EC3 Global’s DESTINO initiative arose from a need to find solutions to the problem of Climate Change and uncontrolled tourism development, in various regions of Latin America.
Launched at Mexico’s Mayan Riviera in November, the event was sponsored by Barceló Maya Beach - Colonial, The Water Park Xel-Ha and the Mayan Group. It was a forum to share experiences, recognize achievements and encourage more organizations to recognise the tangible benefits of exercising Corporate Social Responsibility.
Market leaders such as Haciendas del Mundo Maya, Xel-Ha Park, Huatulco, Barceló and Grupo Mayan, demonstrated how tourism has the most to gain from nurturing a healthy environment. Being part of an industry with such a vested interest in the cultural, historic and environmental assets of a destination, tourism operators are coming to accept that they have a symbiotic relationship with their host locations.
More than 70 delegates attended presentations from organizations such as WWF, Travel Foundation, Ecolab and Dr. Domingo Gomez, who is working with Rural Tourism in Chiapas. Speakers widely acknowledged that travel and tourism is an energy intensive business, which tends to have a sizeable carbon footprint.
"Attending the event gave me the opportunity to speak with organisations that are certified through EC3 Global and Mexico’s Tourism Environmental Quality certification,” explained Hugo de la Torre, Head of Botany Xpu Ha Palace, Grupo Palace Resorts. “Hearing first-hand the benefits of each, has helped me better understand what each has to offer. Tourist developers can gain at a local level from certifying their units through the Environmental Quality Tourism system. EC3 Global’s certification system however brings with it the tangible benefits of tools that help organisations make a triple bottom line impact through greater operational efficiencies."
Destino provided a forum for industry leaders to share first-hand accounts of how challenge can be turned into opportunity through strong leadership and wise business management. The creation of carbon markets means that going about business as usual is no longer an option, as emissions now come at a very real cost that will impact bottom line profits.
Those organisations that are gaining competitive edge through sustainability practices are growing market share and decreasing costs while others struggle with the economic downturn. Their growth will be sustainable through good times and bad, putting them in a strong position to prosper in future and leave a positive impact on the surrounding environment.