Green Your Business: Green Your Business: Toolkit for Tourism OperatorsToolkit for Tourism Operators

Randy WilliamsRandy WilliamsPresident and CEOPresident and CEO

Tourism Industry Association of CanadaTourism Industry Association of Canada

Presentation toPresentation toThe International Ecotourism Society ConferenceThe International Ecotourism Society Conference

Vancouver, British ColumbiaVancouver, British ColumbiaOctober 27, 2008October 27, 2008

The Greatest Challenge to face The Greatest Challenge to face Humanity in the 21Humanity in the 21stst CenturyCentury

TIAC recognizes that the threat posed by Climate Change is perhaps the greatest challenge to face humanity in the 21st

CenturyCanada’s tourism industry needs to embrace sustainable tourism practices in order to preserve the unique wilderness, habitat, species and ecosystems that make up our country and that have become so intrinsic to Canada as a destination

TIAC has Lead the Tourism Industry in TIAC has Lead the Tourism Industry in Addressing Environmental IssuesAddressing Environmental Issues

Over the past two decades, TIAC has demonstrated continued leadership and vision in addressing environmental concerns:

Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Sustainable Tourism (1993, updated 2005)Parks Canada / TIAC Accord (2001)Canadian definitions of Sustainable Tourism (2001) and Ecotourism (2004) Sustainable Tourism entrenched in TIAC’s ENDS (2003)Introduced an award for sustainable tourism businesses and scholarships for sustainable tourism students (2003)Identified Sustainable Tourism in Report on Canada’s Tourism Competitiveness (2008)

Memorandum of understanding with The ICARUS Foundation

Summit on Sustainability; Workshops for Greening Business (Toronto, April 20-23, 2009)

Green Your Business: Toolkit for Tourism Operators - Collaborative Project with CTC and Parks Canada)

TIAC Continues to Lead the Industry in TIAC Continues to Lead the Industry in Addressing Environmental IssuesAddressing Environmental Issues

Green Your Business: Toolkit for Green Your Business: Toolkit for Tourism OperatorsTourism Operators

The toolkit will provide practical tips and guidance for tourism operators in addressing environmental issuesA “best practices” handbook, stocked with practical, user-friendly tipsSpecial focus on small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs)Voluntary - undertake as many or as few of the suggestions as time and resources allow

TourismTourism’’s Evolving Marketplace is s Evolving Marketplace is Creating Unprecedented OpportunityCreating Unprecedented Opportunity

Operators can show stewardship and leadership by embracing a new greener set of principles and the swelling numbers of customers who now follow them

Reduce operating costs significantly by implementing sustainable practices, while attracting a new segment of discerning travellers seeking authentically sustainable experiences and services

A Canadian Definition of A Canadian Definition of Sustainable TourismSustainable Tourism

“Sustainable tourism actively fosters appreciation and stewardship of the natural, cultural and historic resources and special places by local residents, the tourism industry, governments and visitors. It is tourism which can be sustained over the long term because it results in a net benefit for the social, economic, natural and cultural environments of the area in which it takes place”

CanadaCanada’’s Code of Ethics and s Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Sustainable TourismGuidelines for Sustainable Tourism

Collaborative project jointly authored by TIAC, Canadian Tourism Commission and Parks Canada and released in 2005Showed real foresight in offering a statement of guiding, high-level principles but didn’t offer business-level advice for operators. The Toolkit seeks to bridge this gap

Focus of the Green Your Business: Focus of the Green Your Business: Toolkit for Tourism OperatorsToolkit for Tourism Operators

Toolkit focuses on environmental business practices as they represent the “low hanging fruit” for SME’sWhile suggestions are tangible and easy to implement, the Toolkit should be viewed only as one step in an integrated corporate commitment to sustainability

A Canadian PerspectiveA Canadian Perspective

Canada has diverse topography and climate, as well as complex cultural and ecological sensitivitiesThese realities have profound implications for how travellers get here, how they move around, and how much energy is required to provide for the comfort of our guests

A Canadian Perspective: A Canadian Perspective: Transportation SectorTransportation Sector

Toolkit recognizes that transportation sector will remain the industry’s largest source of emissionsNevertheless, it offers tips for reducing reliance on private vehicles for guest transportation and commutingLooking forward, intermodal transportation can also reduce energy consumption

Unique challenges, but exceptional opportunitiesEnergy efficiency retrofit can cut expenses, trigger incentives from utility companies and provincial authoritiesIn new construction, green buildings are practical and affordable

Can decrease energy costs, improve worker health, and provide strong positive market differentiation

A Canadian Perspective: A Canadian Perspective: Accommodations SectorAccommodations Sector

Making the Business Case for GreenMaking the Business Case for Green

SMEs must base investment decisions on the potential returnThe days of seemingly limitless and inexpensive energy are overBusiness-as-usual consumption is no longer financially justifiable or sustainable

Sustainably minded consumers are making decisions based on the business’commitment to sustainable practicesA new market niche of ethically minded, discerning “green travelers” is emerging

Making the Business Case for GreenMaking the Business Case for Green

Who Should Use the Toolkit?Who Should Use the Toolkit?

Designed for multiple tourism sector audiences

Owners and ManagersIndividual Employees / Staff ChampionsTourism Associations and Destination Marketing Bodies

Thank YouThank YouFor Your Commitment to the Project:For Your Commitment to the Project:

Canadian Tourism CommissionParks CanadaAuthor/Consultant:Ruth Marr, Winnipeg, Manitoba