Sustainable Travel International Gives its First Four Star Rating

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Sustainable Travel International announced that Escape Adventures has just received its highest honor yet, a 4 out of 5-star rating through its Sustainable Tourism Eco-certification Program(TM) (STEP).

STEP is the only global certification system offered by a non-profit organization that is designed to assist the international travel and tourism industry in attaining sustainability. STEP addresses the major environmental, socio-cultural and economic problems facing the tourism industry and the planet at large including global climate change, loss of biodiversity, waste management, economic development, and social issues.

‘STEP is undoubtedly one of the most challenging sustainable tourism certification initiatives in the travel and tourism industry because of the regimented and thorough criteria,’ said Brian T. Mullis, president of Sustainable Travel International. ‘We are hoping that this new precedent will raise the bar for other tour operators who may not be as ‘green’ as they claim and hopefully give other responsible companies something to aspire to.’

‘Many meticulous months of on-site and in house audits and the adoption of new sustainability programs finally paid off,’ explains Jared Fisher owner of Escape Adventures ‘We’ve discovered that instituting environmental, economic and socially-conscious measures makes good business sense as it results in increased competitive advantage and market reach while helping us to sustain our natural treasures,’ Fisher concludes.

Some of the best practices instituted at Escape Adventures that paved the way for the company to achieve certification include:

• Collecting used kitchen vegetable grease from local restaurants to fuel their tour vehicles,
• Growing their own organic produce for their guest’s consumption,
• Recycling 90% of company and guest waste,
• Using only recycled products and buy merchandise with little or no packaging, and
• Installing solar panels at their warehouse, office and bike shops

About Escape Adventures
Specializing in western North America, Escape Adventures is a leader in first-class eco-friendly cycling and multi-sport adventure. In 2006, we became the world’s first carbon neutral outfitter, bringing sustainable adventure to all the places we visit, from Alaska to Belize and beyond. By simply joining a tour with us, outdoor enthusiasts are now helping to preserve the beautiful backcountry areas they enjoy.

For more information, visit www.escapeadventures.com.

About STEP
Concern about the environmental, socio-cultural, and economic impacts of travel and tourism has increased in recent years. In the U.S. alone, more than half of all adults say they would be more likely to select an airline, rental car or hotel that uses more environmentally friendly products and processes. And 58.5 million Americans say they would pay more to use travel companies that strive to protect and preserve the environment.

Conscientious consumers are now demanding best practices within the travel industry that protect the places they visit, and the planet at large. In response to this demand, STI has developed the Sustainable Tourism Eco-Certification Program™ (STEP), the world’s first comprehensive, global sustainable tourism eco-certification program offered by a non-profit organization. STEP is designed to be user-friendly, educational in nature, practical as a measurement and management tool, and applicable to tourism businesses of all sizes, including newcomers to sustainability, those wanting to improve their existing approach, and businesses that have long-standing sustainability programs.

For more information on STEP, please visit www.ecocertification.org.

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