Through a partnership with with EC3 Global — a certifier of sustainable travel and tourism organizations — Travelocity is now offering shoppers access to a wide range of “green” properties throughout Asia-Pacific.

No self certification

To date, Travelocity has flagged more than 1,900 hotels site-wide with the eco-friendly leaf and the company works with an elite group of certification programs. To have its hotels included in the Green Hotel Directory, a certification program must have a checklist that closely aligns with the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria.

The criteria was developed by the Tourism Sustainability Council, a global coalition of U.N. bodies, research and academic institutions, social and environmental NGOs, certification programs, and it offers a comprehensive picture of what it means to be sustainable.

“It’s important that our eco-friendly leaf icon in the hotel shopping path is a symbol consumers can trust,” says Alison Presley, manager of Travelocity’s Travel for Good program. “There is no way to verify that a self-certified hotel is truly sustainable. And we know our consumers depend on us to hold the line against greenwashing.”

Through EC3 Global, Travelocity is able to flag hotels in destinations like Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, China, and more. Each of these properties has been audited by a qualified third-party professional who checks the effectiveness of sustainable practices applied. EC3 Global manages the EarthCheck Certification and Benchmarking Program, which is used by more than 1,000 organizations in more than 60 countries.

Mainstream responsibility

Travelocity doesn’t just promote eco-friendly products—the company is also working hard to reduce its own footprint and to promote sustainability within the travel industry. The company’s sustainability efforts start at home with its LEED Silver certified headquarters. And to date, Travelocity and its customers have helped The Conservation Fund plant more than 24,000 trees across five national wildlife refuges that will trap an estimated 25,400 metric tons of CO2 over the life of those forests.

The company is also a founding member of the Tourism Sustainability Council, which is working toward a more sustainable future for the industry.

For more, visit both Travelocity and EC3 Global online.

Designed to educate, as well as help luxury hotels create and implement a sustainability management framework, LECS is the first and only voluntary, global certification program of its kind. Focusing on Triple Bottom Line (People, Planet and Profit), the comprehensive standard aligns with impending global accreditation through the Tourism Stewardship Council.

With sustainable tourism on the rise, Leading Hotels spearheaded a new partnership between STI, the global non-profit leader in sustainable travel solutions, and Leading Quality Assurance (LQA), a joint venture of Leading Hotels that specializes in quality assurance, benchmarking and training to the luxury hospitality industry. Together, they created an innovative program, which carries out evaluations in five areas: policy and documentation; energy conservation; water conservation; recycling; and community. The fusion of these five components will reduce long-term operating costs, and create customer and employee good will.

In order to become LECS certified, hotels must undergo a preliminary desk audit, complimented by an on-site, third-party assessment handled by LQA. The process of becoming LECS eco-certified is challenging and requires a serious commitment on behalf of the hotel applicant, and Tabacón Grand Spa Thermal Resort exemplifies this commitment on many levels.

Perhaps principal among them is the fact that two underground reservoirs provide all of the hotel’s water – both hot and cold – eliminating the need to use any other energy sources for heating or cooling it. The hotel also has in place significant practices for conserving water and electricity, and recycling a variety of materials.

In addition to engaging vigorously in staff training, the hotel offers guests opportunities to support its sustainability initiatives through tree-planting projects, contributions to the local community development fund, and making local products and handcrafts available for sale in its shops.

Commenting on the resort’s philosophy, Uwe Wagner, general manager, noted, “One may not be able to change the world, but one can certainly make a big difference in the place where you live, making it a better place for everyone.”

Brian T. Mullis, President of Sustainable Travel International stated, “The Luxury Eco Certification Standard has set a new precedent in the luxury accommodation sector. An increasing number of five-star hoteliers around the world are applying for eco-certification. They’ve excelled in quality and service and now want to demonstrate their commitment to helping to safeguard the natural and cultural heritage of our planet for future generations.”

Several other members of The Leading Hotels of the World are slated to complete the inspection process by late summer. Hotels interested in pursuing LECS certification, can visit www.leadingquality.com or www.ecocertification.org. For more information about Leading Green, visit www.lhwgreen.com.

Launched in early 2010, the site aims to help prospective visitors find information on green-certified hotels in Massachusetts; utilizing certification programs like the Green Key Eco-Rating Program.

MA GREEN is comes equipped with a dual mission: First, serve the industry by providing resources and guidance to help travel businesses adopt environmentally sound practices; second, provide information to consumers seeking to stay at green hotels in their travels to the Bay State.

The Green Key program was a philosophical match for MA GREEN, as the comprehensive Green Key environmental audit was developed specifically for hotel operators.

“We had the opportunity to tag along for the on-site inspection of a Green Key member hotel in Boston and we were impressed with the comprehensive nature of the program,” explained Betsy Wall, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism. “The auditor was very knowledgeable, property management was actively engaged in the process, and it was clear that Green Key had helped make sustainable practices – at some level – the responsibility of every associate at that hotel.”

Green Key, the first program of its kind to rank, certify and audit hotels and resorts based on their commitment to sustainable “green” operations, is a joint venture in the United States between LRA Worldwide, Inc. and the Hotel Association of Canada. Green Key has been in operation in Canada for more than ten years, coming to U.S. in September of 2009; the program currently has more than 1,300 member hotels.

Already gaining ground

In Massachusetts, the Fairmont Battery Wharf, Fairmont Copley Plaza and The Seaport Hotel have all earned 4-Key Ratings and a listing on the MA GREEN site, with a number of additional properties in the midst of completing the audit.

“The MA GREEN team has done a great job vetting the various certification programs in the marketplace and partnering with the best-of-breed in a particular facet of green lodging,” said Zach Conen, Green Key Vice President of Sales & Marketing, U.S. Region.

“We’re gratified that we were selected for our focus on green hotel operations and practices. We can’t wait to start working with additional hotels in Massachusetts to help them measure and enhance their environmental programs and gain recognition in the marketplace for their efforts.”

For more, visit http://www.massvacation.com/green_guide.php.

Green Key, one of the first and most popular programs of its kind, inspects, ranks and certifies hotels and resorts based on their commitment to sustainable “green” practices.

“Accor is widely recognized within the global hospitality industry as being a leader in sustainability initiatives,” said Tony Pollard, managing director of Green Key Global. “We are confident that Green Key will become an important part of Accor North America’s efforts to protect and preserve the environment.”

The ANA/Green Key pilot will include representatives from the Motel 6, Sofitel and Studio 6 brands; those properties selected for the pilot will participate in the entire Green Key certification process, including:

• A comprehensive 150-question online self-audit covering a broad range of operational areas and sustainable practices
• Being ranked from 1 to 5 Keys based on responses to audit questions
• Receipt of a performance report with recommendations, best practices and potential areas for improvement and savings
• Listing on the www.greenkeyglobal.com website, a resource for environmentally-conscious travelers
• Access to online member resources and tools
• On-site verification of self-audit responses by Green Key auditors

In the course of the pilot, ANA corporate leadership will evaluate the program and decide whether to move forward with a larger rollout throughout the United States.

“Our Green Key properties in Canada have touted the environmental, financial and marketing benefits of the program for several years,” explained Renée Swoger, manager of Energy & Environment Services for Accor North America. “We have been waiting for Green Key to migrate to the United States for some time; needless to say, we are eager to launch the pilot.”

The cornerstone of the Green Key program is its focus on sound sustainable practices specifically for the lodging industry. The audit was developed by two leading environmental engineering firms with support from the Canadian Government to withstand the scrutiny of a wide range of environmental experts; the program had been operating exclusively in Canada since 1997 prior to its launch in the United States this September.

Currently, there are over 1,200 Green Key members, including 21 Accor properties in Canada.

Both supporting organizations possess a long history of environmental stewardship in Mexico as well as certification of sustainable agriculture.

“Our mission at PRONATURA has been the conservation of flora, fauna and priority ecosystems, while promoting society’s development in harmony with nature,” said PRONATURA Executive Director Ms. Rosa Vidal. “Our organization has been a pioneer for more than 25 years, linking environmental projects to local capacity building, environmental policy development, a focus on gender issues and innovation in financial services.

“Within the last decade, PRONATURA has been part of the remarkable efforts in Mexico to achieve social, environmental and economic sustainability,” she continued. “From this work a number of independent organizations, companies and networks have been born. PRONATURA has been at the heart of these initiatives which support new partners and alliances working for a better world.

“Today we are proud of supporting the incorporation of Green Globe Mexico, a sister company which certainly will be the landmark for green and sustainable tourism and related services in Mexico. We know that tourism businesses recognize the importance of better management of natural resources, energy and waste and with Green Globe Mexico there is a very good opportunity to offer qualified services in Spanish language to this important sector”, concluded Ms Vidal.

Agent for green

Green Globe is a worldwide sustainability certification based on internationally accepted criteria for sustainable operation and management of travel and tourism businesses. Based in California, it operates in over 83 countries via the Green Globe Alliance and is currently the only certification company to be an affiliate member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and is partly owned by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).

Green Globe Mexico will also assist Green Globe clients in Latin American with their inclusion in the inaugural Green Globe Book, a compendium of the best travel and tourism businesses, as well as provide business support for clients with their promotion at Luxury Travel Show Las Vegas, ITB Berlin, IMEX Frankfurt, Arabian Travel Market and other international travel shows.

“We are honored to be associated with the sustainability initiatives and programs in Mexico via our new license with Green Globe Mexico,” stated Green Globe Certification CEO, Mr. Guido Bauer. “Green Globe Mexico is a 100% owned and registered Mexican company, which means they will be able to meet the specific needs of their clients using Green Globe’s Spanish language system. Furthermore with their years of experience they will be able to ensure all Green Globe clients in Mexico are compliant with all Mexican as well as international regulations.”

Plans are already underway to utilize the experience and network from Green Globe Mexico’s office to deliver the Green Globe Spanish language program in El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Guatemala and throughout Latin America.

For more information, visit www.greenglobe.com.

But 2010 is a time for positive change, as the organization recently added 19 hotels to its roster, surpassing the 600 member mark.

With the new designations, the program has surpassed 600 members – to a grand total of 614 designated properties statewide – that have made their resolutions to protect Florida’s environment by becoming designated members of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Green Lodging program.

“Earning designation in the Florida Green Lodging program is an achievement these 614 facilities can be proud of,” said DEP director of sustainable initiatives Deas Bohn. “The environmental commitment demonstrated by Green Lodging facilities serves as an example and challenge to other hotels to adopt innovative green practices, conserve resources and save money.”

To become a designated member of the voluntary program, lodging facilities adopt cost-saving green practices to conserve energy, reduce water consumption, protect air quality and reduce waste.

As reward for designation, the state is recommending designated properties in the Florida Green Lodging program to companies and trade organizations seeking environmentally conscious lodging and convention facilities.

The 19 new designations include: Addison on Amelia, Amelia Island; Country Inn and Suites, Gainesville; Sleep Inn and Suites, Panama City Beach; Barefoot’n in the Keys, Kissimmee; Crowne Plaza Tampa Westshore, Tampa; Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club, Innisbrook; and Hampton Inn and Suites, Wellington.

Additional new designations include: Hampton Inn West Palm Beach Vista Center, West Palm Beach; InterContinental West Miami, Doral; Largo Mar Resort and Club, Fort Lauderdale; Marriott’s BeachPlace Towers, Fort Lauderdale; Marriott’s Ocean Pointe, Palm Beach Shores; Ramada Inn, Stuart; Springhill Suites by Marriott, Boca Raton; The Diplomat Golf Resort & Spa, Hallandale; The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale; Towne Place Suites, Boca Raton; Holiday Inn Fort Myers Airport at Town Center, Fort Myers; and Ocean Dawn Suites, Islamorada.

For more information about the Florida Green Lodging program, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/greenlodging.

“From its intense focus on water conservation to the multiple strategies for energy efficiency, the CityCenter team has delivered several exceptional properties that qualify for the LEED Gold rating,” said S. Richard Fedrizzi, President, CEO and Founding Chair, USGBC. “Extreme climates challenge the most creative of project teams, and the CityCenter team has risen to the occasion and then some. We congratulate them on their significant achievement.”

CityCenter is an unprecedented urban metropolis opening in December 2009 on 67 acres between Bellagio and Monte Carlo resorts on the Las Vegas Strip. This Gold LEED certification is the highest LEED achievement by any hotel, retail district or residential development in Las Vegas.

“From its inception to design, development and construction, we had one single goal in mind for CityCenter: create a destination that is not only built in an environmentally sustainable manner, but also operates every day with an equal commitment to conserving natural resources,” said Bobby Baldwin, president and CEO, CityCenter. “As we approach CityCenter’s opening next month, now with six LEED Gold recognitions, we’re very close to sharing with the world a remarkable demonstration that a community can be both beautiful and sustainable.”

CityCenter is paving the way for other entities to build and operate sustainably. As recently honored by the Forest Stewardship Council-US (FSC-US), CityCenter’s dedication to the use of sustainably harvested FSC-certified wood products is unprecedented in scale and resulted in a significant market transformation, including multiple wood suppliers receiving their FSC chain of custody certification to supply wood to the development.

Other sustainability highlights include:

• First energy-generation on The Strip through its 8.5 megawatt natural-gas co-generation plant, providing efficient electricity on site, reducing emissions and using “waste heat” to provide domestic hot water
• World’s first fleet of stretch limos powered by clean-burning compressed natural gas (CNG)
• Water conservation technology and programs that will save between 30% and 43% of water within the buildings and 60% in outdoor landscaping, for an overall savings of approximately 50 million gallons annually
• Energy-efficiency initiatives providing a savings equivalent to powering 8,800 households annually
• Development of slot machine bases that serve as floor air-conditioning units, efficiently cooling guests from the ground up, rather than wasting energy on empty space by cooling from the ceiling
• Creation of a large-scale recycling operation that enabled the recycling or reuse of more than 260,000 tons of construction waste, more than 80% of the imploded Boardwalk Hotel
• Collaborating with the nation’s foremost sustainability and LEED consultants, CityCenter has introduced more than 10,000 construction trade and craftsmen to green building techniques that can be implemented at future developments

Green from the ground up

Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox, Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas is the first hotel in the prestigious Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group to receive a LEED rating. A sophisticated sanctuary of modern elegance, Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas will feature 392 rooms and suites and 225 residences. Opening December 4, 2009, the 47-story, non-gaming hotel and residences bring the legendary service of the renowned hotel group to Las Vegas for the first time.

Veer Towers, CityCenter’s only purely residential development, is a masterful translation of energy and excitement into physical form; its two 37-story glass towers shimmer day and night. Inclined at five-degree angles – a feature celebrated by the development’s name – the towers seem to dance with each other. Designed by famed architect Helmut Jahn, each tower will house approximately 335 modern condominium residences. Residential occupancies are slated to begin mid-January 2010.

Tony Dennis, executive vice president, CityCenter Residential Division, said “The LEED Gold certifications of CityCenter’s residential buildings are a brilliant example of sustainable development. In satisfying the growing demand for smart and environmentally responsible living, CityCenter’s green commitment is a meaningful point of pride for our homeowners and an element of value that is as important as our quality and service.”

CityCenter’s LEED certification effort was led by MGM MIRAGE’s Energy and Environmental Services Division along with a recognized group of sustainability consultants including CTG Energetics, Green Building Services, Viridian Energy & Environmental and Fore Solutions and Simon & Associates. CityCenter’s previous LEED Gold awards include ARIA Resort’s hotel tower, ARIA’s convention center and theater, Vdara Hotel & Spaand Crystals.

For more information, visit www.citycenter.com.

Scheduled to open their doors this coming December, ARIA and Vdara are the first of CityCenter’s developments to be LEED certified. CityCenter anticipates Gold or Silver LEED certification for its remaining developments which include Las Vegas’ first Mandarin Oriental; Crystals, a 500,000-square-foot retail and entertainment district; Veer Towers, the community’s only strictly residential buildings; and The Harmon (opening late 2010), a 400-room luxury boutique hotel.

The LEED Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. Meeting the rigorous environmental standards of LEED Gold Certification is a testament to the complete integration of sustainable principles throughout the design and construction of ARIA and Vdara, and the remainder of CityCenter.

“From the beginning we believed that intelligent design and sustainable practices would reinforce a sense of permanence for CityCenter and create a healthier, more appealing environment for guests, residents and our workforce,” said Bobby Baldwin, CityCenter’s president and CEO. “The LEED Gold certification for ARIA and Vdara is a great leap forward in our effort to redefine the destination resort experience and provide a true cultural center to the Las Vegas Strip.”

Collaborating with the foremost sustainability and LEED consultants from throughout the nation, CityCenter has introduced more than 10,000 construction trade and craftsmen to green building techniques that can be implemented at other developments throughout Las Vegas and beyond.

“The CityCenter team set a standard for responsible growth in Las Vegas by pursuing the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED certification,” added Cindy Ortega, MGM MIRAGE’s senior vice president of Energy and Environmental Services Division. “CityCenter’s pursuit of LEED is driving green economies of scale in multiple industry segments, paving the way for other entities to build and operate sustainably.”

CityCenter will serve as a demonstration that a community can be both attractive and sustainable while providing exceptional entertainment, hospitality, and meeting and convention experiences. This blend of nature and luxury will be evident in the design and construction solutions employed to achieve dramatic improvements in energy efficiency, water conservation, and occupant health and comfort.

Highlights of CityCenter’s LEED efforts include:

• Energy generation through an 8.5-megawatt natural-gas co-generation plant
• Water conservation technology and programs that  save between 30 and 43 percent of water within the buildings and 60 percent in landscaping
• World’s first fleet of stretch limos powered by clean-burning compressed natural gas (CNG)
• Nation’s most technologically advanced hotel rooms with exclusive features allowing guests to “green their stay”
• Development of slot machine bases that serve as floor air-conditioning distribution units, efficiently cooling public spaces from the ground up in the occupied zones, rather than wasting energy cooling the empty space below the ceiling
• Energy-efficiency initiatives providing a savings equivalent to powering 8,800 households annually
• Creation of a large-scale recycling operation that enabled the recycling or reuse of more than 260,000 tons of construction waste, including 97 percent of the imploded Boardwalk Hotel

CityCenter’s LEED certification effort was lead by MGM MIRAGE’s Energy and Environmental Services Division along with a recognized group of sustainability consultants including CTG Energetics, Green Building Services, Viridian Energy & Environmental, and The Fore Group.

Go to www.citycenter.com for more information.

That’s why I was so saddened to learn that due to drastic budget cuts, the FGLP as we know it will cease to exist on July 1st. According to a recent article in the Orlando Business Journal, the program’s budget of $337,000 was slashed to $63,000, and three of its four staff positions were eliminated.

You read that correctly – one employee and $63,000 to support the current stable of over 500 designated green properties, in addition to handling hundreds more that have filed their applications and are on the waiting list for FGLP approval.

Beginning July 1, initial site visits to determine compliance with program standards will become a thing of the past. Annual recertification will fall by the wayside, too, as will easily accessible expert advice from live DEP staff.

Instead, there will be occasional webinars, an online application process that will allow a property to assert that it has implemented its green initiative – and be approved – sight unseen, and a watered down renewal process.

FGLP’s official web site optimistically calls the changes ‘program improvements’ and attempts to calm fears that the model project will become nothing more than a rubber stamping mechanism that allows undeserving properties to falsely bill themselves as environmentally responsible. In part, the web site states:

Maintaining environmental excellence in the program is of utmost importance to DEP. While the program will now be administered primarily online, it will not be a self-certification program.

I did not add the bold print in the statement above; DEP did. Publicly declaring that the FGLP will not be a self-certification program sounds brave and decisive, but unfortunately it also sounds like wishful thinking.

The stakes are extremely high for hoteliers in Florida, where approximately half of all the state’s visitors (many of whom are eco-conscious travelers) stay in lodging facilities, and where the Governor has mandated that all state-related conferences and meetings be held in certified green lodges whenever possible.

Yes, there’s big money to be made from earning FGLP’s green certification. Since the program has been so skillfully administered thus far, green certification truly meant something in Florida. The properties that earned it had every reason to be proud, and the ones on the waiting list knew they’d have to tow the line to get certified.

There is now a realistic fear that green lodging designation in Florida will be as easy to come by as a bad sunburn.

I understand that times are hard. Every line item in every state’s budget is on the chopping block, so the gutting of FGLP is not a huge surprise. But it is a huge disappointment, and I sincerely hope that Florida will find a way to restore the program to its previous funding levels – and high standards – post-haste.

Has your city’s or state’s green lodging program also taken a funding hit? Tell us about it at info@ecogreenhotel.com.

Staying up to speed with the latest scientific data and developments in sustainability, Green Globe has increased its certification requirements to 248 separate line items for businesses including restaurants and hotels and resorts and in areas such as purchasing, emissions and energy. 

For each client, a selection of requirements is applied to the certification process to take into consideration factors such as the type of business, geographical location and additional unique aspects of the business and its local area.

“We are pleased to announce the roll-out of the latest version of Green Globe Certification requirements,” said Guido Bauer, CEO of Green Globe Certification. “These new requirements maintain the high standards that the world has come to expect of Green Globe Certification, while continuing to meet the individual needs of our clients as they verify their sustainability credentials through our program. Green Globe Certification will continue to update and improve its program to keep pace with the latest in sustainability research, while we deliver a user-friendly system which allows a broad cross section of businesses to participate.”

Registration for the Green Globe Index tool, which allows clients to calculate their carbon footprint and track their performance of energy and water consumption and non-recyclable waste production, has been included in the requirements.

While standards for Green Globe Certification are reviewed and updated throughout the year to comply with international criteria,  businesses that were previously certified by Green Globe will receive the latest updates with their next re-certification.

The Green Globe brand and program, which traces its roots back to the United Nations Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992, where 182 Heads of State endorsed the Agenda 21 principles of Sustainable Development, has primarily been used in the travel and tourism industry but is now being expanded to include a growing number of environmentally responsible businesses in a variety of market sectors.

The Green Globe brand is a symbol for the world’s increasing awareness of environmental responsibility and response to global climate change.

For more information on the updated certification standards, visit www.greenglobe.org.

He went on to say “Everyday we’re having 5 to 10 new properties complete our online self-audit. In the month of May alone we awarded the Green Eco-Leaf Rating to 122 properties ranging from Bed & Breakfasts to Luxury Spa Resorts. At our current rate of growth it is anticipated that over 1,000 properties will have received their rating before the end of summer.”

On Monday, May 4th, Maui Prince Hotel Makena Resort located in Makena, Hawaii became the 500th lodging property to complete iStayGreen.org ’s online self-audit earning a 3 Green Eco-Leaf Rating. The eco-rating allows the public to know the specific environmental initiatives in place at a property, which enables the environmentally conscious traveler to make informed lodging decisions.

To earn a Green Eco-Leaf Rating, hotels must complete a thorough self-audit, and then are rated based on their eco-initiatives. Community members can then quickly locate and compare “green” lodging worldwide with iStayGreen’s rapidly growing searchable directory of 100,000 lodging properties, as well as create their own profiles , add friends, recommend properties, upload photos, form groups , create and respond to forum threads, make reservations, and add comments and reviews to hotel profiles .

Properties complete the comprehensive online self-audit and earn a Green Eco-Leaf Rating ranging from one to five Eco-Leafs with 5 Green Eco-Leafs being the highest level attainable. Ratings are based on environmental initiatives in-place at the property. Only 9 properties have earned the coveted 5 Green Eco-Leaf Rating thus far; five in the United States and one in each of Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, and Ecuador.

It appears that the majority of properties completing the self-audit fall in the middle of the rating scale. The Green Eco-Leaf Ratings breakdown as follows: 9% 4 Eco-Leafs, 29% 3 Eco-Leafs, 39% 2 Eco-Leafs, and 23% 1 Eco-Leaf. While iStayGreen.org highest percentage of “Green” lodging is located in the United States, over 18% of the audited properties are located outside the U.S.

Richard Varner, founder of iStayGreen.org, states, “iStayGreen.org has grown from a few hundred visitors daily in the fall of last year when we had our soft-launch, to several thousand visitors daily searching for Green lodging.” He went on to say, “We’re experiencing exponential growth in the self-audit program as well, with 5-10 new properties earning the Green Eco-Leaf Rated daily.”

In April 119 hotels completed the online environmental self-audit and earned the Green Eco-Leaf Rating. Based on what is in the pipeline, it is anticipated that over 1,000 properties will have received their rating by the middle of summer.

The lodging industry recognizes the need to create a sustainable future for travel. Properties completing the self-audit and earning the Green Eco-Leaf Rating range from high rise metropolitan hotels to eco lodges, and from luxury resorts to family run bed and breakfasts.

Some properties that have recently completed the online self-audit program include:

• Gaia Napa Valley Hotel – American Canyon, CA
• Comfort Inn and Suites – Boston, MA
• Best Western Canyonlands Inn – Moab, UT
• Four Seasons Miami – Miami, FL
• Grand Hyatt New York – New York, NY
• Running Y Ranch – Klammath Falls, OR
• Hilton Americas Houston – Houston, TX
• Crowne Plaza Mission Valley – San Diego, CA
• St Regis Resort Aspen – Aspen, CO
• Radisson Hotel Sacramento – Sacramento, CA
• Spearfish Canyon Lodge – Spearfish, SD
• Seaport Hotel and Seaport World – Boston, MA
• Marriott Grand Hotel – Point Clear, AL
• Gaylord Texan Resort and Spa – Grapevine, TX
• Fairmont Scottsdale Princess – Scottsdale, AZ
• Nita Lake Lodge – Whistler, Canada
• Super 8 Saint Johns – Saint Johns, Canada
• Hotel Chateau Laurier – Quebec, Canada
• Best Western Kamloops – Kamloops, Canada
• Holiday Inn Express Suites Surrey – Surrey, Canada
• Napo Wildlife Center – Ecuador
• Hacienda Tres Rios – Tres Rios, Mexico

Lodging properties are gaining significant marketing advantage by promoting their Green initiatives, especially when those initiatives have 3rd Party endorsement, such as the Green Eco-Leaf Rating. iStayGreen.org encourages all lodging properties to take advantage of this marketing opportunity and complete the environmental self-audit to earn the Green Eco-Leaf Rating (http://www.istaygreen.org/ratings.cfm ). Presently the self-audit is being provided at no cost. Upon completion, the property is awarded a badge that is displayed on their website creating “Green” Trust with the eco-concerned traveler.

For more, visit www.istaygreen.org .

RBA will basically use the Green Globe "accreditation" to encourage businesses to adopt environmentally sustainable criteria, including participation in the Green Globe Certification program and the Green Globe Index.

"The next frontier in sustainable tourism is the creation of a recognized globally accredited certification that represents best practices, in the same way a Michelin star means culinary excellence, whether you are in Thailand, South Africa or New York," said Costas Christ, Senior Advisor to RBA. "This will be a major step forward for the global travel and tourism industry, and Green Globe is working hard to lead the way."

Founded in 2008, Responsible Business Alliance focuses mainly on social and environmental responsibility in Central America and the Caribbean. The RBA philosophy includes 5 fundamental pillars for business action: Community Benefits, Client Satisfaction, Human Resource Development, Environment Sustainability and Building Best Practice Alliances.

"To create a universal certification program which verifies tourism businesses’ sustainability credentials, we need partnerships in key locations across the world. RBA has strong credentials as CSR consultants in Central America and the Caribbean understand the many benefits businesses receive when they can publicize their achievements through Green Globe certification," according to Guido Bauer, CEO of Green Globe Certification.

"At the World Travel & Tourism Council Global Summit held in Brazil last week, the call for a universal ’sustainability label’ was again raised. Green Globe, with its 15 year history in worldwide sustainability certification, is diligently working to earn this recognition," said Bradley Cox, Chief Operating Officer of Green Globe International. "The global partnerships we have been building, most recently in Africa, Central America, the Caribbean, and the Asia Pacific, demonstrate Green Globe investment in global collaboration."

Green Globe International is an affiliate member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, while the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is a 5% common stock owner of Green Globe International. For more information on the company and its programs, visit www.greenglobe.org .

STEP 2.0 is the world’s first comprehensive, global sustainable tourism eco-certification program offered by a non-profit organization. The program is now both affordable and aligned with the minimum baseline Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC).

“Now STEP 2.0 is applicable to tourism businesses of all sizes, including newcomers to sustainability, those wanting to improve their existing approach, and even businesses that have long-standing green programs,” says Brian T. Mullis, president of Sustainable Travel International. “Our new certification program, which has taken seven years to develop, is differentiated from other programs because it is user-friendly, educational in nature, and is practical as a measurement and management tool. STEP has also been developed in consultation with worldwide stakeholders.”

STEP 2.0’s Structure encourages the tourism industry to undertake certification in a variety of easy to implement ways:

Economical entry via a new pricing model that lowers cost barriers. For example, the new fee structure starts as low as US$150 to apply with scaled fees for application processing based on the number of employees or hotel rooms,

Measurement and management factors that mirror tourism operational categories: Business Model, Guest Experience, Operations, Purchasing, Energy-Climate Management, Ecosystem Preservation, and Community Impacts,

User-friendly criteria that allows applicants to expand their efforts over time: 1 point is awarded for an “Incubator” start-up criterion, 3 points are awarded for an “Initiative” or action-oriented criterion, and 9 points are awarded for an “Integrated” or incorporated criterion,

Defined objectives by criteria and specific evidence required to verify compliance for on-site audits, should an applicant want to be recognized for compliance with the standard.

“The GSTC – based on thousands of best practices culled from the existing standards currently in use around the world – were developed to offer a common framework to guide the emerging practice of sustainable tourism and to help ensure that tourism helps, rather than harms, local communities and the environment,” explained Erika Harms, Executive Director of Sustainable Development for the United Nations Foundation, one of the initiators of the GSTC. “We are greatly encouraged to see eco-certification programs like STEP 2.0 embrace the GSTC.”

STI is a member of the Steering Committee of the Partnership for Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC Partnership) and has integrated the GSTC baseline criteria into STEP, while establishing STEP as the “Gold Standard” in sustainable tourism certification. STEP is bolstered by the globally recognizable Sustainable Travel International brand and market reach.

STEP is configured for the primary sectors of the travel and tourism industry including accommodations, attractions, transportation service providers, and tour operators. STEP addresses the triple bottom line of sustainable tourism and includes criteria that address people, profit and the planet. In addition, the program can be customized for destinations and trade associations to address their unique social, cultural, environmental and economic attributes, as well as regional goals and priorities.

For more information on the certification process, visit http://www.ecocertification.org .

The 12 finalists were selected by an international team of independent judges in each of the four award categories for having successfully demonstrated sustainable tourism practices, including the protection of natural and cultural heritage, social and economic benefits to local people, and environmentally-friendly operations.

The 2009 Finalists are:

DESTINATION STEWARDSHIP AWARD

Grupo PUNTACANA, Dominican Republic
This group of companies, comprising the Puntacana Resort&Club, the Punta Cana International Airport, and the Puntacana Ecological Foundation, has been instrumental in building a network of tourism infrastructure in an impoverished region of the Dominican Republic. Grupo PUNTACANA not only offers employment opportunities for the local population, but also provides health and education services, transport infrastructure, and fundamental conservation activities. Grupo PUNTACANA demonstrates a leading example of private sector destination stewardship at the local level. www.puntacana.com

Heritage Watch, Cambodia
This NGO strives to protect Cambodian cultural heritage and reduce looting and damage to the country’s antiquities by engaging businesses and visitors alike in a Heritage Friendly Tourism Campaign. Despite operating in a challenging environment and in a country not known for making sustainable tourism a priority, Heritage Watch has forged important public-private sector partnerships to certify over 200 small tourism businesses – an indicator that the campaign has been embraced and is successful in enhancing local culture, environmental issues, and Cambodia’s heritage in a more sustainable way. www.heritagewatch.org

South West Tourism, UK
As a regional tourism board comprising five counties in the south west of England, South West Tourism (SWT) has the mandate of promoting the natural and cultural heritage of this region as a sustainable tourism destination. SWT has developed a role-model tourism vision ‘Tourism 2015’ with a unique networking approach engaging industry, destination partners, visitors, and decision-makers with tailor-made communication and other initiatives as part of its destination stewardship efforts. www.swtourism.org.uk

CONSERVATION AWARD

Ionian Eco Villagers, Greece
This small tour operator and its not-for-profit organization partner, Earth, Sea&Sky, has been the leading actor in the conservation of the threatened sea turtle nesting beaches on Zakynthos Island in Greece, where 80 percent of the Mediterranean region’s Loggerhead Sea Turtles come to lay their eggs each year. The group has not only successfully lobbied the Greek government but also the European Union to enforce a ban on tourism development on the turtle-nesting beaches. At the same time, Ionian Eco Villagers provides a unique holiday experience through conservation, eco-friendly activities, education, and immersion in local culture. www.relaxing-holidays.com

Lane Cove River Tourist Park, Australia
The uniqueness of this conservation project lies in the business model of Lane Cove River Tourist Park (LCRTP) – the only national tourist park worldwide within close proximity of a major urban area. This park, situated at the outskirts of Sydney, has managed to combine camping holidays with nature conservation and has successfully reintroduced endangered flora and fauna into the area. LCRTP has developed their own set of best practices for urban area tourist parks, called GreenPark, which has been adopted by other parks in Australia. www.lcrtp.com.au

NatureAir, Costa Rica
This domestic airline takes on a bold approach to conservation by committing itself to complete carbon neutral operations through engaging customers in a non-voluntary carbon off-set scheme. To ensure NatureAir’s calculation of the volume of emissions is relevant to each flight, the company calculates the total for all flights flown in the previous twelve months. The emission amount is calculated by a detailed greenhouse-gas, life-cycle assessment. Furthermore, NatueAir has helped developed Costa Rica’s only alternative fueling station, Aerotica. Through this program NatureAir is able to fuel their company vehicles and equipment using 100 percent bio-diesel (a mix of vegetable oils and recycled cooking oils). Furthermore, NatureAir’s efforts are frequently audited by independent third parties, demonstrating integrity and accountability. This conservation business approach is a role-model for small airlines globally.  www.natureair.com

COMMUNITY BENEFIT AWARD

Community Action Treks, Nepal
Community Action Treks, a UK tour operator organizing trekking tours in the remote areas of Nepal, works with its not-for-profit organization partner, Community Action Nepal (CAN/CAT), to safe-guard cultural heritage and the well-being of local communities, including trekking porters. CAN/CAT has established health services, eduction centers, high-altitude porter camps, and the funding of teachers and nurses. To ensure the ongoing funding of these projects, CAN/CAT has established a financial system whereby all profits are distributed to the communities it works with. www.catreks.com

Ol Donyo Wuas, Kenya
This eco-lodge operates just outside of Chyulu National Park in southern Kenya on communal land belonging to the Maasai people. It has successfully engaged the local communities bordering their lodge to become involved in the tourism infrastructure and have established a comprehensive financial structure that allows for a meaningful contribution of tourism-generated resources to the local community bordering the park. The local community has, as a result, become intrinsic to Ol Donyo Wuas’s tourism operations and their partner, Maasailand Preservation Trust. www.oldonyowuas.com

Zakoura Foundation for Micro Credits, Morocco
Zakoura Foundation for Micro Credit is a Moroccan-based, not-for-profit organization. Its main mission is to fight poverty and develop civic spirit through financial and non-financial programs that specifically target vulnerable populations from both rural and urban areas who do not have access to conventional financial services. In 2003, Zakoura launched its Rural Tourism program. The main goal is to give opportunity to people to diversify and to increase their incomes by creating or developing tourist activity in rural areas. www.zakourafoundation.org

GLOBAL TOURISM BUSINESS AWARD

GAP Adventures, Canada & Global
This Canadian based adventure tour operator is a leader in the field of sustainable management, applying a holistic approach to their entire operations. Responsible tourism is at the heart of GAP Adventures – they are committed to using local suppliers, labor, and produce on their tours, while also adhering to strict green guidelines for themselves, as well as their partners. GAP Adventures was founded in 1990, offering over 1000 small group, low-impact adventures to over 85,000 passengers a year. www.gapadventures.com

Marriott International Inc, USA & Global
Marriott International, Inc. is a worldwide hospitality company founded in 1927 and headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, USA. Over the last year and a half, Marriott International has worked alongside Conservation International, a global conservation organization, to improve practices within their hotel buildings, as well as develop a large-scale rainforest conservation project in the Amazon to protect biodiversity and mitigate climate change. Marriott’s holistic approach to sustainable management includes strict supply-chain management, obtaining LEED certification for their offices and properties, and a solid waste and recycling program. www.marriott.com

Metropolitan Touring, Ecuador
Metropolitan Touring is a fully-Ecuadorian company founded in 1953, with its headquarters in Quito, Ecuador. Operational support offices are found in Guayaquil, Riobamba, Cuenca, Galápagos Islands, Lima, Cuzco, Puno, and Arequipa. Metropolitan Touring’s contributions to sustainability can be seen in three corporate fields: international certifications (for ships and hotels in the Galápagos Islands, including the Smart Voyager certification); environmental policy, including environmental education and training, solid-waste recycling programs and costal clean-up programs; and Fundación Galápagos-Ecuador, a not-for profit conservation and community environmental organization. www.metropolitan-touring.com

Costas Christ, chairman of judges said, “Many challenges still remain, from broad reductions of CO2 emissions by the travel and tourism industry, to addressing poverty alleviation, to preserving cultural and natural heritage in both existing and emerging tourism destinations. But there is no question that what we are witnessing today may be the most significant transformation in the history of modern travel – a global recognition of the importance of sustainable tourism. The 2009 Tourism for Tomorrow Award finalists represent this transformation in action.”

For more information, visit http://www.tourismfortomorrow.com.

“We expect 2009 to be a huge year for EcoRooms & EcoSuites, and in the growth of consumer awareness regarding green lodging options,’” says Ray Burger, president of Pineapple Hospitality and founder of EcoRooms & EcoSuites. “As consumers continue to become more knowledgeable about green travel, we’ve changed the look and feel of our logo and Web site. We’ve added new properties to our directory, streamlined our rigorous ‘Significant 7′ criteria to becoming a member, and we recently added a new member to our Board of Advisors. “

EcoRooms & EcoSuites’ Board of Advisors is a panel of some of the greenest minds the hospitality industry has to offer. With decades of combined experience, the Advisors have helped shape the Web site’s criteria for membership and assist both members and the public on best green practices.

While EcoRooms & EcoSuites’ Significant 7 criteria for membership are among the most stringent and most credible of any certification program in the world, these newest members – The Proximity Hotel (Greensboro, N.C.), Seaport Hotel (Boston) and Inn by the Sea (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) – not only meet the rigorous standards, they are raising the bar. And for their efforts to offer guests a luxurious, yet eco-conscious place to stay, these three hotels have won numerous environmental and design recognitions.

“We are excited to have the Proximity Hotel, Seaport Hotel and Inn by the Sea join our ranks,” says Ray Burger, president of Pineapple Hospitality and founder of EcoRooms & EcoSuites. “These three facilities have incorporated some of the most-forward thinking eco-friendly designs and programs that the industry has seen. They are most deserving of all the recognition they’ve been receiving and we’re proud to have them aboard.”

These three new properties join EcoRooms & EcoSuites at a time when travelers are finally beginning to exhibit an increased environmental awareness while on the road. Previously, most travelers – even those who recycled and conserved resources at home – would ’splurge’ while out of town and not worry about the footprints they were leaving behind.

“I believe the Seaport plays a role in identifying and sharing best practices in an effort to make our industry’s carbon footprint a little smaller,” says Matthew Moore, Seaport director of rooms and environmental programs. “Our green philosophy here is a holistic approach that looks at every aspect of our organization and operation and tries to find a way to make it more sustainable and environmentally friendly. No initiative is too small or too large to take on.”

“We believe green is the ethical approach to running a business, as we live in this world with limited natural resources,” says Moore. “It is paramount that we continue to improve the safety of the work place in which our employees work, and it is also important to provide access to an environment in which guests can leverage their environmentally friendly philosophy.”

EcoRooms Criteria
EcoRooms & EcoSuites Web site approves and certifies the greenest hotels that have implemented our ‘Significant 7′ criteria:

1. Green Seal certified or equivalent cleaning products are used in guestrooms.
2. Green Seal certified or equivalent paper products (facial and bathroom tissue) are used in guestrooms.
3. Bathrooms feature amenity dispensers or small, practical amenity sizes with guests encouraged to take the remainder of their bathroom amenities home or donate them to homeless shelters.
4. The hotel has implemented a Linen and Towel Reuse Program
5. Guests are provided separate and easily identified receptacles and/or bags in which to deposit recyclables.
6. Energy-efficient lighting is in place in every applicable area.
7. High efficiency plumbing – 1.6 or less gallons-per-flush for toilets and 1.5 gallons per minute or less for sinks with water-efficient aerators.

“If you look at what guests are looking for, in each case what they want will actually save you money by greening and streamlining your operations,” says Ray Burger. “While our criteria may look rigorous now, as more hotels catch on to the benefits of implementing a green program, these will be the minimum of what hotels will be doing in the future. Our current and new partners have already shown how you can go above and beyond.”

A recent study from Deloitte finds that ‘U.S. business travelers are increasingly making daily choices to reduce their environmental impact, and they have specific expectations about the green practices hotels should be adopting today.’

The study finds nearly seven of 10 business travelers (69 percent) say they always turn off the lights and one out of three (31 percent) always adjusts the heat/air conditioner when leaving the room.

More importantly, 34 percent of respondents say they ’seek out hotels that are environmentally friendly,’ just as 38 percent have researched green lodging facilities either online or by asking friends and relatives. Similarly, 28 percent say they would be willing to pay 10 percent more to stay in a green lodging facility.

For more info, check out www.ecorooms.com.

The ENERGY STAR is the national symbol for energy efficiency in America. More than 50 different kinds of products as well as thousands of new homes and commercial and industrial facilities have earned the ENERGY STAR for superior energy performance. Commercial buildings and industrial plants that rate in the top 25 percent of facilities in the nation for energy efficiency may qualify for the ENERGY STAR.

“We are pleased to accept the EPA’s ENERGY STAR in recognition of our energy efficiency efforts,” said Steve Leonard, Director of Sales & Marketing at the Hotel. “Not only does our Hotel offer excellent location and value, but now we can add energy efficiency as well.”

“For structures such as the Hotel Pennsylvania, effective operation of the building’s existing resources is the key to energy efficiency,” said Anna Dengler, Director of Sustainability at Great Forest, who advises the Hotel on its conservation efforts.

EPA’s national energy performance rating system provides a 1-100 scale that helps organizations assess how efficiently their buildings use energy relative to similar buildings nationwide. A building that scores a rating of 75 or higher is eligible for the ENERGY STAR. Commercial buildings that earn the ENERGY STAR use an average of 40 percent less energy than typical buildings and also release 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

“Whether you are running a grocery store, a school, or an office building, getting the most out of your energy dollars — while reducing your carbon footprint — just makes sense,” said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnston.

Since 1919, New York’s Hotel Pennsylvania has been host to millions of visitors in Manhattan, more than any other hotel in the world. Extensively renovated, the property has 1,700 rooms and over 90,000 square feet of meeting and adjacent exhibit space. New York’s Hotel Pennsylvania is capable of handling conventions, tours, and individual traveler requirements. Its location on 7th Avenue at 33rd Street is convenient to the business and fashion districts, as well as the Jacob Javits Convention Center. The property is known for having the longest-running telephone number in New York City, immortalized in Glenn Miller’s famous song, “Pennsylvania 6-5000.”

For more information visit www.hotelpenn.com. The World’s Most Popular Hotel(R) is a registered trademark of New York’s Hotel Pennsylvania.

“We could figure out how to do it, but we thought it was the wrong thing for us to do,” said AH&LA President/CEO Joseph McInerney. “Focus groups told us we are not a disinterested third party and if people pay dues you’d have make sure they are happy. We said we wouldn’t do that, but it’s also a cumbersome and expensive process to do it right because you have to have follow-up and a certification system.“

The AH&LA plans to initially base its green/sustainable strategy on eleven minimum environmental guidelines, focusing on effective energy, water, and waste management. Moving forward, the next step would be to add more guidelines to address design and construction, materials and resources, chemicals and cleaning, and indoor air quality.

McInerney added that the association “researched this important topic to determine the best way the association can assist our members who want to create an environmentally friendly and sustainable hotel.”

“With so many certifications already out there – many of which are through the property’s state and a necessity for government business – the biggest feedback we received was the need for guidance on how to green properties effectively in various areas. Not all hotels will be able to achieve these guidelines, but we want to make sure we set a bar and goals now so hoteliers receive direction for immediate action. These guidelines – which address back-of-the-house and interfacing with guests – will be continuously added to in our ongoing effort to provide green resources in a broad spectrum of areas,” said McInerney.

LEED certification system for new and existing hotels is estimated to be completed by June 2009 – a set of standards that have yet to be widely adhered to by the hospitality industry. Thus far, only 13 hotels in the United States have LEED certification (out of approximately 48,000), with another 400 in the process of getting certified.

Wyndham Worldwide is seizing the opportunity to manage energy consumption as a part of the company’s overall green strategy across its businesses and brands, which together encompass nearly 70,000 properties in 100 countries. Due to its numerous brands, properties and distribution points, the WyndhamGreen program is expected to have a large impact on the Company’s overall carbon footprint.

“As one of the world’s largest hospitality companies across six continents, Wyndham Worldwide initiated WyndhamGreen because it fits our global commitment to corporate social responsibility and the environment. WyndhamGreen is not just a program, but a way of living and working that is based on our vision and values,” stated Stephen P. Holmes, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Wyndham Worldwide. “Wyndham Worldwide has a unique opportunity to leverage our scale and adopt practices that will have a significant and lasting environmental impact. While each individual act may seem small and insignificant, our collective actions are truly meaningful given our global footprint. We are committed to conserving our natural resources, preserving our habitats and preventing pollution.”

“Global Green Day” events took place in more than 35 Wyndham Worldwide offices around the globe including U.S. locations in Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando, Fla.; Indianapolis, IN; Springfield, Miss.; Las Vegas, NV; Parsippany, N.J.; Aberdeen, S.D.; Johnson City, Tenn.; and Redmond, Wash. International locations include: Australia, Canada, India, South Africa, Southeast Asia, Mexico and the United Kingdom. The event included educational components on the WyndhamGreen program, access to eco-friendly products and vendor booths, and the launch of the Company’s Green Web site, http://www.wyndhamworldwide.com/wyndham-green.

From the hotel standard linen reuse program to sustainable uniforms and cleaning products, Wyndham is looking at virtually every corner of its operations to evaluate where changes can be made that will lessen environmental impact.

Over the next year, Wyndham Worldwide will be implementing “best practices” throughout their portfolio with many new and existing properties pursuing LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certifications, enhancing recycling and water reduction programs, and the addition of sustainable Blue Harmony TM Spa and Fitness Centers, allergy-sensitive CleanAir rooms and meeting spaces at Wyndham Hotels and Resorts properties.

Wyndham is furthering its green efforts with selected suppliers and vendors. The hospitality company’s alliances now include ENERGY STAR, a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, and the first-to-market green uniform program with Cintas.

Wyndham Worldwide’s “Global Green Day” was attended by over 14,145 associates across the globe. Wyndham Worldwide’s green initiatives are led by Faith Taylor, vice president of sustainability and innovation, and a Green Council with members from across the Company’s global businesses and locations.

“As many travelers are putting great importance on sustainability, this program will offer NTA members a competitive advantage in the marketplace,” added Hoelscher.

STEP was developed in conjunction with stakeholders from around the world, starting in 2003. STI solicited feedback from more than 500 organizations in creating the program to make it the most comprehensive sustainable tourism certification initiative available. In an independent assessment commissioned by the United National Foundation focused on developing baseline criteria for sustainable tourism, STEP met more criteria than any other global certification initiative and more criteria than all but one other regional certification initiative.

NTA members wanting more information about eco-certification should visit NTA’s Keep It Green Web section on NTA Online.

About Sustainable Travel International
Sustainable Travel International is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to promote sustainable development and responsible travel by providing programs that enable consumers, businesses and travel-related organizations to contribute to the environmental, socio-cultural and economic values of the places they visit, and the planet at large. For more information, visit www.sustainabletravelinternational.org.

About the National Tour Association
The National Tour Association is the preferred association in the tourism industry for packaged travel professionals. NTA’s diverse membership and progressive nature make it an industry leader as the place to do business. NTA consistently seeks innovations for the services and business tools it provides to members, and the leadership keeps its fingers on the pulse of the ever-changing world. In turn, NTA members are some of the most creative in the dynamic travel industry. NTA membership represents 34 countries, and tour and travel packagers of all types, including a group, independent, student, and more. To learn more, please visit www.NTAonline.com.