Earth Day was a very important day this year for those in Canada’s tourism industry. It was on that day, April 22, that 36 industry leaders gathered in Toronto to form the Canadian Sustainable Tourism Advisory Council. Organized by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC), the Council’s members represent every type of industry stakeholder: hotels, inns, universities, tourism commissions and associations, consultants, travel planners, and others. The mission of the council is two-fold: to agree to minimum standards for “sustainable travel,” and to create a uniquely Canadian accreditation system for hotels, tourism attractions and related businesses.
Keep in mind that Canada already has a highly successful hotel rating program (Green Key) run by the Hotel Association of Canada (HAC). The still unnamed accreditation program in the works by TIAC and the Council would be a separate program. In fact, Randy Williams, president and CEO of TIAC, told me that the new program’s criteria for inclusion will go beyond that established by HAC. Canada-based hotels wishing to participate in TIAC’s program, however, will have to be Green Key members.
The Council is using sustainability criteria established by the Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC Partnership) as a starting point for its program. The GSTC Partnership’s criteria encompass everything from fair labor practices to recycling. Williams says the Council’s sustainable travel criteria will be at a higher level than those established by the GSTC Partnership. In fact, Williams says they will “Canadianize” what the Partnership has already established.
Goal for Launch is 2010
TIAC plans to have the accreditation program up and running by sometime next year. Participants will be asked to pay an administrative fee at a price point that is not a burden, Williams says. There will be an annual application process. While on-site audits will not be a requirement, there will be surprise inspections and travelers will be surveyed to evaluate a destination’s green practices.
I commend TIAC and the newly established Canadian Sustainable Tourism Advisory Council for taking the steps to create a national sustainability standards program for all tourism-related businesses in Canada. It will be a tremendous task but worthwhile. Almost 60 percent of all guestrooms in Canada are now represented in HAC’s Green Key program. Getting all non-accommodations-related businesses also involved in sustainability will be huge.
One has to wonder if the United States’ travel and tourism industry will ever be able to replicate what Canada is doing.
Green Lodging News Adds Dectron Case Study to Website
Green Lodging News has just added a new case study to its website. The case study focuses on the Nottawsaga Inn Resort in Alliston, Ont., and how it implemented new dehumidification technology from Dectron Internationale to eliminate the challenging eye and lung irritation nuisance of every indoor pool—chloramines. The facility 40 miles north of Toronto includes Canada’s first indoor pool facility to use gas-phase air purification—part of its new dehumidifier purchase—to combat chemical odors that are common among natatoriums. Indoor air quality improved quickly and significantly as a result of eliminating chloramines. “Within 48 hours of starting up the new dehumidifier there was a unique freshness to the indoor air that was never experienced before and it was a 100-fold improvement when compared to before the dehumidifier installation,” said Peter Biffis, director of Nottawasaga Inn Resort. “We continually get positive comments from guests and lifeguards.”
To read the complete case study, click here. For more information on Dectron’s new system, contact Harry Topikian, P.Eng., Dectron Internationale, at (888) 332-8766, by e-mail at htopikian@dectron.com, or go to www.dectron.com.
Some Exciting June Results
The Green Lodging News website experienced its busiest month ever in June, with a total of 36,019 visitors and 126,861 page views. The weekly newsletter now reaches 10,292 subscribers. Green Lodging News will turn three years old on July 10.
Green Lodging News Advertising
Green Lodging News ad spots are selling fast. Be sure to call me at (440) 243-2055 to discuss your advertising plans for the remainder of 2009. A 2009 media kit is now available by request or by clicking here. A 2010 kit will be available soon. Thank you to all of those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.
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As always, I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
