Sophie Ellis-Bextor supports the launch of The Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards 2011
Nominations are now open for the Responsible Tourism Awards 2011, organised by responsibletravel.com and sponsored for the fifth year by Virgin Holidays. The Awards celebrate the shining stars of responsible tourism - those ventures around the world that make positive contributions to conservation and the economies of local communities. Singer, Sophie Ellis-Bextor is supporting this year's Awards: "I believe we have a responsibility to support local communities and the environment, and the people who do this well through tourism should be rewarded – that’s why I support these awards." Read the full interview with Sophie here. The Awards, now in their eighth year have grown to become ‘the Oscars’ of the responsible tourism world, having attracted over 10,000 nominations from members of the public since they launched in 2004. Partners include Metro Newspaper, Geographical Magazine (the magazine of The Royal Geographical Society), and World Travel Market. Justin Francis, founder of the Awards and managing director, responsibletravel.com said: “There has always been the belief behind the Awards that responsible tourism creates the kind of deep connections to places that give us unforgettable holiday experiences. It is not enough just to be at the cutting edge of sustainability or carbon reduction – our winners need to offer really infectious and enjoyable holiday experiences that get us excited just as much as they create change.” Amanda Wills, managing director, Virgin Holidays said: “There has never been a more important time for the efforts of those involved in responsible travel to be celebrated. These continue to be tough times for the travel industry, but it is all too easy to let profit take priority. At Virgin Holidays, we believe that business success and sustainability are not mutually exclusive and our continued involvement in this fantastic awards programme demonstrates our continued commitment to the people and places we work with. We call it our Human Nature Promise, and it is one we plan to keep. Win a holiday to Kenya Those individuals who nominate a category winner will be entered into a draw to win a once in a lifetime eight day holiday for two to Kenya (including flights) courtesy of Virgin Holidays. Full details can be found on www.responsibletourismawards.com How to nominate Nominations should be made online at the new-look 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, plus up to 200 words on why they should win a Responsible Tourism Award. The category of entry should also be specified (see notes to editors). Nominations close on: Friday 17th June 2011 - Ends -
