Edition 134 · July 2019

Ecotourism Australia’s Global Eco Conference will be held in Cairns from 2-4 December this year, surrounded by two World Heritage sites: The Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest.

This year’s conference will bring together some of the world’s leading speakers on ecotourism, sustainability and responsible tourism, as well as tourism operators, protected area managers, tourism organisations, Indigenous bodies and researchers.

The 2019 Global Eco Asia-Pacific Tourism Conference focuses on ecotourism as a high yielding business and as a driver of economic development, good conservation outcomes, and cultural understanding.

The theme for the 2019 Conference is Essential Evolution:

• What imperatives does the ecotourism industry need to respond to – environmental, social, cultural, economic?
• How should the industry respond to disruptive factors, or drive disruption?
• How should policy makers, land managers and the industry evolve to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future?
• What initiatives should the stakeholders of ecotourism take to retain their status as the leader of the sustainable and experiential tourism?

Ecotourism Australia would like to thank the Department of Innovation, Tourism Industry Development and the Commonwealth Games (DITID), the Department of Environment and Science (DES) and Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) for their generous support of this year’s conference.

To offer a paper, please visit https://globaleco.com.au/call-for-papers

Congratulations to Professor Ross Dowling who received a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his significant service to higher education, tourism and conservation. Ross retired from his position as foundation Professor of Tourism at Edith Cowan University in Joondalup last year after 16 years and is still active in in the areas of geotourism, cruise ship tourism, ecotourism and tourism planning, research and development.

Further information: https://www.ecu.edu.au/news/latest-news/2019/06/2019-queens-birthday-honours-list

Air Uber has announced Australia as the first international market for Uber Air with Melbourne joining Dallas and Los Angeles as pilot cities for the program with test flights due to start from 2020 and commercial operations to commence from 2023. Uber Air aims to open urban air mobility and help alleviate transport congestion on the ground. Uber will work with key existing partners including Melbourne Airport who collectively will support the infrastructure and telecommunications needed to create a successful urban aviation network.

Further information: https://www.uber.com/au/en/elevate/uberair/

United Airlines made history on World Environment Day with the departure of the Flight for the Planet the first eco-friendly commercial flight in the history of aviation. The airline demonstrated several key actions including utilisation of sustainable aviation biofuel, zero cabin waste, carbon offsetting and operational efficiencies. United is using the Flight for the Planet to evaluate key measures of flying as sustainably as possible using the airline’s current technology, resources and fuel-saving procedures.

Further information: https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly/company/global-citizenship/environment.html

United Airlines has launched its latest inflight safety demonstration video featuring Spider-Man as a promotional partnership with Sony Pictures. Customers travelling in business class will also receive a limited-edition Spider-Man: Far from Home themed amenity kit including an eye mask, socks, tissues, ear plugs, a toothbrush and a pen alongside luxury skincare products.

Further information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM0H9rbqusw&feature=youtu.be

Quark Expeditions has unveiled its sustainability strategy under the banner ‘Polar Promise.’ The strategy advances existing initiatives aimed at improving environmental and social outcomes in the polar regions. It translates ongoing and new efforts into concrete, measurable goals and sustainable outcomes to be achieved by 2025. The framework will also focus on addressing the impacts of visiting the polar regions and the power to transform those who experience them.

Further information: https://www.quarkexpeditions.com/en

Tompkins Conservation is a U.S. based charity which has helped conserve more than 14.2 million acres (5.7 million hectares) in protected natural areas in collaboration with governments, other non-governmental organisations and philanthropic partners. In April, they formally handed over Pumalín and Patagonia National Parks to Chile making it the largest private land donation in history. This furthers the vision for the Route of Parks of Patagonia a scenic 1,700-mile conservation route of 17 national parks and more than 60 communities. The funding is for infrastructure, trail management and economic development for communities.

Further information: http://www.tompkinsconservation.org/home.htm

The Western Australian State Government is investing more than $22 million in the creation and ongoing management of national parks, marine parks and conservation reserves in the 2019-20 State Budget. Under the Plan for Our Parks initiative, five million hectares of new national and marine parks and reserves will be established over the next five years.

Further information: https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2019/04/State-Budget-delivers-increased-funding-for-national-parks-and-reserves.aspx

London-based design studio Bompas & Parr has created a world first completely plant-based hotel suite from bedding to mini-bar at the Hilton London Bankside. The studio sought advice from U.K.’s Vegan Society to create a 100 percent vegan-friendly experience including vegan-friendly furniture created from pineapple leaf fibre, pillows stuffed with buckwheat or quinoa instead of feathers and flooring made from bamboo.

Further information: https://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/united-kingdom/hilton-london-bankside-LONSBHI/offers/100118438.htm

The latest MCR and MORSE Development has reignited the magic of Eero Saarinen’s landmark 1962 TWA Flight Centre at JFK Airport by restoring it as a first-class hotel. The new hotel has a retro aviation theme including staff in vintage uniforms from 1975, fitness centre, six restaurants, eight bars, rooftop infinity pool with views of the runway and Lockhead Constellation L-1649A aircraft cocktail lounge.

Further information: https://www.twahotel.com/

The newly built $10 million Sunshine Coast Convention Centre at Novotel Twin Waters Resort is capable of hosting more than 2,700 delegates. In addition to the new centre, an extensive upgrade of the adjoining hotel lobby and food and beverage facilities is currently underway and set to re-open in October 2019.

Further information: http://www.epicuestapp.com/index

Construction has started on the expansion of Terminal Five at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. By 2021, premium lounge space, aircraft parking space and security checkpoints will increase. Many airlines including United and American will relocate to the new O’Hare Global terminal by 2028. In later phases of the project, the airport is contemplating a new hotel to support an expected increase of capacity.

Further information: https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-ohare-expansion-kamin-0117-story.html

Brand U.S.A. has announced Marriott International as the official hotel sponsor to help expand the global reach of the United Stories campaign which aims to inspire international travellers to visit the U.S.A. through visual storytelling efforts. United Stories utilises mobile content creation labs to track and share relatable, human stories to inspire lasting emotional connections between international travellers and people and places across the United States.

Further information: http://www.visittheusa.com/UnitedStories

Tourism Research Australia has published its annual state of the industry report for 2017–18 providing insights into key trends throughout the year. The report finds that while tourism continues to thrive, the industry is operating in an increasingly competitive global environment.

Further information: https://www.tra.gov.au/Economic-analysis/state-of-the-industry

Skift, in partnership with the InterContinental Hotels Group, has published a new report ‘The Sustainable Future of Meetings and Events’ which explores the tactics that both planners and venues are incorporating into their programs and shifting consumer preferences driving the evolution of this sector. It examines case studies of how both planners and venues are building sustainability into their practices and recognises leaders who are creatively rethinking meetings in the 21st century.

Further information: https://skift.com/insight/skift-trend-report-the-sustainable-future-of-meetings-and-events/

The BUFFET (Building an Understanding for Food Excess in Tourism) Initiative is bringing together a coalition of industry partners to create and implement a campaign that challenges the hospitality sector to reduce food waste to landfill. The initiative includes raising awareness of food waste in our industry and the creation of Asia-Pacific focused resources for hoteliers and other tourism professionals to drive positive change and ultimately reduce their food waste to landfill.

Further information: https://www.pata.org/food-waste/

The Adventure Travel Trends Snapshot is a compilation of data produced by the Adventure Travel Trade Association as a result of surveying adventure travel industry operators on topics such as destinations, activities, and industry business practices.

Further information: https://www.adventuretravel.biz/research/2018-adventure-travel-trends-snapshot

The Mood of the Nation research has highlighted big regional differences in attitudes to tourism. The research is undertaken by Kantar TNS on behalf of Tourism Industry Aotearoa and Tourism New Zealand in November and March to measure New Zealanders’ perceptions of international tourism.

Further information: https://tia.org.nz/resources-and-tools/insight/mood-of-the-nation/

The Sunshine Coast Airport has released a draft Master Plan which charts the evolution of the airport over the next two decades to 2040. It incorporates infrastructure being delivered by Sunshine Coast Council under the Sunshine Coast Airport Expansion Project including a new 2450 metre runway with an associated 1300 metre taxiway and other facility upgrades. It has involved extensive consultation with key stakeholders including statutory authorities, aviation, airport tenants and community organisations. The community engagement period ends 9 August 2019.

Further information: https://www.sunshinecoastairport.com.au/corporate/masterplan2040/

The Western Australian State Government will invest an extra $4.5 million towards StudyPerth’s International Education Action Plan as part of the 2019-20 State Budget. The plan will boost Western Australia’s economy and provide opportunities for students, from around the world to study and live in Perth as the number one destination for international students.

Further information: https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2019/05/State-Budget-boost-to-secure-more-international-students-to-Perth.aspx

Applications are open for the Business Events Australia 2019-20 Advance Program which offers the Australian business events industry the opportunity to leverage Tourism Australia’s international marketing expertise in order to grow the number of delegates to international business events confirmed and secured for Australia.

Further information: http://www.tourism.australia.com/content/dam/assets/document/1/7/5/r/0/2013660.pdf

The Queensland Government has announced 27 events and experiences to receive $1.1 million in funding as part of the Year of Outback Tourism Events Program. The grants of up to $100,000 will go to support a vast array of events including sports carnivals, a regatta, a stockman’s challenge, music and food festivals, horse races, an Indigenous walking trail and arts projects.

Further information: https://events.premiers.qld.gov.au/outback/

The Global Youth Travel Awards recognise organisations in the youth, student and educational travel industry who have made an outstanding contribution to the sector via innovative practices, sustainable solutions or ground-breaking technology. Winners will be announced on 11 October 2019 during the World Youth and Student Travel Conference in Lisbon.

Further information: https://www.wysetc.org/about-us/awards/

The inaugural Wellness Tourism Summit will be held in Noosa, Queensland from 4-5 September 2019. The summit will see over 20 leading wellness travel experts addressing the needs of this growing consumer segment for both business and leisure.

Further information: https://www.wellnesstourismsummit.com.au/

The 28th World Youth and Student Travel Conference will be held in Lisbon, Portugal from 8-11 October 2019. The conference is the leading trade event for the global youth, student and educational travel industry.

Further information: https://www.wystc.org/

Ecotourism Australia’s Global Eco Conference will be held in Cairns from 2-4 December 2019. The three days will feature keynote presentations and workshops on ecotourism, sustainability and responsible tourism, as well as tourism operators, protected area managers, tourism organisations, Indigenous bodies and researchers.

Further information: https://globaleco.com.au/