Green World Travel Awards Attracts Global Travel Industry Chiefs
15 October 2008 - London
Who Are Europe’s Best?
International travel industry senior management are travelling to Slovakia for the first World Travel Awards European and Green Awards Ceremony on Thursday 16 October.
The presentation, with up to 200 guests, takes place in one of the greenest places on earth – AquaCity, the luxurious Slovakian resort in Poprad.
"Most green awards ceremonies are country specific rather than international", said Graham E Cooke, founder and president of World Travel Awards. "This award ceremony is global, just one of the reasons why it is attracting so much interest from travel company chiefs worldwide."
"Increasingly, sustainability and green tourism are becoming one of the major economic drivers for the industry and we are delighted that these first awards of its kind are commanding so much attention."
Cooke added that World Travel Awards, celebrating its 15th birthday this year, had built its global reputation on helping to encourage quality in every dimension of the customer offering, as well as excellent business performance.
"We hope to encourage more companies and organisations to adopt sustainable policies, ensuring a low impact on the environment and local culture, while at the same time, helping generate prosperity, employment, and the conservation of local ecosystems", he said.
There are 90 nominations in ten overall green categories, including the World’s Leading Conservation Company, Eco-friendly Airport, Eco-Lodge, Green Destination, Green Hotel, Green Resort, Green Tour Operator, Green Transport Solution Company, Responsible Tourism Scheme and Sustainable Tourism Scheme, but also Europe’s top tourism brands, destinations and resorts.
There are categories too for Africa, Asia, Australasia, Central America, Europe, Indian Ocean, Middle East, North America and South America.
The European Awards will be presented on the same evening as the Green Awards.
"We wanted to combine the events to emphasise the importance of excellence in travel", continued Cooke. "Increasingly, responsible tourism is becoming a core part of European travel. Whether it is energy efficiency, conservation initiatives, waste management, community empowerment or saving water, European consumers are demanding the travel industry is more responsible. Announcing the winners of the Europe Awards and the Green Awards on the same night was the best means of highlighting the shift in consumer trends."
More than 180 nominations from 50 countries have been received for the Europe Awards which recognise excellence for best airlines, airports, hotels, car hire, casino resorts, cruise lines, destinations, spas and tourist board.
The event is part of World Travel Awards Grand Tour, culminating with the final in December, which this year is being held in Turks & Caicos.
-ends-
All nominations for the World Travel Awards Green Ceremony 2008 can be found by logging on to www.worldtravelawards.com.
The overall green categories are:
Chumbe Island Coral Park, Tanzania, Africa
Conservation Corporation of Africa
Conservation International, Virginia, USA
Damaraland Camp, Namibia, Africa
Ningaloo Blue Dive, Australia
Shamwari Game Reserve, South Africa
Airport Berlin Brandenburg International BBI
East Midlands Airport
Kansai International Airport
Singapore Changi Airport
Borana Lodge, Kenya
Chalalan Ecolodge, Bolivia
Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa, Australia
Finca Esperanza Verde Ecolodge, Nicaragua
Kapawi Ecolodge & Reserve, Ecuador
Kumbuk River, Sri Lanka
Lapa Rios Ecolodge, Costa Rica
Morgan's Rock Hacienda & Ecolodge, Nicaragua
Sukau Rainforest Lodge, Sabah, Malaysia
Aspen, Colorado USA
Bouma National Heritage Park Taveuni, Fiji Island
British Columbia Great Bear Rainforest, Canada
Costa Rica
Cousine Island, Seychelles
Dominica
Eden Project, Cornwall, England
Kanha National Park, India
The New Forest, England
Tobago Main Ridge Rain Forest
Apex City of London, England
Bedruthan Steps Hotel, England
Chateau Mcely, Czech Republic
Fairmont Mayakoba, Mexico
GAIA Hotel & Reserve, Costa Rica
Hotelito Desconocido, Mexico
La Résidence d'Angkor Hotel, Cambodia
Strattons, England
The Orchid Hotel, India
Villa Blanca, Costa Rica
Angsana Resort & Spa Maldives
AquaCity Poprad, Slovakia
Banyan Tree Maldives Vibbinfaru, Indian Ocean
Cousine Island, Seychelles
Curtain Bluff, Antigua, Caribbean
Evason Phuket & Six Senses Spa, Thailand
Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort
Kiaroa Eco-Luxury Resort, Brazil
Kudat Riviera, Borneo
Mauna Lani Resort, Hawaii
Morgan's Rock Hacienda & Ecolodge, Nicaragua
North Island, Seychelles
Ol Malo, Kenya
Praia Do Forte Eco Resort & Thalasso Spa, Brazil
Puntacana Resort & Club, Dominican Republic
The Fairmont Royal Pavilion, Barbados
The Phantom Forest Eco-reserve, South Africa
Trelowarren, England
Wakatobi Dive Resort, Indonesia
Wilson Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Costa Rica Expeditions
Ecotour Expeditions Inc, USA
Explorandes, Peru
Gecko's Grassroots Adventures, United Kingdom
Green Channel, Bangladesh
Greenway Nature Tours, Costa Rica
Imaginative Traveller, United Kingdom
Intrepid Travel, Australia
Shakti, India
Tribes Travel, United Kingdom
Wilderness Scotland
Ecolimo, California
Europcar
Eurostar
Nature Air, Costa Rica
Silverjet
Solarlab
Sustainable Aviation
Sustainable Transport Solutions
Endogenous Tourism Project, India
Hotel De La Paix & Spa Sewing Training Centre, Cambodia
Manda Wilderness Community Trust, Mozambique
Quest, England
Responsible Tourism Partnership Sri Lanka
The Gambia Experience School Development Fund
Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST)
Conservation International
Cornwall Sustainable Tourism Project (CoaST)
Green Airport Initiative
The Gambia Experience Carbon Offset Program
The Green Tourism Business Scheme
Apex City of London, England
AquaCity Poprad, Slovakia
Ariston Hotel, Italy
Bedruthan Steps Hotel, England
Chateau Mcely, Czech Republic
Ice Hotel, Sweden
Kolarbyn Eco-lodge, Sweden
Radisson SAS Hotel, Edinburgh
Strattons, England
Aldemar Hotels & Spa
Brochner Hotels
Scandic Hotels
For further press information please contact:
Jane Larcombe, World Travel Awards
T: +44 (0)1892 785071
E: [email protected]
International travel industry senior management are travelling to Slovakia for the first World Travel Awards European and Green Awards Ceremony on Thursday 16 October.
The presentation, with up to 200 guests, takes place in one of the greenest places on earth – AquaCity, the luxurious Slovakian resort in Poprad.
"Most green awards ceremonies are country specific rather than international", said Graham E Cooke, founder and president of World Travel Awards. "This award ceremony is global, just one of the reasons why it is attracting so much interest from travel company chiefs worldwide."
"Increasingly, sustainability and green tourism are becoming one of the major economic drivers for the industry and we are delighted that these first awards of its kind are commanding so much attention."
Cooke added that World Travel Awards, celebrating its 15th birthday this year, had built its global reputation on helping to encourage quality in every dimension of the customer offering, as well as excellent business performance.
"We hope to encourage more companies and organisations to adopt sustainable policies, ensuring a low impact on the environment and local culture, while at the same time, helping generate prosperity, employment, and the conservation of local ecosystems", he said.
There are 90 nominations in ten overall green categories, including the World’s Leading Conservation Company, Eco-friendly Airport, Eco-Lodge, Green Destination, Green Hotel, Green Resort, Green Tour Operator, Green Transport Solution Company, Responsible Tourism Scheme and Sustainable Tourism Scheme, but also Europe’s top tourism brands, destinations and resorts.
There are categories too for Africa, Asia, Australasia, Central America, Europe, Indian Ocean, Middle East, North America and South America.
The European Awards will be presented on the same evening as the Green Awards.
"We wanted to combine the events to emphasise the importance of excellence in travel", continued Cooke. "Increasingly, responsible tourism is becoming a core part of European travel. Whether it is energy efficiency, conservation initiatives, waste management, community empowerment or saving water, European consumers are demanding the travel industry is more responsible. Announcing the winners of the Europe Awards and the Green Awards on the same night was the best means of highlighting the shift in consumer trends."
More than 180 nominations from 50 countries have been received for the Europe Awards which recognise excellence for best airlines, airports, hotels, car hire, casino resorts, cruise lines, destinations, spas and tourist board.
The event is part of World Travel Awards Grand Tour, culminating with the final in December, which this year is being held in Turks & Caicos.
-ends-
Overall Europe and Green Award Category Nominations
All nominations for the World Travel Awards Green Ceremony 2008 can be found by logging on to www.worldtravelawards.com.
The overall green categories are:
World's Leading Conservation Company
Chumbe Island Coral Park, Tanzania, Africa
Conservation Corporation of Africa
Conservation International, Virginia, USA
Damaraland Camp, Namibia, Africa
Ningaloo Blue Dive, Australia
Shamwari Game Reserve, South Africa
World's Leading Eco-friendly Airport
Airport Berlin Brandenburg International BBI
East Midlands Airport
Kansai International Airport
Singapore Changi Airport
World's Leading Eco-Lodge
Borana Lodge, Kenya
Chalalan Ecolodge, Bolivia
Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa, Australia
Finca Esperanza Verde Ecolodge, Nicaragua
Kapawi Ecolodge & Reserve, Ecuador
Kumbuk River, Sri Lanka
Lapa Rios Ecolodge, Costa Rica
Morgan's Rock Hacienda & Ecolodge, Nicaragua
Sukau Rainforest Lodge, Sabah, Malaysia
World's Leading Green Destination
Aspen, Colorado USA
Bouma National Heritage Park Taveuni, Fiji Island
British Columbia Great Bear Rainforest, Canada
Costa Rica
Cousine Island, Seychelles
Dominica
Eden Project, Cornwall, England
Kanha National Park, India
The New Forest, England
Tobago Main Ridge Rain Forest
World's Leading Green Hotel
Apex City of London, England
Bedruthan Steps Hotel, England
Chateau Mcely, Czech Republic
Fairmont Mayakoba, Mexico
GAIA Hotel & Reserve, Costa Rica
Hotelito Desconocido, Mexico
La Résidence d'Angkor Hotel, Cambodia
Strattons, England
The Orchid Hotel, India
Villa Blanca, Costa Rica
World's Leading Green Resort
Angsana Resort & Spa Maldives
AquaCity Poprad, Slovakia
Banyan Tree Maldives Vibbinfaru, Indian Ocean
Cousine Island, Seychelles
Curtain Bluff, Antigua, Caribbean
Evason Phuket & Six Senses Spa, Thailand
Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort
Kiaroa Eco-Luxury Resort, Brazil
Kudat Riviera, Borneo
Mauna Lani Resort, Hawaii
Morgan's Rock Hacienda & Ecolodge, Nicaragua
North Island, Seychelles
Ol Malo, Kenya
Praia Do Forte Eco Resort & Thalasso Spa, Brazil
Puntacana Resort & Club, Dominican Republic
The Fairmont Royal Pavilion, Barbados
The Phantom Forest Eco-reserve, South Africa
Trelowarren, England
Wakatobi Dive Resort, Indonesia
Wilson Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia
World's Leading Green Tour Operator
Costa Rica Expeditions
Ecotour Expeditions Inc, USA
Explorandes, Peru
Gecko's Grassroots Adventures, United Kingdom
Green Channel, Bangladesh
Greenway Nature Tours, Costa Rica
Imaginative Traveller, United Kingdom
Intrepid Travel, Australia
Shakti, India
Tribes Travel, United Kingdom
Wilderness Scotland
World's Leading Green Transport Solution Company
Ecolimo, California
Europcar
Eurostar
Nature Air, Costa Rica
Silverjet
Solarlab
Sustainable Aviation
Sustainable Transport Solutions
World's Leading Responsible Tourism Scheme
Endogenous Tourism Project, India
Hotel De La Paix & Spa Sewing Training Centre, Cambodia
Manda Wilderness Community Trust, Mozambique
Quest, England
Responsible Tourism Partnership Sri Lanka
The Gambia Experience School Development Fund
World's Leading Sustainable Tourism Scheme
Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST)
Conservation International
Cornwall Sustainable Tourism Project (CoaST)
Green Airport Initiative
The Gambia Experience Carbon Offset Program
The Green Tourism Business Scheme
Europe's Leading Green Hotel
Apex City of London, England
AquaCity Poprad, Slovakia
Ariston Hotel, Italy
Bedruthan Steps Hotel, England
Chateau Mcely, Czech Republic
Ice Hotel, Sweden
Kolarbyn Eco-lodge, Sweden
Radisson SAS Hotel, Edinburgh
Strattons, England
Europe's Leading Green Hotel Chain
Aldemar Hotels & Spa
Brochner Hotels
Scandic Hotels
For further press information please contact:
Jane Larcombe, World Travel Awards
T: +44 (0)1892 785071
E: [email protected]
