SKÅL INTERNATIONAL
“SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN TOURISM” AWARDS
19th SEPTEMBER 2011

In its tenth edition, the Skål International “green Awards” ceremony was a great success. The trophies were presented by the President of Skål International, Tony Boyle, and announced by Director of Communications & PR, Karine Coulanges, during the Opening Ceremony of the 72nd Skål World Congress held in Turku (Finland), on 19th September 2011.

Skål, founded in 1934, is the largest organisation of travel and tourism professionals in the world. It is the only association which embraces all sectors of the travel and tourism industry, in five Continents, 90 Countries and at over 500 locations, with 20,000 members from hoteliers to travel agents; airline, maritime, waterways, railway and coach transportation companies, tourism media, tourism academies and official tourism promotion bodies, etc.

To encourage the conservation of the environment and help to promote the development of responsible and sustainable tourism, Skål International initiated an awards program in 2002, during “The Year of Ecotourism and the Mountains” as declared by United Nations. This year, thanks to our long standing and valuable relationship with Diversey, a worldwide leader on sustainability, we decided to consider eco and responsible tourism as part of the greater picture of sustainable tourism, and this has resulted in the creation of newly renamed trophies and a re-branded logo. One of the main changes this year is that the former Ecotourism Awards will now be known as the Sustainable Development in Tourism Awards.

As part of their commitment to support Skål on this key area, Diversey has generously donated the trophies and Vishal Shamar, Vice-President Global Industry Diversey, handed out the certificate to the Special Diversey Awards winner during the Ceremony. Diversey is a leading global provider of commercial cleaning, sanitation and hygiene solutions. Its products, systems and expertise make food, drink and facilities safer and more hygienic for consumers and for building occupants. The company serves customers in the travel and lodging, building management, food service, retail, health care and food and beverage industries.

During the Awards Ceremony, Diversey has also presented, on its own initiative, a Special Recognition Award to one of the projects entering the competition, which has gone beyond protecting and preserving while decisively transforming its business into a sustainable enterprise. The Diversey Special Recognition Award has gone to the project “WORLDWIDE 1st CITY HOTEL WITH A ZERO-ENERGY BALANCE” submitted by BoutiqueHotel Stadthalle from Austria.

Since the launch of the awards in 2002, they have received strong ongoing support and attracted a high level of participation, with a total of 417 entrants. This year, we have received a total of 33 projects, from 18 different countries (four from Africa, seven from Asia, eleven from Europe, seven from North America, three from Central America and one from South America).

The 33 projects received were evaluated this year by four independent judges and the scores given by each separately, were added up to find the winners in each category. The primary criteria for the evaluation is based on such points like, contribution to the conservation of nature and cultural heritage, community involvement, educational features, business viability and innovation.

Skål International wishes to express its gratitude to the four independent judges for agreeing to make the evaluation and for the meticulous and laborious work conducted by them:

• Guido Bauer, C.E.O., Green Globe Certification
• Luigi Cabrini, Director Sustainable Development of Tourism, UNWTO
• Ed Roberts, EMA Sustainability Leader, Diversey
• Jack Soifer, Sweduc & Megafin Sociedade Editorial

THE WINNERS WERE ANNOUNCED AS FOLLOWS:

1. In the category of Tour Operators & Travel Agents:

GAMEWATCHERS SAFARIS & PORINI SAFARI CAMPS – KENIA - www.porini.com

2. In the category of Rural Accommodation:

OUR NATIVE VILLAGE – India - www.ournativevillage.com

3. In the category of Urban Accommodation:

WORLDWIDE 1st CITY HOTEL WITH A ZERO-ENERGY BALANCE – AUSTRIA - www.hotelstadthalle.at

4. In the category of General Countryside:

ECOTOURISM ON TRAMUNTANA (ISLAND OF CRES, CROATIA) AS A TOOL FOR THE PROTECTION OF NATURAL AND CULTURAL-HISTORICAL HERITAGE – CROATIA - www.supovi.hr

5. In the category of City and Villages:

MUNTIGUNUNG DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM BALI – INDONESIA –
www.zukunft-fuer-kinder.ch/en

6. In the category of Educational Programmes – Media:

UGANDA MOUNTAIN GORILLA PROJECT – CANADA - www.umanitoba.ca

7. In the category of Transportation:

BLUE STAR – FRANCE - www.bluestar-foundation.org

TO VIEW THE LIST OF ALL THE PROJECTS THAT HAVE COMPETED THIS YEAR, PLEASE CLICK here

More information about the Skål International SDIT Awards can be found on the Skål website www.skal.travel

For any further information please contact:
Skål International
General Secretariat
Edificio España
Avenida Palma de Mallorca 15-1º
29620 Torremolinos - SPAIN
Tel: +34 952 38 9111

Previous Winners:

Awards 2010 / Awards 2009 / Awards 2008 / Awards 2007 / Awards 2006 / Awards 2005 / Awards 2004 / Awards 2003 / Awards 2002