INTOUR Update Aligning Travelife with the EU Ecolabel and identifying further opportunities for collaboration Sören Stöber, ABTA The Travel Association (UK) Naut Kusters, ECEAT Projects (NL) CB Forum Meeting, Brussels, 4 th March 2013
Agenda (1) INTOUR: Summary and objectives (2) Travelife Sustainability System (3) Link with the EU Ecolabel (4) Opportunities for collaboration (5) Travelife for Tour Operators
Building confidence at the heart of travel mbxb 3
INTOUR: Summary and objectives INTOUR runs from Sep 10 to Sep 13 Integrate EMAS III management system in Travelife system for tour operators Introduce Travelife for tour operators among members of travel associations in Europe Integrate the EU Ecolabel for accommodations with the Travelife system for hotels Promotion of EU Ecolabel and Travelife for hotels in Europe 4
Partners ECEAT (NL) ABTA (UK) ANVR (NL) ASR (DE) ACTA (IT) Austrian Ministry for Environment (AU) KOAN (ES) 5
Challenges and background To provide an affordable and achievable solution to influence the mass market To remove complexity and costs from supply chain operations and to monitor sustainability performance To enable hotels to get started with sustainability and promote achievements To raise customer awareness 6
Challenge and background A 3 year European project TourLink launched in 2007 Joint initiative tour operators, trade associations, NGOs, tourism ministries, academics, destination governments Multi-stakeholder process involving 60+ participants Co-financed by EC (EU Life) 7
Solution and mechanics Roll-out of Travelife Standard for hotels; 99 sustainability criteria and checklist Joint message when approaching hotels - joint message when communicating with holidaymakers Many tour operators - only one audit Online platform to share information and data 8
Solution and mechanics Hotel registration and online self-assessment Subscription, guidance and information (8 languages) 3 rd party audit, award status, continuous improvement process In-house, external and tour operator promotion Re-audit every 2 years 9
Significance and supporters Tour operator subscription and commitment Thomas Cook Group (2020: 1,500+ hotels) TUI Travel (2015: 10mn fairer & greener holidays KUONI Group Rewe Touristik, Transat, Cosmos, Hotelplan, Sunvil, Virgin Holidays, Hotel chain subscriptions and commitment SENTIDO, HV, Atlantica, Louis, ROBINSON, RIU 10
Solution and mechanics Hotel registration and online self-assessment Subscription, guidance and information (8 languages) 3 rd party audit, award status, continuous improvement process In-house, external and tour operator promotion Re-audit every 2 years 11
Solution and mechanics Hotel registration and online self-assessment Subscription, guidance and information (8 languages) 3 rd party audit, award status, continuous improvement process In-house, external and tour operator promotion Re-audit every 2 years 12
Solution and mechanics Hotel registration and online self-assessment Subscription, guidance and information (8 languages) 3 rd party audit, award status, continuous improvement process In-house, external and tour operator promotion Re-audit every 2 years 13
Significance and supporters European Parliament and Commission Endorsement in new EU Tourism Framework Funding through 3-year INTOUR project Associations ECTAA tool of choice Mandatory for ANVR members Certification scheme accreditation Global Sustainable Tourism Council (UNWTO, UNF) 14
Significance and supporters European Parliament and Commission Endorsement in new EU Tourism Framework Funding through 3-year INTOUR project Associations ECTAA tool of choice Mandatory for ANVR members Certification scheme accreditation Global Sustainable Tourism Council (UNWTO, UNF) 15
Significance and supporters European Parliament and Commission Endorsement in new EU Tourism Framework Funding through 3-year INTOUR project Associations ECTAA tool of choice Mandatory for ANVR members Certification scheme accreditation Global Sustainable Tourism Council (UNWTO, UNF) 16
Link with EU Ecolabel Review of Travelife criteria and full integration of all EU Ecolabel criteria (GSTC recognised) Active promotion of the EU Ecolabel Currently 939 members in 43 countries working with Travelife (ES, TR, GR, EY) Support from UK, European and international tour operators and industry associations Established as leading certification scheme in mass market and leisure tourism 17
Link with EU Ecolabel Review of Travelife criteria and full integration of all EU Ecolabel criteria (GSTC recognised) Active promotion of the EU Ecolabel Currently 939 members in 43 countries working with Travelife (ES, TR, GR, EY) Support from UK, European and international tour operators and industry associations Established as leading certification scheme in mass market and leisure tourism 18
Link with EU Ecolabel Review of Travelife criteria and full integration of all EU Ecolabel criteria (GSTC recognised) Active promotion of the EU Ecolabel Currently 939 members in 43 countries working with Travelife (ES, TR, GR, EY) Support from UK, European and international tour operators and industry associations Established as leading certification scheme in mass market and leisure tourism 19
Link with EU Ecolabel Review of Travelife criteria and full integration of all EU Ecolabel criteria (GSTC recognised) Active promotion of the EU Ecolabel Currently 939 members in 43 countries working with Travelife (ES, TR, GR, EY) Support from UK, European and international tour operators and industry associations Established as leading certification scheme in mass market and leisure tourism 20
Opportunities for collaboration Co-operation with different CBs and mutual promotion and support Sharing of knowledge in EU Ecolabel criteria review process (2014/15?) Support of shift from environmental to sustainability label Access to market and industry bodies via sector tool of choice 21
One brand, two integrated systems Tour operators & travel agents Hotels Training Management tools Certification Marketing support (managed by ECEAT) Training Management tools Certification Marketing support (managed by ABTA)
21 Tour Operator Office and retail operations Customer Communication Protection Management control Supply Chain Transport Accommodation Excursion Destination Community Biodiversity Resources 23
Travelife Tour operator standard - Based upon EMAS III requirements - Participation of ABTA and ECEAT in the development of EMAS III reference document for the tourism sector (2011 2012) - EMAS III tourism sector key indicators are integrated - Policy to promote sustainability certification of contracted Hotels is required, minimum targets will be required 24
General Themes Theme ISO 14001 EMAS III ILO GRI GSTC OECD ISO 26000 Environment Labour practices Community relations Cultural impact Biodiversity Fair busines practices Health and Safety Costumer protection Human Rights
System Characteristsics Elements ISO 14001 EMAS III ILO GRI OECD GSTC ISO 26000 Management system / governance Legal compliance Key indicators Mandidatory performance based criteria Best practices Stakeholder involvement Supply chain based Tourism sector specific Certification / recognition
Your road towards sustainabity Travelife Engaged Travelife Partner (second party) Travelife Certified (third party / EMAS competable)
Commitment from 18 European associations Belgium Bulgaria Czech Republic Croatia Cypress Denmark Ireland Finland France Germany Greece Italy Latvia Netherlands Spain Poland Sweden UK
Thank you!