Inside Sustainability
October, 2009
Welcome to our October Newsletter. In this edition of Inside Sustainability we introduce you to Green Flight and our DESTINO Initiative, celebrate The Haciendas success in the Conde Nast Travel Awards and recognise the great achievements of Centara Hotels, Grupo Mayan Golf Course and Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Regards
Stewart Moore
CEO, EC3 Global
In this Issue
Green Flight - Finally a Solution for offsetting flights
 EC3 Global is always looking for innovative ways to assist our clients to address their CSR and environmental responsibilities. This Year we have worked with Green Flight which provides a one stop global tool for companies / individuals to offset their flights. Green flight has its origins with C&L Aerospace, an aerospace company based in Brisbane that has been supporting airlines for over 15 years. Green Flight provides the MyGreenFlight carbon offset Program and also has specific Corporate and Event Offset Programs which are designed to enhance your environmental reputation. The Events Offset Program provides a co-branded website (either for the event or the venue) which can enhance your service offering, and provide a direct promotional benefit. The MyGreenFlight website www.mygreeflight.com and calculations tool covers every airline and all airports and destinations throughout the world, and is able to be use by passengers to quickly and easily offset the emissions from the entire itinerary, no matter wheter flying with one airline or many. The MyGreenFlight service marries well with the globlal service footprint and science provide by EC3, which enables us to measure the carbon footprint of any accommodation facility in any city in the world together with hospitality and service providers in 28 sectors.
Read more on this story
Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre reaches new Green heights!
 The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre is committed to being an industry leader in addressing social and environmental sustainability. In July 2009 the GCCEC became one of the first venues in the world to achieve the prestigious Green Globe Silver Certification, a program managed by EC3 Global which has verified GCCEC’s commitment to operating at the world’s highest environmental standards.
The GCCEC opened in 2004, and was designed with sustainability in mind, incorporating sustainable design principles as well as state-of-the art environmental technologies such as waterless toilets and a grey water management system. In charge of the Centre’s sustainability journey is “Project Green Team”, a dedicated group comprising of 14 people from different departments responsible for the centres green initiatives and strategies. The group meet every two weeks to manage progress and identify new opportunities for continual improvement in all areas of the business.
“The centre was designed and established with eco friendly practices in focus and is striving for continual improvements and excellence in environmental performance”. Adrienne Readings, General Manager, GCCEC The Centre’s commitment to sustainability can be found at all levels of the organisation, creating a culture of sustainability, good corporate citizenship and a positive difference for current and future generations. The GCCEC is also committed to partnerships with likeminded clients and suppliers and the education and empowerment of staff through training and participation in industry sustainability conferences and events. Click here for full story
Click here for more information on the GCCEC’s environmental achievements
Mexico’s The Haciendas Sweeps Condé Nast Traveler’s ‘World Savers’ awards
 EC3 Global client: The Haciendas, a group of 5 luxury haciendas in Mexico, has won "World Savers" awards.
Condé Nast Traveler has recognized The Haciendas as the world’s best overall advocate for social and environmental commitment, and the leader among all its competitors. The hotel group also won awards for poverty alleviation and special recognition for its health and education programs. Traveler’s editors declared “The Mexican company seems to be doing everything right,” and that it was “no shock the Haciendas came out on top.” Among the hotel group’s social and environmental commitments, the magazine made special mention of the fact The Haciendas draws 98% of both service and management personnel from the surrounding region, helps local residents start their own artisanal workshops and cooperatives, and undertakes special efforts to empower Maya women. Its education outreach has included investments in a mobile library, upgrades to local schools, and the creation of modern, computer-equipped libraries in several local communities. The group’s health recognition stemmed from preventive medical centers it runs in seven surrounding towns.
The company’s social programs are organized and financed by the Fundación Haciendas del Mundo Maya, in conjunction with local governments and institutions. The foundation creates sustainability projects that offer the greatest positive community impact and seeks to promote Maya identity, build awareness and recover at-risk elements of Maya culture. It simultaneously combats poverty in the region. Foundation programs foster education, health and sustainable development in collaboration with local communities, enabling program beneficiaries to become the drivers of their own social improvement projects.
To learn more about the Haciendas actions, refer to their websites:
www.grupoplan.com
Centara Hotels and Resorts commit to environmental sustainability
 Centara Hotels and Resorts give significance to operating their business and operations to a high degree of ethical, social and environmental responsibility.
Enhancing its strong environmental commitment, the group selected EC3 Global, to work with their international benchmarking standards, to improve awareness amongst their employees, partners and stakeholders and to attain sustainability.
By the second quarter of next year, the group targets to have Centara ‘Villas’ to be committed to benchmarking its water and energy consumption and waste management along with implementing an integrated environmental and social policy by EC3 Global. Further with rapid growth under Centara’s umbrella, the long-term benefits in term of sustainability delivery will also be factored into its construction, design and operation approach for all its new developments.
Read more on this story here
 Visitor Information Centres (VIC) are the front line of regional tourism and vital to growing the lucrative drive market. No-one knows this better than the team at the Charters Towers Visitor Information Centre who were rewarded with $500 prize for their contribution to essential research on the drive market in Queensland.
Susan Phillips, the Tourism Manager at the Charters Towers Regional Council and manager of the Visitor Information Centre said ‘Our staff and volunteers understand the importance of drive tourism so we are very proud of our achievements and our contribution’. The staff and volunteers plan to spend their prize money on hiring a bus so that our volunteers can see more of the product our customers come to see with a visit to Ravenswood for their annual Christmas celebrations this year in December. ‘We wanted to get our volunteers out into the region at Christmas but bus hire was too expensive so the idea was canned in 2008. This prize will make it a reality in 2009.’ said Ms Phillips. The Queensland Drive Tourism Program is managed by EC3 Global on behalf of the Route Steering Committees from across Queensland. This is the second major research program conducted where sixteen (16) Visitor Information Centres in key locations across Queensland were invited to participate in research on the long-haul drive visitors travelling in Queensland. The research aims to measure awareness and use of various drive routes and marketing materials for Strategic Touring Routes in Queensland.
 Originally the Mayan Resort and the golf course were located on the cattle grazing plains of Rivieria Maya. It was not until the year 2000 when the construction of the Resort began. The golf course “El Manglar” (The Mangrove) started operations in September 2003 after transforming an empty field with minimal vegetation into a playing hole. The resort researched extensively for a company to certify their sustainable practices and operations under a globally respected standard. The decision to participate in the EC3 Global managed Green Globe (Earthcheck Science Inside) program was made, as it could encompass both the resort and golf course seamlessly. Of the 10 golf courses and 6 under construction in the region of Quintana Roo, ‘El Manglar” is the only course to have achieved independent certification of their sustainable initiatives relating to the principles of Agenda 21.
Within the “Eco” areas of the golf course ‘El Manglar” has endemic species of birds, mammals and reptiles. All these species roam freely around the golf course and hotel areas, they are protected, and their behaviour is constantly analysed to get a better understanding of their habitat and environment. “We firmly believe that the protection of nature plays an important role in the future of the world, and we hope that every day more people and companies will join in the interest for the environment, creating new developments to mitigate environmental impact, forming knowledge bases to help future generations meet the environmental, economic and social challenges” Grupo Mayan. Click here for full story
DESTINO initiative - EC3 Global event in Riviera Maya, Mexico
 “Turning good intentions into measureable results and practical solutions”
The theme of the event is “DESTINO” Integral Sustainable Development. The focus of the workshop is to demonstrate that all operators need to work together with their respective destinations to achieve real environmental outcomes for both the community and the travel and tourism sector. The workshop will review current world best practice concerning corporate and social responsibility and sustainable management in general. The workshop will provide examples of how all operators can achieve significant improvements in their environmental performance. Dates: 9th -10th November 2009
Venue: Barceló Maya Beach
Click here to have access to the flyer and registration form for this event
For further information please contact
comunidad@ec3global.com
The People Behind EC3: Melinda Watt
 Melinda Watt
Vice President
Relationship Management
With EC3 Global since 2001 Throughout her professional career Melinda has had extensive experience in coordination and leading teams. As a chemist in the “Electricity Commission of New south Wales” she was responsible for the leadership of a technical team which ensured chemical regimes were maintained within the station and which also carried out all environmental functions within the station. This gave her the foundation for both her leadership skills and her sustainability expertise
As Manager for the “Centre for Integrated Environmental Protection” at Griffith University she was responsible for the management of all PhD students, research fellows and research projects from both administrative and technical perspectives. Over the past ten years she has been involved in the evolution and application of the Earthcheck benchmarking indicators for the travel and tourism industry on both operational and community levels. He current role sees her responsible for a passionate team who delivers world best practice solutions for sustainability. These solutions are applicable to both individual operations and communities. Outside the office Melinda is an avid cyclist who is looking forward to attending the Tour Down Under in January 2010.
SEED Awards - Submissions Closed!
Thank you all for your interest in the EC3 SEED Award for 2009. Entries closed on Friday 9th of October, and the winner will be announced on Friday October 30th. All shortlisted films will be screened on our YouTube website, and the grand prize winner will also be announced there. The winner will receive a year’s free membership, plus a dedicated webpage hosting their documentary and organisational background at www.ec3global.comTo watch all the videos participating visit: www.youtube.com/ec3global
Green Globe is an international benchmarking, certification and environmental improvement programme, now delivered in over 50 countries world wide. EC3 Global has the exclusive rights to the brand in in the Asia Pacific region (excluding Mainland China) and non exclusive rights in the rest of the world.
Listed below are the global organisations that have achieved Benchmarked or Certificated Status within the programme in September 2009.
Members awarded September | Member | Country | Award | Couples Swept Away | Jamaica | Certified Gold | Couples Negril | Jamaica | Certified Gold | Amsterdam RAI | Netherlands | Certified Silver | Hotel Maitai Polynesia | French Polynesia | Certified Silver | Lane Cove River Tourist Park | Australia | Certified Silver | Novotel Abidjan | Abidjan | Certified Silver | Novotel Bangkok Bangna | Thailand | Certified Silver | Novotel Barossa Valley Resort | Australia | Certified Silver | HKTraveler.com Ltd | Hong Kong | Certified Silver | Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa | Fiji | Certified Silver | Titanic Resort & Aqua Park | Egypt | Certified Silver | The Chedi Club at Tanah Gajah | Indonesia | Certified Silver | The Westin Sydney | Australia | Benchmarked | Park Plaza Beijing Wangfujing | China | Benchmarked | Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Krabi | Thailand | Benchmarked | Holiday Inn Brisbane | Australia | Benchmarked | Hyatt Regency Aruba | Aruba | Benchmarked | Cairns Convention Centre | Australia | Benchmarked | Rydges Capital Hill | Australia | Benchmarked | The Gateway Hotel, Vijayawada | India | Benchmarked | HKTraveler.com Ltd. | Hong Kong | Benchmarked | Normads Skylodge | Fiji | Benchmarked | Taj President Hotel | India | Benchmarked | Radisson Hotel Pudong Century Park | China | Benchmarked | Radisson Hotel Shanghai New World | China | Benchmarked | The Langham, Boston | USA | Benchmarked | Holiday Inn Atrium Singapore | Singapore | Benchmarked | Rydges North Melbourne | Australia | Benchmarked | Meliá Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia | Benchmarked | Amora Hotels and Resorts | Australia | Benchmarked | Crowne Plaza Canberra & National Convention Centre | Australia | Benchmarked | Perth Convention Bureau | Australia | Benchmarked | Bali Tourism Development Corporation | Indonesia | Certified Community |
Certified Platinum Logo represents continued commitment to environmental performance and improvement. It is awarded to organisations after 10 years of continuous certification. - Certified Gold Logo represents continued commitment to environmental performance and improvement. It is awarded to organisations after 5 years of continuous certification.
- Achieving Silver Certification involves completing all 6 key steps of the program:
1. Policy - establishing a suitable Sustainability Policy; 2. Benchmarking - completing a Benchmarking Assessment. Incorporating key elements such as Energy, Water, Waste, Community, Paper, Cleaning, Pesticides etc.. 3. Compliance - comply with relevant legislation and policy requirements; 4. Approach – implementation of an environmental certification management system; 5. Performance – documentation of performance outcomes; and 6. Communication – communication & consultation with key stakeholders including clients, suppliers & staff. - The Bronze Benchmarked logo recognises completion of the two key steps of the Green Globe Company Standard:
1. Policy - establishing a suitable Sustainability Policy
2. Benchmarking - completing a Benchmarking Assessment. Incorporating key elements such as Energy, Water, Waste, Community, Paper, Cleaning, Pesticides etc.
WWF-New initiative to foster Indigenous involvement in Kimberley Tourism
 WWF-Australia is engaged in a new project aimed at increasing the number of Traditional Owners working in and benefitting from the booming multi-million dollar tourism industry in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.
The project, a joint initiative of WWF-Australia, the Kimberley Land Council (KLC) and The Leading Travel Companies Conservation Foundation (TLTC), was recently announced and hopes to engage Traditional Owners, tourism operators and industry groups to manage coastal tourism in the Kimberley in a more sustainable and culturally sensitive manner. “With the Kimberley rapidly becoming a global tourism hot-spot, it is critical to put in place effective measures to safeguard the region,” said WWF’s Program Leader – West Paul Gamblin. “This project represents an ongoing commitment by WWF to work with the Indigenous people of the Kimberley region towards sustainable economic development. “Culturally, environmentally and economically the Kimberley is of outstanding national and international significance.” The partnership will convene a steering group with Traditional Owners in the region, working with tourism operators to ensure cultural and natural heritage is identified, preserved and promoted. The steering group will also encourage greater education and training for traditional land owners in tourism management. WWF-Australia is part of the WWF International Network, one of the world's largest and most experienced independent conservation organisations.
Read more on this story here.
Carbon Market Expo Australasia 2009
 Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre 26 - 28 October 2009 International carbon market leaders will be at Expo to share their knowledge and experience of global carbon market trends and developments - ahead of Copenhagen and the CPRS; and a fantastic trade fair showcases the best of carbon market product & service provision across Australasia. This is a perfect opportunity to come and gather the latest carbon market intelligence and develop carbon business relationships. Register now at www.carbonexpo.com.au The latest Expo program can be downloaded here. Highlights of the Expo conference will include plenary and workshop sessions covering: - Background briefing on the CPRS – including an overview and update of the CPRS (including details on the forward role of the Australian Climate Change Regulatory Authority), fundamentals of emissions trading, and observations regarding how business needs to engage with the evolving carbon market in the lead-up to Copenhagen
- The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) & the CPRS – overview of the rules governing the CDM and the creation and sale of CERs and advice on accessing the CER market and structuring CDM deals
- Australian Government’s Department of Climate Change (DCC) information session to explain the role of Australia’s National Authority for the CDM and JI in approving participation in CDM and JI projects, as well as the operation of the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units (ANREU)
- State of international climate change policy – overview of international policy settings ahead of Copenhagen and how these will impact the development & interaction of carbon markets
- Overview of global carbon markets – an update on the current state and trends in global carbon markets
- Business action on climate change – discussion of how big business is identifying & managing business risks, liabilities & opportunities in the evolving regulatory landscape
- Energy efficiency – discussion of the environmental and economic benefits of systemic energy efficiency and what the opportunities & limitations are for investment in energy efficiency within the context of developing carbon markets
These are all interactive sessions led by leading global and domestic carbon market practitioners. Expo offers your business a fantastic engagement opportunity with the carbon market - we look forward to seeing you on the Gold Coast later this month ! |
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