Daily Archives: March 5, 2019

The “Hotel Yearbook 2020 – Sustainable Hospitality” has been released and is available online for free. Along the same lines as previous editions of the Hotel Yearbook, the 2020 Sustainable Hospitality edition gathers the thoughts and research from a wide-ranging group of senior executives, analysts, consultants and opinion leaders from all over the world […]

The post Hotel Yearbook 2020 Sustainable Hospitality Now Released appeared first on Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).

Ecotourism Australia certified operators have once again cleaned up at this year’s 2018 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards, taking home over a quarter of all awards including six gold, nine silver and six bronze.

With 21 awards won overall, Ecotourism Australia would have come first in the awards tally if it were a State. 

CEO Rod Hillman says that he is proud, but not surprised: “Our certified operators run amazing businesses. They’re not just focused on sustainability – they’re out there delivering exceptionally high-quality experiences that their visitors can’t stop talking about.

“On top of that, they’re passionate operators who pass on their love of what they do, and of the environment, to their guests. It’s no surprise that these operators get rewarded.”

Photo: Nitmiluk Tours / Cicada Lodge team / Qantas Australian Tourism Awards

Thirty-four Ecotourism Australia members were nominated for 38 awards across 15 categories, with Gold Awards won in the categories of Major Tour and Transport Operators, Tour and Transport Operators, Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services, Luxury Accommodation, Self-Contained Accommodation and of course, Ecotourism, the category which Ecotourism Australia sponsors.

“Ecotourism Australia has been sponsoring the Ecotourism category of the national tourism awards for the past three years,” explains Dr. Claire Ellis, Ecotourism Australia’s Chair, “and it’s great to see that every finalist was ECO Certified.

“Operators certified through our ECO Certification program deliver best practice ecotourism experiences in this country and by sponsoring this category of the awards, we ensure that this high quality is recognised and maintained.”

Photo: Fun Over Fifty / Qantas Australian Tourism Awards

Ecotourism Australia’s ECO Certification program is one of only six certification programs worldwide which hold the international stamp of quality assurance, as they are accredited through the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and independently audited. With hundreds of sustainability certification programs now available worldwide, having this international accreditation helps both tourism operators and consumers to understand the difference between genuine, rigorous certification programs and those which are not backed by genuine sustainability efforts.

Photo: Red Cat Adventures / Qantas Australian Tourism Awards

-END-

For more information about Ecotourism Australia and its certification programs, please visit the Ecotourism Australia website: www.ecotourism.org.au.

For more information about the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards, please visit the awards website: https://qualitytourismaustralia.com/australian-tourism-awards/.

For questions / comments, please contact Rod Hillman, CEO:  0427 279 414

Ecotourism Australia’s Australian Tourism Award Winners 2019