Launch of Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards 2007
 Nominations are now open for our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards! The Awards celebrate tourism ventures that make a positive contribution to conservation and the economies of local communities while minimizing any negative impacts of tourism. The Awards, in thirteen categories, are again organised by online travel agent responsibletravel.com, in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine – the magazine of The Royal Geographical Society. For 2007 the Awards have a new headline sponsor, Virgin Holidays. This is the fourth year of the Awards, and we hope to make them better than ever, building on the unprecedented response last year when over 1200 nominations were received. The Awards will be presented on Wednesday 14th November at World Travel Market (Excel, London Docklands) on the first ever WTM World Responsible Tourism Day. Justin Francis, co-founder of the online travel agent responsibletravel.com, organisers and founders of the Awards, said: We are delighted to launch our fourth annual Responsible Tourism Awards, the biggest of their kind in the world, with new headline sponsors Virgin Holidays. With the public’s help we’ll seek out tourism ventures providing the greatest benefit to local communities whilst reducing local cultural and environmental impacts. A particular focus will be placed on carbon dioxide reduction initiatives both in destinations and in transportation. Amanda Wills, Managing Director of Virgin Holidays said: We are delighted to be able to act as headline sponsor of the 2007 Responsible Tourism Awards. Virgin has always been about driving change through successful entrepreneurship and Virgin Holidays are no different. We are passionate about responsible tourism and proud to be associated with awards that provide recognition to those individuals and businesses whose success in pioneering social and environmental responsibility, acts as inspiration to others. The importance of sustainability in tourism has never been greater. In the words of Sir Richard Branson "Our generation has inherited an incredibly beautiful world from our parents and they from their parents, it is in our hands whether our children and their children inherit the same world.” And to prove we aren’t all talk, all profits from Virgin Holidays, Atlantic and Trains (estimated to be $3bn over the next 10 years) will be ploughed into research, to develop sustainable sources of energy. Fiona Jeffery, Managing Director, World Travel Market said: We are delighted to be playing host for the fourth year to the Responsible Tourism Awards sponsored for the first time by Virgin Holidays and taking place appropriately on WTM World Responsible Tourism Day, Wednesday 14 November. The day, a global initiative in association with the United Nations World Tourism Organization and supported by the likes of Sir Richard Branson, is the world’s most ambitious international day of industry action to help save the planet and change lives. It is a unique opportunity for governments, the travel industry, local communities and travellers to show that it is practical contributions that count, not just talk. And the Responsible Tourism Awards highlight all that is best in practical contributions. Nominations should be made online at www.responsibletourismawards.com or by post to responsibletravel.com, Pavilion House, 6 Old Steine, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 1EJ, and include the name and contact details of the nomination (website, e-mail, address and telephone number if possible), plus up to 200 words on why you believe they should win a responsible tourism award. The category of entry should also be specified (please see below). Nominations close on: Monday 2nd July Those individuals who nominate a category winner will be entered into a draw to win a 14 day tour of Uganda with i-to-i or a 19 day tour of Nepal with The Adventure Company. Full details can be found on www.responsibletourismawards.com. As in previous years, there are 13 categories in which to nominate: 1. Best in a Marine Environment (including beach) 2. Best in a Mountain Environment – Sponsored by Blacks 3. Best in a Park or Protected Area – Sponsored by Conservation International 4. Best Tour Operator - Sponsored by The Adventure Company 5. Best Small Accommodation/hotel (<50 rooms) 6. Best Larger Accommodation/hotel (>50 rooms) 7. Best for Poverty Reduction 8. Best for Low Carbon Transport & Technology 9. Best for Conservation of Cultural Heritage *NEW CATEGORY FOR 2007* 10. Best for Conservation of Endangered Species 11. Best Personal Contribution – Sponsored by the Canadian Tourism Commission 12. Best Volunteering Organisation – Sponsored by Lonely Planet 13. Best Destination – Sponsored by G.A.P Adventures Ends-------- Notes for editors: The judging panel for the 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards is as follows: Harold Goodwin, Chair of Judges, Professor of Responsible Tourism Management at Leeds Metropolitan University and Director of the International Centre for Responsible Tourism Justin Francis, Managing Director, responsibletravel.com Cath Urquhart, Travel Editor, The Times Fiona Jeffery, Managing Director of the World Travel Market Graeme Gourlay, Publisher, Geographical Magazine Tricia Barnett, Director of Tourism Concern Andy Cooper, Director General, Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) Richard Hammond, Guardian Columnist and Media Consultant Debbie Hindle, Managing Director of bgb communications Sue Hurdle, Director of The Travel Foundation Neel Inamdar, Ecotourism Business Advisor, Conservation International Ian Reynolds, former Chief Executive of the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) Keith Richards, Head of Business Development and Consumer Affairs at ABTA
responsibletravel.com is an on-line travel agent - based in Brighton, England - launched in 2001 for travellers who want more real and authentic holidays that also benefit the environment and local people. responsibletravel.com markets carefully pre-screened holidays from over 270 leading worldwide tourism brands and businesses. More about the company here. |
