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The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has announced the 2019 leaders in sustainable tourism at the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards ceremony.

The Awards, now in their 15th year, took place during the WTTC Global Summit in Seville, Spain, to celebrate inspirational, world-changing tourism initiatives from around the globe. 

The 2019 WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Award Winners are highly commended and recognised for business practices of the highest standards that balance the needs of ‘people, planet and profits’ within the Travel & Tourism sector.

The 2019 Winners promote inclusive growth and illustrate a strong commitment to supporting change and transformation in business practices and consumer behaviour towards a more environmentally conscious sector.

The Winners of the 2019 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards are:

• Climate Action Award – Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, Aruba
• Investing in People Award – Lemon Tree Hotels Limited, India
• Destination Stewardship Award – St. Kitts Sustainable Destination Council, St. Kitts and Nevis
• Social Impact Award – Awamaki, Peru
• Changemakers Award – SEE Turtles, USA

The Awards are judged by a panel of independent experts, led by Prof Graham Miller, Executive Dean, Professor of Sustainability in Business, University of Surrey. The panel included academics, business leaders, NGO and governmental representatives who narrowed down the list of 183 applications to fifteen finalists. The three-stage judging process included a thorough review of all applications, followed by on-site evaluations of the Finalists and their initiative.

The Winner of each category was determined by the WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Awards 2019 Winners’ Selection Committee, chaired by Fiona Jeffery OBE, Founder & Chairman, Just a Drop, and composed of Wolfgang M. Neumann, Non-Executive Director and Strategic Advisory, Global Hospitality, Travel & Tourism Sector; John Spengler, Akira Yamaguchi Professor of Environmental Health and Human Habitation, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; and Louise Twining-Ward, Senior Private Sector Specialist, Global Tourism Team, World Bank. 

WTTC represents the global private sector of Travel & Tourism. Its Global Summit is the most important event in the sector worldwide each year.

Gloria Guevara, President and Chief Executive WTTC, commented: "The finalists in this year’s Tourism for Tomorrow Awards showcase the many ways in which our industry is dedicated to sustainable growth. In 2018, the Travel & Tourism sector contributed 10.4% of global GDP and supported 319 million jobs across the world. It is therefore essential that we continue to grow in the most sustainable and responsible way possible. The new award categories for this year are aligned with WTTC strategic priorities and illustrate that all members of this industry play a key role in driving the sector forward to a more responsible future. I congratulate them all on their fantastic accomplishments and leadership."

Fiona Jeffery, OBE, Chair, WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, said: "The aim of the WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Awards is to showcase some of the most exceptional examples of sustainable tourism practices in the world, and inspire and encourage our industry to make a positive impact for both current and future generations. Over 15 years, we have seen the industry make great strides towards achieving these goals and we can see positive change happening. Our recent survey results show that 67% of travellers would consider a travel company’s sustainability agenda when booking a trip, whilst 48% of travellers would now pay more money to travel sustainably. Whilst there is still more to be done, we must harness the momentum for change to protect the product that sustains our very own industry."

Jeff Rutledge, President and Chief Executive, AIG Travel, Headline Sponsor of the Awards, stated: "From socially-inclusive employment initiatives to establishing one of the first rewilding projects in the Philippines, this year’s WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Awards finalists have proved to be an incredibly diverse group of changemakers from around the world. They have demonstrated that, regardless of the size or purpose of business, all members of the Travel & Tourism industry can afford to make sustainability a priority, and become part of our collective journey towards a greener future."

Full list of Winners and Finalists:
Climate Action Award, for organisations undertaking significant and measurable work to reduce the scale and impact of climate change:
• WINNER: Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, Aruba
• FINALIST: The Brando, Tetiaroa Private Island, French Polynesia
• FINALIST: Tourism Holdings Limited, New Zealand

Investing in People Award, for organisations demonstrating leadership in becoming an exciting, attractive, and equitable employer in the sector:
• WINNER: Lemon Tree Hotels Limited, India
• FINALIST: Reserva do Ibitipoca, Brazil
• FINALIST: Shanga by Elewana Collection, Tanzania 

Destination Stewardship Award, for organisations helping a place to thrive and bring forward its unique identity for the benefit of its residents and tourists:
• WINNER: St. Kitts Sustainable Destination Council, St. Kitts and Nevis
• FINALIST: Grupo Rio da Prata, Jardim and Bonito, Brazil
• FINALIST: Masungi Georeserve, Philippines

Social Impact Award, for organisations working to improve the people and places where they operate:
• WINNER: Awamaki, Peru
• FINALIST: Intrepid Group, Australia
• FINALIST: Nikoi Island, Indonesia

Changemakers Award, this year focused on organisations fighting the illegal wildlife trade through sustainable tourism:
• WINNER: SEE Turtles, USA
• FINALIST: Kelompok Peduli Lingkungan Belitung (KPLB), Indonesia
• FINALIST: The Cardamom Tented Camp, Cambodia

For more information on the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards go to http://wttc.org/t4tawards

Image courtesy of Intrepid Group Australia, Finalist in the Social Impact Award, for organisations working to improve the people and places where they operate.

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