Organized by The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), the Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference (ESTC) is North America’s largest and only conference focusing on sustainability in the tourism industry.
A leading international multi-stakeholder meeting place, the ESTC brings together innovative minds from across the industry to discuss practical ideas and solutions that inspire positive changes. Advancing policies and practices benefiting businesses and communities, the ESTC helps reinforce the roles of tourism in building a more sustainable future.
Co-hosted by Travel Portland and Travel Oregon, the ESTC 2010 (September 8-10, 2010) will be held in Portland, Oregon, a leading U.S. city that has been consistently rated “the most sustainable city” in the country. Bringing together 500+ business leaders, industry professionals and community stakeholders, the ESTC 2010 will feature dynamic sessions, public forums and social functions that offer eye-opening insights into the latest on sustainable business strategies and unparalleled networking and knowledge-sharing experiences.
The ESTC has set the following goals:
- To be THE meeting place for tourism professionals that fosters networking opportunities.
- To promote best practices in sustainability strategies and inspire innovative change.
- To help build partnerships and networks that advance policy benefiting businesses and communities.
- To equip businesses with tools to effectively cope with social, environmental and economic challenges.
- To promote strategies and solutions that reinforce the roles of tourism in building a sustainable future.
The conference facilitators recognize the importance of minimizing their environmental footprints, TIES strives to make the ESTC as environmentally responsible as possible. Here are some of the actions they are taking to achieve this goal.
Portland, Oregon: Most Sustainable City in the US
Consistently rated one of the “most sustainable cities in the US”, Portland, Oregon is a green city where over 5,000 residents commute to work each day by bicycle; where parking meters are solar powered; and where the meticulous synchronization of traffic signals results in an annual savings of 1.1 million gallons of gasoline. Currently, Portland also boasts the most LEED-certified buildings per capita in the nation. Portlanders recycle 54 percent of their waste, a percentage that exceeds that of any other US city. And they and their fellow Oregonians introduced the nation’s first bottle bill in 1971 to encourage recycling.
Smart, Sustainable Local Transportation
All conference attendees arriving from outside the region by air will enjoy the convenience of MAX light rail, the only train-to-plane option on the West Coast, conveniently connecting the Portland International Airport and downtown Portland, as well as getting around in the city with the Portland Streetcar, the only modern streetcar system in the nation. Portland boasts 226 miles of bike lanes, and is the birthplace of car-sharing in the US. The ESTC 2010 field sessions and local tours will utilize Portland’s sustainable and accessible public transportations systems.
Hilton Portland Green Practices
The Hilton Portland & Executive Tower, the ESTC 2010 conference venue, is Green Seal Certified and works to decrease its impact on the environment and improve sustainability. Green Seal is a non-profit organization that promotes the management, purchase and use of environmentally responsible products and services. The Hilton Portland & Executive Tower is also among the first hotels in Oregon to be certified in the Green Key Eco-Rating Program.
Local & Organic Meals
TIES is working with the conference caterers to offer local and organic food in the meals whenever possible. Supporting locally grown and produced food will conserve energy used in transportation and promote local products that are grown using environmentally friendly practices.
Fair Trade, Organic Coffee and Tea:
The coffee and tea served during the session breaks will be fair trade, local and organic products.
Green Office Practices
When the use of paper cannot be avoided, TIES is committed to using recycled and FSD certified paper. All of the conference programs will be printed using soy-based inks on post-consumer recycled paper. In addition, we are working with local partners in Portland, Oregon whenever possible to cut down on shipping-related waste.
Carbon Offsets
TIES will be partnering with a credible carbon offset organization to offer a climate friendly event. We encourage each conference participants to join us in actively helping to neutralize the impact of greenhouse gases emissions related to the ESTC 2010.
For more information, visit www.ecotourism.org
Source: The International Ecotourism Society
Editorial Director
