March updates from GreenStep Sustainable Tourism:
It’s no surprise that March 2021 marks one year since the start of the pandemic – and one year of dealing with unknowns and challenges. If this year has taught us anything, it is the adaptability and resiliency of the tourism industry. We have heard that message echoed again and again, in virtual forums and conferences, from industry associations and from business owners and operators. We’ve also heard the message of building back the tourism industry in a better, more sustainable way. If you are a tourism business or destination who is part of that conversation but don’t know how or where to start, one step in the right direction is by taking our free sustainability score. It’s a quick way (30-60 min) to assess how you are currently doing by establishing a baseline sustainability measurement of your business or destination. Only by having a baseline can we create goals and action plans to help us move in the right direction!
In this issue, we welcome our newest PLATINUM member 40 Knots Winery (located in Comox, BC), our GOLD member Echo Valley Ranch & Spa (located in Clinton, BC), and our new SILVER members from the InnHotels family: Stony Plain Hotel & Suites, and Sunrise Inn & Suites (both located in Stony Plain, AB).
Our newest blog post from CEO Angela Nagy gives the 7 best practices for sustainable tourism destinations, read the full blog post here.
Welcoming New & Returning Members
PLATINUM
40 Knots Winery – Comox, BC
GOLD
Echo Valley Ranch & Spa – Clinton, BC
SILVER
Stony Plain Hotel & Suites – Stony Plain, AB
Sunrise Inn & Suites – Stony Plain, AB
AWAITING GRADING
Canmore Inn & Suites – Canmore, AB
Canmore Rocky Mountain Inn – Canmore, AB
Copper Point Resort – Invermere, BC
Grande Cache Inn & Suites – Grande Cache, AB
Invermere Inn & Suites – Invermere, BC
Jasper Inn & Suites – Jasper, AB
Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort – Thompson-Nicola E, BC
Sunwolf Riverside Cabins & Fergie’s Cafe – Squamish, BC
Terracana Ranch & Resort – Fraser-Fort George, BC
The Suites Red Deer – Red Deer County, AB
Tourism Kelowna – Kelowna, BC
Wickaninnish Inn – Tofino, BC
Tell your MP that Tourism Counts!
Click here to send your letter now.
Canadian Tourism Awards – Nominations Opening April 6
The Canadian Tourism Awards are presented annually by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada to recognize success, leadership and innovation in Canada’s tourism industry. The Awards honour those people, places, organizations and events that have gone above and beyond to offer travellers superior tourism experiences in Canada.
Website launches and nominations OPEN Tuesday, April 6th, 2021.
Resources
Tourism Digital Academy – Self Guided
Destination BC
The Tourism Digital Academy is a free, 8-week digital marketing program. A Self-Guided option has now been made available for tourism businesses who prefer the freedom of working at their own pace.
Upcoming (Virtual) Events
World Travel & Trade Council – Global Summit
April 25 – 27, 2021
The World Travel & Tourism Council has announced “Uniting the World for Recovery” as the key theme for its annual Global Summit, which is now open for registration. WTTC’s annual Global Summit brings together the highest-level industry leaders with key government representatives to take action on the biggest and most important issues across the international agenda.
Climate Friendly Travel Strong Earth Youth Summit
April 29, 2021
SUNx Malta will host the first ever climate friendly youth travel summit in April 2021. The ‘Strong Earth Youth Summit’ (SEYS) will include lectures, workshops and other educational activities aimed at highlighting the need for a clean and green post-pandemic future for the tourism sector, in accordance with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and 2050 Paris Agreement.
The virtual event will be in partnership with Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA), British Columbia, Canada; Institute of Tourism Studies, Malta (ITS); and the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO).