Earlier this year Amadeus executives shared their expertise with the Global Future Council on Sustainable Tourism (GFCST). Convened by the World Economic Forum (WEF), the organization developed a report exploring ten key principles for the future development of sustainable destinations.
Earlier this year Amadeus executives shared their expertise with the Global Future Council on Sustainable Tourism (GFCST). Convened by the World Economic Forum (WEF), the organization developed areport exploring ten key principles for the future development of sustainable destinations.
The fruits of that work were explored by my colleague, Angel Lorente, in anearlier blog post.
Today, I would like to share how Amadeus, through the initiativeTravel4Impact network , puts this into practice. In collaboration with partners, Amadeus has developed a social innovation network, Travel4Impact, designed to support SMEs to prosper and amplify their positive impact. In doing so, they implement many of the recommendations in the report, and make a material difference to the world around us.
Launched alongsideIE University , this social innovation network is designed to amplify the positive impact of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Participants can come from anywhere in the industry – including travel agencies, small hotels or destination experience companies.
SMEs are the backbone of our sector (90 per cent of the travel industry is comprised of SMEs) and supporting these organizations means enabling local socio-economic growth and helping to promote a more responsible and inclusive industry for all.
Initially launched in Spain, the 2022 edition of Travel4Impact grew to welcome entrants from across Europe, while there are plans to take it global next year. During each edition, we aim to support members in the development of their digital strategies, the positive environmental and social impact of their value proposition and the resilience of their business.
The ambitions of Travel4Impact and participating SMEs, thus, align with many of the initiatives outlined in the WEF report, working to build sustainable, thriving, and resilient destinations around the world.
Below, we explore how Travel4Impact participants are directly contributing to this agenda.
Prioritize Communities
The report identifies a focus on the well-being of residents and local communities as one of the main tourism assets of any destination. Through its work, Travel4Impact encourages the move toward this more inclusive community-prioritizing approach, one that empowers local groups as well as develops local attractions and skills.
One example is Italy-based tour operator,Faroo .
Faroo is a tour operator that focuses on offering sustainable experiences and activities to promote wellbeing for corporate employees and clients through local tourism businesses. The main purpose of the company is promoting sustainable tourism experiences, measuring their positive impact, and preserving the identity and authenticity of rural communities. Through their mix of accommodation options with positive local impact and sustainable experiences such as social farming, forest bathing, canoeing, and weaving, the company is able to make a tangible difference to the lives of its partners and the wider community.
In Spain,Posada del Agua offers a great example of how sustainable attributes can be used in the accommodation space. In the management of the hotel, the owners work to apply the knowledge and sensitivity towards the environment that their training as architects offers. The objective is to minimize the environmental impact of the property, while contributing to the economic, social and cultural development of the local region.
Through the use of locally sourced food, reused materials, solar panels and other sustainable solutions, the company is putting the WEF recommendations into practice.
Protect Heritage and Nature
A second key area for the Travel4Impact is the protection of heritage and nature.
As the report argues, “sustainable destinations protect the culture and heritage of tourism destinations in a thoughtful way,” while also recognizing that “nature underpins healthy societies and economies”.
Cultural and natural heritage can be a sustainable livelihood resource for a local population, as local traditions, food, and nature are often what make an experience appealing to tourists.Tourism should aim to benefit the local community – allowing indigenous communities to enjoy its economic, ecological, and social benefits and while also protecting against the loss of authenticity.
Hotels and other players can work to maximize their positive environmental and social impact, embedding sustainability into their value proposition. At the same time, the aim should be to encourage visitors to proactively make responsible and informed decisions, choosing experiences and accommodation based on sustainability criteria.
These attributes are exemplified among Travel4Impact participants by travel agency and tour operatorGenuine Spain . The company is passionate about the country and works to offer travelers authentic experiences. With a focus on local foods, traditions and nature experiences through ecotourism, the cultural and natural heritage of Spain take centerstage in the offering. Genuine Spain has partnered with the Ecotourism Club in Spain and built its own Climate Action strategy to ensure it can deliver on its sustainability commitment.
Finally,Sleeperoo takes sustainability in travel across borders, offering accommodation experiences in a futuristic sleep cube at a number of locations in Germany, Belgium and Austria. The company can provide accommodation options with either a nature or cultural focus, for example, in a tree top cube, at an aviation club or even at the pit lane at a racetrack. The pop-up offering has both a minimalist footprint and is sustainable, offering a great example of reducing the impact on the world around us.
These are just some of the forward-looking organizations from the Travel4Impact initiative, those putting the findings of the WEF report into action. Working with these partners, and others, Amadeus is building a network of SMEs designed to share best-practice, communicate, and assist each other in building a sustainable future for us all.
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