Conference Registration and Continental Breakfast
Opening Remarks
Keynote Presentation
Willard will present the business case for sustainability across various business sectors and how it applies to the travel and tourism industry.
Click on Dr. Willard’s name above, to view a 3-minute trailer of his presentation, The Business Case for Sustainability.
Networking Break
Plenary Session
Travel industry leaders will share their stories and views on making sustainability part of a new paradigm which marries accountability and profitability to benefit society and the environment.
This panel will have an open format which will allow for a moderated and dynamic exchange of ideas with the audience.
Luncheon (Sponsored by Ted Rogers School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, Ryerson University) & Keynote Presentation
Transat, one of the largest vertically integrated tour operators in the world, has made corporate social responsibility one of its top priorities and has initiated major projects that focus on making mass tourism more sustainable. The core of Transat’s efforts includes reducing the environmental footprint of tourism, promoting environmental and social best practices, raising awareness of employees and travellers, and supporting local initiatives and communities in Canada and around the world. This endeavour, conducted by a $4-billion company with 60 country destinations, has proven to be altogether challenging and rewarding, exhilarating and sobering, especially during this economic downturn. Travel and tourism remain one of the most promising economic engines, largely based on nature and human culture, and the industry therefore has a vested interest in sustainability.
*Delegates are required to sign up for one of the following two workshops during registration.
WORKSHOP 1
Travel and Tourism, with its wide range of businesses, has a measurable impact on the climate and the environment.
This workshop will provide the fundamentals of why doing a carbon footprint will offer a snapshot of the operation’s efficiency and aid in developing strategies for cost reduction. Other value-added strategies, such as green meetings and cost savings for employee business travel, will also be addressed.Key Learnings
*Why and how to do a carbon footprint*Energy reduction and waste management strategies*Reduce business travel costs and employee commute*Green meetings and events
WORKSHOP 2
As awareness about environmental and social issues rises among consumers, travel businesses need to take a hard look at the way in which they create and sell products and services. This workshop will provide an overview of the often confusing landscape of travel certification schemes. It will deepen the understanding of strategies to create green products and services, how to identify sustainable products for supply chain procurement, and how to sell responsible travel.Key Learnings
*Travel sector certification overview*Criteria for “labeling” travel products green*How to identify, buy and sell responsible travel
Networking Break
WORKSHOP 3
Stakeholder engagement is rapidly emerging as a key tool to develop an understanding of what sustainability means for companies. This workshop will help organizations understand the importance of involving employees, suppliers, NGO’s, labour organizations, investors, and customers to drive value through the business.
*Why use stakeholder engagement*Map the stakeholders for your organizations*Understand the interconnections*Strategies to embed sustainability along the value chain
WORKSHOP 4
The ubiquitous nature of the Internet, as well as the power of social media, is making consumers increasingly critical of responsible product claims. This workshop will provide the tools to make the most out of your green initiatives by creating clear and credible messages for a wide range of travel products and services.Key
*Understanding the key components of green marketing*How to create a marketing differentiator*Learn how to avoid “greenwashing”*Effective communication and PR of responsible products
Plenary Session
Panelists will present various topics including research and case studies on:
* Consumer attitudes towards corporate social responsibility and green travel.
* What are travel businesses and suppliers doing to raise the standards of their services and products while also considering risks around climate change, energy, water and food security, pandemics and social unrest?
* What pending regulations, local and in destinations, will force travel enterprises to adopt sustainable practices?
* Which travel organization are leaders in CSR? What motivated them to be early adopters and what sectors are likely to follow?
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February 10, 2012
February 10, 2012
February 10, 2012
