March 4^th 2013 was an important day for the Youth Career Initiative (YCI) Costa Rica. Two hotels, the Marriott Costa Rica San José and the Real InterContinental, celebrated the beginning of the second program cycle of the initiative to take place in San José. This inauguration marked the official re-launch of YCI in Costa Rica after the program had to be put on hold for several years.

YCI was first piloted in San José in 2008 by the two hotel properties with an initial intake of 14 participants. However, the economic downturn led to the program being inoperative for four years. This spring, the program was re-launched with 22 new students supported by Aldeas Infantiles SOS (SOS Children’s Villages) Costa Rica, a non-governmental organization dedicated to providing foster care to children and young people at risk. The organization supports them in building their own future, advocates for their rights and participates in the development of their communities.

The Marriott hosted the inauguration event, which was attended by the new program participants and the General Managers of the two participating hotels. The Youth Career Initiative is thoroughly embedded in the local community in all its program markets and therefore the opening ceremony was also attended by representatives from the Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje (INA) and the Patronato Nacional de la Infancia (PANI), as well as by board members of Aldeas Infantiles and the technical team of the three Aldeas programs who had supported the young people throughout the recruitment process.

As part of the YCI course, the young participants will be attending over 750 training hours combining theoretical and practical classes. The latter include mentoring in life and work skills, with most of the teaching coming from senior managers and highly experienced associates from the hotels. At the end of the six-month program, the students will be issued with an official certificate of achievement. The intensive training will considerably enhance the students’ chances of finding employment within and beyond the hospitality sector.

During the event, one of the great emotional moments was the presentation by a graduate from the first generation who has now secured a good job thanks to the training received through YCI. The General Managers of the participating hotels added that they had worked their way up the career ladder from entry-level positions. These contributions really inspired their young audience, proving that education and hard work are fundamental to a good future.

By the end of the event, all invitees enjoyed a coffee break and the students seized the opportunity to share their ideas and expectations with the staff from both hotels. 20 year-old Ligia looks forward to the new opportunities in professional and personal growth through participating in the training. Meanwhile Raquel, 18, points out that YCI can open doors in many places and hopes it will enable her to reach senior-level positions and to proactively build her own career.

There are very few industries in which competitors have come together and collaborated to address the problem of inconsistent carbon reporting. Despite increasing concerns that carbon reporting is a ‘tick box’ exercise, non-comparable and ultimately informs little about the actual positive change a company is making, collaboration for the sake of a solution often seems a step too far.

The global hotel industry is proving that it’s not. The Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative (HCMI), created by the World Tourism and Travel Council (WTTC) and International Tourism Partnership (ITP), is the first consistent approach to reporting in the industry.

With members of both organizations being fundamental in its development the tool has been created by the industry, for the industry and has consequently proved both relevant and simple to implement. As one ITP member comments, "HCMI looks simple, but a huge amount of effort went into making it simple so that everyone can use it".

The tool has been developed to be robust enough to meet global carbon reporting standards but also practical enough for any hotel to implement. The voluntary and free measurement is flexible and user-friendly, designed to be applied to any hotel, from huge casino hotels to small bed and breakfasts.

At the recent WTTC Annual Summit in Abu Dhabi, Bill Clinton acknowledged the importance of HCMI in his keynote address, stating that the travel industry has already started to take on the environmental agenda and that he was delighted to see the development of HCMI, thanking all companies involved for their collective efforts on it.

The theme at this year’s WTTC Annual Summit was ‘a time for leadership’ and Bill Clinton praised what the tourism industry has achieved to date. As the voice for sustainability and responsibility in the hospitality industry, and a facilitator of collaboration and leadership, the International Tourism Partnership and its 16 members have played a key role in these achievements through practical programs like HCMI. Members continually put aside individual interests for the common good.

 As well as enabling consistent reporting, HCMI offers a real chance to advance awareness of environmental impacts and help people start to manage these better. Carbon reporting is moving from something which companies do on a voluntary basis to a legal requirement and companies who prepare early can be ahead of the game.

Robert McCann, Corporate Responsibility Manager, Environmental Sustainability at InterContinental Hotels Group states the three main benefits of having a common methodology across the industry to be enabling fairer comparison, saving time and providing greener meetings. He goes on to comment,

“IHG has built HCMI 1.0 into our online sustainability programme IHG Green Engage, which enables our hotels to measure, manage and reduce their environmental impacts and includes over 200 green solutions for our hotels to implement. Providing hotels have up-to-date utility and fuel data in IHG Green Engage and correct information about the hotel such as floor areas, then the carbon calculations are done for them by IHG Green Engage. Therefore, hotels are finding HCMI 1.0 very easy to use because we've been able to automate it for them – which was one of our key objectives when participating in this process. HCMI 1.0 will only be successful if it's used at scale, and embedding in our tool enables just that.”

WTTC and ITP member companies have agreed to have HCMI in place across their portfolios by the 2014 RFP season which is June 2013.

Fran Hughes, Head of Programmes at ITP comments, “We are working hard to embed the methodology and achieve maximum take up. We hope to increase the ‘supply’ of information by reaching out to other hotel groups about HCMI, as well as to travel management companies and global distribution systems to ensure they are aware that carbon footprint information is available and making sure it can be provided to the customer in the most straightforward format.”

In order to achieve consistency across the industry ITP have recently engaged with existing travel trade associations and certification schemes. So far HCMI has achieved significant buy in from, amongst others, the Green Industry Meeting Council, American Hotel & Lodging Association, Ecompter, Green Tourism Business Scheme and the Irish Green Hospitality Programme.

TripAdvisor^®, the world’s largest travel site announced the launch of its new TripAdvisor GreenLeaders™ program, helping its community of more than 200 million travelers plan greener trips by highlighting U.S. accommodations engaging in environmentally-friendly practices. Developed in partnership with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR® program, the U.S. Green Building Council, and the United Nations Environment Programme, qualifying hotels and B&Bs will be awarded TripAdvisor GreenLeaders status based on the green practices the property has in place.

A comprehensive list of eco-friendly practices are evaluated, from linen and towel re-use, recycling and composting through to solar panels, electric car charging stations and green roofing. Accommodations that do not meet the requirements for TripAdvisor GreenLeaders, but do have the seven minimum green practices in place, will be awarded TripAdvisor GreenPartner status.

Travelers will be able to tailor their search on TripAdvisor for hotels participating in the TripAdvisor GreenLeaders program, and view a detailed list of environmentally-friendly practices that they can expect at each location. TripAdvisor’s community of travelers will also be invited to comment on a hotel's green credentials following a stay at a participating property, and in the future their feedback will be displayed on the site. 

The program has launched with a group of more than 1,000 properties, comprised of independent hotels to multinational brands, including Best Western, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International and Select Registry, as well as numerous independent hotels. New applications for entry into the TripAdvisor GreenLeaders program will continue to be reviewed against a set of environmental criteria developed for TripAdvisor by a leading environmental consulting firm, with input from expert partners.

As recently revealed by the TripBarometer by TripAdvisor, the world’s largest accommodation and traveler survey¹, 79 percent of travelers place importance on properties implementing eco-friendly practices, and 85 percent of U.S. hoteliers indicate that they currently have green practices in place.

“TripAdvisor GreenLeaders uniquely details accommodations’ green practices complemented by feedback from the millions in the TripAdvisor traveler community,” said Jenny Rushmore, director of responsible travel at TripAdvisor. “The transparency of the program makes it easy for environmentally-conscious travelers to plan and book a greener trip.”

“Through its Energy Star program, EPA is proud to partner with TripAdvisor to help launch this breakthrough initiative to help foster greener travel across the country,” said Jean Lupinacci, chief of EPA’s Energy Star program for Commercial Buildings and Industrial Plants. “Thousands of hotels across America are actively managing their energy use and related greenhouse gas emissions with help from Energy Star. Now, through the TripAdvisor GreenLeaders program, travelers will have the information they need to choose these types of sustainability-minded hotels.”

Properties interested in registering for the GreenLeaders program can visit green.tripadvisor.com for more information.

NATURAL HABITAT ADVENTURES has been selected by Outside, America’s leading multimedia active-lifestyle brand, as a recipient of its second annual Active Travel Awards.  Natural Habitat Adventures was honored with the top award - BEST OUTFITTER. The full list of award winners will be published in the April issue of Outside magazine, available on newsstands March 12, 2013.

"Outside magazine has long been one of the world's most trusted advisors for active and adventurous travelers," says Outside Editor Christopher Keyes. "In addition to truly award-worthy destinations and travel providers, this year we unearthed a handful of amazing new frontiers in active travel. Our annual awards honor the year’s best operators, trips, hotels, lodges, luggage, islands, and new destinations that will be an invaluable travel resource for years to come." 

To select this year’s awards, Outside tapped its global network of correspondents, who spent months on the road traveling the globe to report this year’s definitive roundup of award winners.

“We’re thrilled to be recognized by Outside,”says Ben Bressler, Natural Habitat’s founder and director. “The award is a confirmation of our mission – which is to immerse small groups of travelers in the wonders of the natural world, guided by the best naturalist Expedition Leaders on the planet. When our guests get close to wildlife – whether it’s the polar bears of Churchill or India’s threatened tigers -- they become passionate about protecting it, and that’s a crucial goal of ours.”

Natural Habitat’s conservation commitment is furthered by its status as official travel partner of World Wildlife Fund. Since 2003 NHA has donated more than $1.4 million to the non-profit. And in 2006, NHA became the world’s first carbon-neutral travel company, paying to offset its trips’ carbon emissions.

The recent creation of Natural Habitat Expeditions, NHA’s higher-adrenaline slate of active adventures, also caught the eye of Outside editors, who named the company’s Antarctica: Ultimate Polar Nature Expedition “the best trip this year.”

The 18-day private sailing expedition to the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands features an exhilarating crossing of the Drake Passage aboard a 75-foot sailboat; nine days exploring the peninsula’s channels, bays, islands and icebergs by sailboat, kayak and on foot; camping on the ice among myriad wildlife; and a return flight to Punta Arenas, Chile. Two departures are planned for December/January 2014-15, accommodating just eight qualified guests on each. 

Travel Oregon, in partnership with Sustainable Travel International, will donate more than $14,000 to projects throughout Oregon that improve the environment, support local culture and enrich the destination for future visitors through the Oregon Travel Philanthropy Fund (OTPF).

Cozumel has taken a giant leap forward in its quest to become one of the world’s leading sustainable destinations, through the completion of a comprehensive diagnostic and the development of an action plan focused on three priority destination stewardship initiatives.
 

JANUARY 2013 - For 35 young adults in Mumbai 2013 is a year of great expectations. Having successfully completed the six-month Youth Career Initiative programme, they begin a life full of more opportunity and choice.

As graduate Rohit Gupta, now employed at the Hyatt Regency hotel puts it, ‘the Youth Career Initiative has opened up a whole new world of opportunities for me.’

With 75 million youth looking for work worldwide, youth unemployment is a global problem. India is particularly affected, since 50% of its population is under 25 years old. At the same time, businesses lack access to skilled workers, an issue that is widespread in the developing world and can be detrimental to business growth. One programme that closes this gap is the Youth Career Initiative (YCI), run by the International Tourism Partnership.

YCI works with local charities to identify disadvantaged young people, who have completed high school education but have limited or no opportunities of finding employment or continuing education, and then places them in the YCI six-month education programme. The programme has been designed by YCI and is delivered in partnership with the international hotel industry, involving over 750 hours of combined classroom-based and practical training.  In India alone Courtyard Mumbai by Marriott, the Four Seasons Mumbai, the Hyatt Regency Mumbai, the JW Marriott Mumbai, the Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel, the Park Navi Mumbai and the Trident Bandra Kurla Mumbai are all participating in the programme.

The programme is designed to provide students with transferable skills, work experience and job opportunities whilst making good business sense for the hotel companies involved. YCI not only feeds into the hotel groups’ corporate social responsibility targets but also allows them to grow and nurture a pool of committed and loyal staff.

The wider community also benefits. When a YCI graduate is offered a job at the end of the education programme, their income has a positive effect on an average of four additional people in their family.  And so the socio-economic impact of the scheme works like a ripple effect throughout disadvantaged communities.

YCI piloted its first India programme in Mumbai in June 2012. Since the six-month programme finished in November, all of the graduates have found employment, with many receiving two or three job offers. They are now working at the participating hotel properties, independent restaurant chains, cafés, and other hotels in the city. One student has gone back to complete his education and is eager to join the hotel industry later on. This 100% success rate was reached within merely one week of the course finishing.

Ms. Majima, Training Manager at Trident Bandra Kurla, says that YCI has given them the chance to get their own hotel staff engaged: ‘The trainers at the hotel felt involved knowing they would transform these kids into something fabulous after six-months. Of course we did have our little ups and downs, highlights of happiness, a little sulking and moments of celebration. This has truly been a rewarding experience for us.’

The Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel hosted the graduation ceremony where the proud students were cheered on by their families and friends, their mentors from the 7 participating hotels and other supporting organisations. Saeid Heidari, General Manager of the Renaissance adds: ‘It’s great to see the transformation in these young people from the day they first walked in to the hotel and today. This programme adds great value to the lives of these youth and we will continue to support YCI.’

The pilot was delivered with the support of a local not-for-profit, the Kherwadi Social Welfare Association, which has been working with underprivileged youth for almost 100 years. Kherwadi was responsible for the recruitment of the participants, the monitoring of the programme and for identifying job opportunities for the graduates.

The majority of students on the programme come from the Dharavi Slums area, where International Tourism Partnership’s Director, Stephen Farrant, recently went on an enlightening Reality Tour.  One of Asia’s largest slums, Dharavi is thought to be home to over 1 million people in just 2 sq. km and its small-scale industries turn over an impressive US$ 665 million a year. Commenting on his tour, Stephen appreciated being given the opportunity to see for himself where YCI participants have grown up, ‘Dharavi was full of real energy, creativity and dignity, despite the very obvious hardships and constraints.’ Summer Starr, Executive Director of Reality Gives later commented, ‘I was thoroughly impressed with the YCI graduation - our girls really blossomed in the 6 months they were in the program.’

To find out more about the experiences of the students, mentors and partners participating in the India pilot, watch the latest YCI video.

YCI is currently running in 12 countries, India being its latest addition. Each year, 57 leading hotels empower over 450 young people. Globally, 85% of graduates either go into employment or into further education.  YCI is looking to grow in India with the next programme planned for New Delhi. Many Indian hotels have seen the value of this initiative and are keen to participate.

YCI is a programme run by the International Tourism Partnership. For more information see International Tourism Partnership or Youth Career Initiative website.

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The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has unveiled the twelve finalists for its 2013 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. Award applications were received this year from 46 countries, representing all continents.

The 2013 Condé Nast Traveler World Savers Awards process is underway, with applications due on February 15. As a reminder, the World Savers Awards recognize travel companies that are doing good in five categories: environmental and cultural preservation; poverty relief; education initiatives; health initiatives; and wildlife conservation.

All travel companies, large and small – airlines, cruise lines, resorts, city hotels, hotel chains, and tour operators – are welcome to apply. This year for the first time, Conde Nast Traveler is launching a new awards category: Sustainable Destination.

The Destinations Award will go to a tourism destination that is implementing impressive environmental and social policies, as well as tourism planning to guarantee the destination will continue to improve on those fronts.

Please download applications at condenasttraveler.com/worldsavers.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE, OSE: RCL) announced on December 13, 2012 that it was recognized as one of the top 100 companies in the world for its sustainability practices by being added to the NASDAQ OMX CRD Global Sustainability Index.

The NASDAQ OMX CRD Global Sustainability Index is designed to track the performance of companies that are taking a leadership role in sustainability performance reporting. These companies have voluntarily disclosed their carbon footprint, energy usage, water consumption, hazardous and non-hazardous waste, employee safety, workforce diversity, management composition and community investing.

"Royal Caribbean's addition to the NASDAQ OMX CRD Global Sustainability Index is recognition of our status as a global leader for its sustainability practices," said Richard D. Fain, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. "Conserving the marine environment is an integral part of our economic success. Our goal and that of our industry in general is to protect the marine environment and sustain the well-being of the people and destinations we serve. We appreciate the efforts made by NASDAQ and CRD Analytics to genuinely measure the performance of listed companies, and this recognition encourages and affirms our sustainability efforts."

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. recently published its annual Stewardship Report, which provides updates on the company's recent performance, progress and activities for Azamara Club Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International in nine important areas of stewardship: energy and air emissions; water and wastewater; waste and chemical management; conservation, destinations and education; community involvement; safety and security; medical operations; public health; and human resources.