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EarthCheck, the world’s leading certification and business advisory group for sustainable tourism has entered into a strategic partnership with the Griffith University Institute for Tourism (GIFT).

The agreement will allow both parties to collaborate on research and development projects in the field of sustainable tourism and environmental management.

EarthCheck Chief Executive and founder Stewart Moore said the opportunity to partner with GIFT, one of the world’s leading research groups in tourism, would facilitate high-level research and practical solutions for the biggest challenges facing the global tourism industry.

Moore explained “EarthCheck is recognised internationally for the rigorous scientific approach which underpins our global certification and benchmarking programs, and the research we develop through this partnership with GIFT will ensure our products and our science continue to meet and exceed the needs of the tourism industry.”

Through its global strategic partnerships, GIFT’s structure and research programs are designed to ensure high industry and policy relevance. Following the triple bottom line concept, the key areas of impact of research undertaken at GIFT reflect economic, social and environmental dimensions.

GIFT Director Professor Susanne Becken said the partnership would allow access to real data collected from EarthCheck’s 1400+ members, who currently operate in more than 70 countries.

Professor Becken stated “EarthCheck hold the world’s most comprehensive database with environmental metrics collected from their international client network over more than 15 years of operation. This will give our students real world experience in the most advanced measurement tools, and practical operational insights.”

During 2016, GIFT and EarthCheck will focus on three core research and consulting projects:

1. Research into the relationship between water and energy use at major hotel groups

2. Developing the tourism workforce of the future through labour and skills development, certification and mobility in the APEC region

3. Development of a global sustainable travel and tourism indicator set.

Professor Becken also presented the latest findings on global greenhouse gas emissions and corporate social responsibility at the recent Inner Circle 2016 forum in April 2016, an annual think-tank hosted by EarthCheck for its members.

EarthCheck is the world's leading environmental management and professional services group for the travel and tourism industry. Its flagship product, EarthCheck Certification, has helped clients in more than 70 countries realise over $500 million in operational savings while reducing their footprint on the environment. EarthCheck certification complies with the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Greenhouse Gas Protocol, and the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) 14064 range of standards for greenhouse gas accounting.

For more information on EarthCheck go to www.earthcheck.org 

For more information on GIFT visit www.griffith.edu.au/business-government/griffith-institute-tourism

Image: In 2014 the environmental practices of the New Zealand's Kaikoura Community were recognised by EarthCheck; and awarded Kaikoura Platinum Certification for Environmental Performance. 

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