Virgin Atlantic and the Airport Authority of Hong Kong were among the winners of the World Travel & Tourism Council’s Tourism for Tomorrow Awards announced at the WTTC summit in Buenos Aires.
Long-haul carrier Virgin Atlantic won the Tourism for Tomorrow Innovation Award for developing a framework for sustainable inflight catering, in partnership with the Sustainable Restaurant Association.
The Airport Authority of Hong Kong was presented with the Tourism for Tomorrow Environment Award. The Community Award went to Global Himalayan Expedition of India.
The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association of British Colombia, in Canada, won the Destination Award, and the People Award was won by the Cayuga Collection of sustainable luxury hotels and lodges in Costa Rica.
WTTC president and chief executive Gloria Guevara said: “The award categories are designed to demonstrate that every player in the travel and tourism industry has a role in driving the sector to a more responsible future.
“The finalists prove just how diverse and all-encompassing our sector’s commitment to sustainable growth is.”
Chair of the awards Fiona Jeffery said: “The awards showcase some of the most outstanding examples of sustainable tourism practise in the world.”
Jeff Rutledge, chief executive of Tourism for Tomorrow headline sponsor AIG Travel, added: “Regardless of size or purpose, all businesses in travel and tourism can make sustainability a priority.”
The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards’ winners and finalists in full:
Community Award
WINNER – Global Himalayan Expedition, India
FINALIST – &Beyond, South Africa
FINALIST – Sustainable Development Institute Mamirauá, Brazil
Destination Award
WINNER – Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, British Colombia
FINALIST – Riverwind Foundation, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, USA
FINALIST – Corporación Parque Arví, Colombia
Environment Award
WINNER – Airport Authority Hong Kong, Hong Kong
FINALIST – Chumbe Island Coral Park, Tanzania
FINALIST –Melia Hotels International, Spain
Innovation Award
WINNER – Virgin Atlantic, UK
FINALIST – Parkbus – Transportation Options, Canada
FINALIST – Yayasan Karang Lestari Teluk Pemuteran (Pemuteran Bay Coral Protection Foundation), Indonesia
People Award
WINNER – Cayuga Collection of Sustainable Luxury Hotels and Lodges, Costa Rica
FINALIST – Heritage Watch, Australia
FINALIST – TREE Alliance, Cambodia