by Let’s Relax, and a Kids’ Zone.

High above Bangkok on the 33rd-floor, the Carlton Club Lounge provides sweeping views from indoor and outdoor seating. Club-level accommodation guests enjoy premium amenities and services including privileged breakfast, all-day snacks and refreshments, and cocktail hours with canapes. There’s also a meeting room with seating for six.

Additional facilities and services are two floors of 10 function rooms including The Grand Carlton Ballroom with capacity for up to 600 guests, totaling 1,200 square metres of highly configurable spaces ideal for business gatherings and social occasions. Technologies include a high-resolution 220-inch LED screen for pin-sharp entertainment and presentations, while among customised audio-visual services available is specially designed lighting and décor to match corporate branding. Extensive on-site technologies and amenities ensure organisers of a hassle-free experience.

About Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit
Expanding the Carlton brand from Singapore, Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit is now open. With a striking and unique building façade and enviable location on Sukhumvit road between Asoke and Phrom Phong BTS stations, guests will enjoy easy access to luxury shopping, dining, entertainment and nightlife. This upper-upscale property features 338 spacious and well-appointed guestrooms and suites, a range of dining options including the signature Wah Lok Cantonese Restaurant and a rooftop bar. With over 1,200 sqm of meeting and event space, the hotel can cater for boardroom meetings and grand banquets for up to 600 people. Leisure facilities include an outdoor pool, Kids’ Zone, spa and a fully equipped gym. Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit is the third Carlton property to be affiliated with WorldHotels, a luxury hotel management company whose Asia Pacific portfolio comprises 80 independent hotel and resort properties.

Ras Al Khaimah (United Arab Emirates) – February 19, 2020 (travelindex.com) – The World Tourism Forum Lucerne announced the application launch for the WTFL Start-Up Innovation Camp in Ras Al Khaimah (UAE) on 22-24 June 2020. The 2020 Start Up Innovation Camp is organized together with the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, our 2019/2020 Guest Country Partner in Ras Al Khaimah (UAE), and welcomes all stakeholders in the start up community to join us.

Submit your application here:

All Start-Ups who apply not only benefit from becoming part of the Camp in RAK but also being part of our new Dealflow tool, which simplifies the matching between Start-Ups and investors/existing companies.

The start-up application is for free. On top, we will cover your travel and accommodation costs if you qualify as a finalist. We hope to see you soon in Ras Al Khaimah.

You have the opportunity to present your business to high profile investors, industry experts and academics to get the global attention. Qualify yourself for “5 Minutes of Fame” on the main stage.

Not only will you meet other start-ups, you will interact with business leaders and investors and build a strong network.

Win our Start-Up Innovation Award of 10’000 USD. Find out what other benefits you can receive here.

Submit your application here:

The Start Up Innovation Camps are yearly flagship initiatives of the World Tourism Forum Lucerne in Switzerland which aim to boost the innovation ecosystem in the travel, tourism and hospitality industry by connecting innovators across the industry to industry players, investors as well as helping scale and commercialise innovative solutions.

About the World Tourism Forum Lucerne
The World Tourism Forum Lucerne helps tourism-related start-ups to connect with investors, learn from industry experts and academic thought leaders, we well as grow to global markets.

The World Tourism Forum Lucerne is an exclusive platform where the world’s leading tourism, travel and hospitality companies meet to shape a more sustainable future. We provide decision-makers with in-depth insights into the core themes of the tourism industry and a unique global network. The World Tourism Forum Lucerne is the only platform to integrate start-ups, young executives and students in one program.

Over the past ten years, it has evolved into a year-round network of leaders and innovators who are driving positive change in the travel, tourism and hospitality industries. This includes an influential network of leaders from the business, education, politics, finance and community sectors.

Shanghai (China) – February 19, 2020 (travelindex.com) – The ITB China organisers have announced to postpone ITB China 2020, originally scheduled to be held on 13 – 15 May at Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center. The deferred show dates will be further announced by the show organisers.

The decision is based on the current risk evaluation of the COVID-19epidemic by local and global authorities. According to the regular report and COVID-19 prevention notification released by the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China recently, the COVID-19 situation in China continues to be challenging and developments in the following months are very hard to foresee at this stage.

To ensure the safety of ITB China’s exhibitors and visitors, the organisers decided to postpone ITB China 2020, and in a responsible way allow all participants to make necessary arrangements in a timely manner.

The ITB China organisers will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide further updates based on official assessments of the overall risk situation.

ITB China participants can reach the organizing team best by sending queries with regards to ITB China directly to contact@itb-china.com.

About ITB China and the ITB China Conference
ITB China is China’s largest B2B exclusive travel trade show, taking place on a yearly basis at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Centre. ITB China is a three-day business to business travel trade fair that focuses exclusively on the Chinese travel industry. The ITB China Conference takes place parallel to the show and is co-organized by the leading conference organizer TravelDaily.

Bangkok (Thailand) – February 18, 2020 (travelindex.com) – The Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand (JFCCT)recently launches “Care About Plastic” (CAP) initiative to eliminate plastic ending up in landfills and the sea.

Over 60 personalities and dignitaries, including Ambassador of the Netherlands, Mr. Kees Rade and Ambassador of Switzerland, Mrs. Budliger-Artieda and many distinguished guests from MOTS, TCEB, TAT, TCT, ATIA and many hotel General Managers, media and friends were present at the launch.

Mr. Eric Brand, Tourism Committee Chair of the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce informed the audience that Mr. James Scott, a CAP Team Member, is in the process of setting up a CAP website and other Social Media accounts to establish an ongoing and timely communication with all CAP participants and interested parties. The website will also show the amount of plastic collected and revenues generated for all to see the growth of this worthwhile project. The website will be located at www.careaboutplastic.com

Mr. Brand further expressed his gratitude for the amazing acceptance and support the CAP initiative has received before the launch based only on the passion and belief in this idea and the hardwork by all involved from my JFCCT/Tourism Committee in bringing this CAP initiative to a full fletched up and running project.

It was further announced that nine leading hotel brands have already registered in the pilot project plus one hospital, one office and one Luxury Condominium which shows that CAP is really a logistics set-up starting with collecting plastics from hotels but that it can be expanded to many different venues in Bangkok and elsewhere in Thailand.

Moving forward, Baan Nokkamin Foundation lead by Khun Chokchai (Adam) and working closely with Khun Atcharapond (Angela) from Thai Plastic Recycle Group will be the main actors to make this project successful and James Scott, Head of Social Communication Strategy with DTGO and as administrator of the CAP website together with all the CAP team, we will always be ready to support, help to register new hotels and other venues to join this worthwhile effort.

Mr. Brand took the opportunity to thank all present for their spontaneous and generous efforts to make the CAP launch and future activities a great success.

Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand
1035/22 Soi Pridi Bhanomyong 41 Sukhumvit Road 71
North Klongton, Wattana, Bangkok 10110
Tel: +66 2 713 1175
Fax: +66 2 713 1179
E-mail: tourismchair@jfcct.org
Web: www.jfcct.org

Madrid (Spain) – February 18, 2020 (travelindex.com) – The Global Tourism Plastics Initiative is ground-breaking and ambitious in its goals. It aims to reduce the amount of plastic pollution caused by the tourism sector. To achieve this vision, tourism companies and destinations will be required to make a set of concrete and actionable commitments by 2025, including to:

Plastic pollution is one of the major environmental challenges of our time, and tourism has an important role to play in contributing to the solution

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “The Global Tourism Plastics Initiative is a unique opportunity for tourism companies and destinations to step forward and lead the global effort addressing plastic pollution. Front-running tourism companies and destinations will set quantifiable targets as part of the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative and accelerate the transformation of the tourism sector towards more integrated solutions and circular business models.”

The Initiative is a key activity of the Sustainable Tourism Programme of the One Planet Network and it acts as the interface for the tourism sector of the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

The New Plastics Economy Programme Manager Gerald Naber said: “The New Plastics Economy Global Commitment unites more than 450 businesses, governments and others behind a clear vision of a circular economy for plastics. We welcome the launch of the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, led by UNEP and UNWTO, which unites the tourism sector behind this vision for a world in which plastic never becomes waste or pollution. It will be a challenging journey, but through concerted action, we can eliminate the plastics we don’t need and innovate, so the plastics we do need can be safely and easily circulated – keeping them in the economy and out of the environment.”

The Director of UN Environment’s Economy Division Director, Ms. Ligia Noronha, added: “Plastic pollution is one of the major environmental challenges of our time, and tourism has an important role to play in contributing to the solution. Through the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, tourism companies and destinations are supported so they can innovate, eliminate and circulate the way they use plastics.”

About the One Planet Network Sustainable Tourism Programme
The One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme has the overall objective to enhance the sustainable development impacts of the tourism sector by 2030, by developing, promoting and scaling up sustainable consumption and production practices that boost the efficient use of natural resources while producing less waste and addressing the challenges of climate change and biodiversity. The Sustainable Tourism Programme is part of the One Planet network, a multi-stakeholder partnership to implement SDG 12 on Sustainable Consumption and Production.

About the UN Environment Programme
The UN Environment Programme is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.

About the Ellen MacArthur Foundation
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation was launched in 2010 with the aim of accelerating the transition to the circular economy. Since its creation, the charity has emerged as a global thought leader, putting the circular economy on the agenda of decision-makers around the world. The charity’s work focuses on seven key areas: insight and analysis; business; institutions, governments, and cities; systemic initiatives; circular design; learning; and communications.

About the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment
The New Plastics Economy Global Commitment unites businesses, governments, and other organisations behind a common vision and targets to address plastic waste and pollution at its source. Signatories include companies representing 20% of all plastic packaging produced globally, as well as governments, NGOs, universities, industry associations, investors, and other organisations. The New Plastics Economy Global Commitment is led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme.

SustainableFirst supports the UNWTO and all organizations involved in sustainability worldwide. SustainableFirst’ mission is to showcase excellence in sustainable tourism to inspire others to undertake similar efforts, for the benefit of all.

Are you an organization or does your company undertake sustainable efforts? Join SustainableFirst.com and get worldwide visibility while inspiring others to emulate your great work; contact SustainableFirst.com at partners@sustainablefirst.com