Delegates at the inaugural PATA CEO Challenge 2008: Confronting Climate Change agreed to collaborate on a range of initiatives to confront climate change, such as Banyan Tree’s green audit programme, Intrepid Travel’s project management plan, and Expedia’s World Heritage Alliance.
The CEO Challenge successfully facilitated the sharing of these valuable, practical initiatives.
The event delivered on goals set by PATA, with so many good ideas, innovative programmes and practical solutions, and, most importantly, opportunities for collaborative action.
More than 350 people engaged in the day-and-a-half programme, including a welcome reception and dinner hosted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
One of the more general take-aways from the event is a simple action plan that any leader of a travel and tourism organisation can follow:-
- Start a discussion with your management team and Board to agree on principles and priorities for a climate change strategy
- Create a compelling vision to ensure internal and external stakeholder support
- Conduct an environmental audit; set targets; measure, verify and record results (There are specialised service providers, such as Green Globe, that can assist)
- Communicate your environmental action plan with internal and external stakeholders
- Where emission reductions are impractical, offer optional offset charges to your customers and provide adequate incentives for their take-up
