Iniciativas Eco-responsables y RSE

🌱 Travelers in Costa Rica can calculate and compensate their carbon footprint in real-time for transportation, electricity, and air conditioning using a calculator at https://www.fonafifo.go.cr/es/calculadora/. The initiative funds tree planting, watershed protection, natural regeneration, and agroforestry systems. Costa Rica's sustainable tourism model includes small-scale businesses, with 94% of accommodations having fewer than 40 rooms, and a commitment to conservation with nearly 60% forest coverage, 26% protected areas, and 6.5% of the world's biodiversity. Fonafifo, recognized for its Payment for Environmental Services (PSA) program for over 20 years, has facilitated the reforestation of 1,470,152 hectares from 1997 to 2023 and planted over eight million trees since 2003. Over 18,000 contracts have been signed, benefiting biodiversity conservation areas and local communities.

🏖 Iberostar Waves Royal Andalus, a 4-star hotel in Novo Sancti Petri, Chiclana de la Frontera, Cadiz, offers an all-inclusive experience, beach access with Ecoplaya and Blue Flag recognition, and a golf course designed by Severiano Ballesteros. The resort boasts 451 rooms, including 48 family rooms, three pools, one being a children's water park, and a diverse Star Camp activity program for ages 0-17. Culinary options include 2 restaurants and 3 bars, with sustainable ingredients and a Michelin-starred chefs' restaurant nearby. Sustainability efforts include food waste reduction via AI, solar panels for electricity and hot water, and a partnership with the University of Cadiz for dune maintenance.

🌱 In Bilbao, Altos Hornos de Vizcaya, a former steel plant, is now marketed as "sustainable." A previously virgin area has been developed with twenty 15-story buildings branded as "Green living." Nearby, an abandoned construction site is masquerading as an "urban garden" for residents. Another building for sale advertises sustainable emotional and spiritual symbiosis. The term sustainable is often misused, exemplified by these developments.

📍 Vueling to launch a new route between Istanbul and Barcelona on the 29th, initially operating three times a week and planning to increase to seven weekly flights by March 2025. They have the rights for up to ten weekly flights. Meanwhile, Wizz Air will commence long-haul routes between Europe and Asia in March 2025, including London to Jeddah and Milan to Abu Dhabi, maintaining its ultra low-cost approach. Iberia has been exploring routes between Asia and Spain for almost a year with 49 new connections through Doha, targeting 17 in Africa, 18 in the Middle East, and 6 in Oceania. The competition with major airlines such as Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, or Etihad Airlines is not a concern for these carriers.

🏖️ Hosteltur awarded the Tourism Communication Prize by the Spanish Association of Scientific Experts in Tourism (AECIT) at the 23rd AECIT Congress gala dinner in Madrid. The congress theme was "Transformations in tourism for a changing world: challenges and opportunities". Other winners included Turistec for technological innovation, Icárion for sustainability, and Grupo Caldaria for health and wellness tourism. The congress took place on October 24-26, discussing digital transformation and public policy analysis in tourism.

🏖️ The Círculo de Empresarios de Turismo Sostenible de Canarias (CETURS) was established on October 2 with aims to promote sustainable tourism and free enterprise within a market economy. Ricardo Fernández de la Puente was elected as president, with Inés Herrera as vice president, Lorenzo Quintero as secretary, and Jorge Menéndez as treasurer. CETURS plans to organize educational events and promote studies to further sustainable tourism and provide solutions to the sector's challenges.

💰 On October 24, 2024, the article highlights the importance of corporate travel organization, delineating the roles of Human Resources in managing business trips. Key areas include defining clear travel and expense policies, ensuring employee health, safety, and wellbeing, coordinating logistics, controlling costs, adhering to sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies, and ensuring compliance with regulations. The use of technology, particularly Zucchetti Spain's ZTravel software, is touted for improving travel management efficiency, automating processes, and integrating various departmental functions, ultimately optimizing corporate travel planning.

🇵🇪 Perú se ha convertido en un destino líder para el turismo MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions), ofreciendo modernas infraestructuras, patrimonio cultural y natural, y compromiso con la sostenibilidad y la tecnología. Ciudades como Lima, Cusco, Ica, y Arequipa poseen centros de convenciones con tecnología de vanguardia y ubicaciones culturales únicas. Además, Perú proporciona experiencias únicas para viajes de incentivo, tales como el turismo comunitario en Cusco, aventuras en la Amazonía, y experiencias de lujo como cruceros por el Amazonas y trenes de lujo a Machupicchu. La gastronomía peruana añade valor a las reuniones con experiencias culinarias exclusivas. Para más información, se puede visitar meetings.peru.travel.

🌍 Álvaro Rodríguez of Climate Reality Project and Isabelle Cadignan of Howden Group highlighted the critical moment for climate action, referencing the 2030 horizon for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Rodriguez emphasized that Mediterranean sea temperatures have surpassed 30 degrees in recent summers, risking hurricane formation. In the past 20 years, 50% of the planet's fossil fuels have been consumed, emitting greenhouse gases at a rate of 162 million tons per day. The Caribbean has recently seen a hurricane escalating from category 1 to 5 in just seven hours. Cadignan warned about the Caribbean facing temperatures above 40 degrees for half the year by 2050 and a potential sea-level rise of 80 centimeters by the end of the century, according to NASA. She also pointed out that one-third of the Caribbean's hotels are within one meter of sea level, with Baleares experiencing a 20% faster temperature increase, potentially leading to 240 drought days annually by 2050. Companies are urged to adopt sustainable practices and technologies to respond to climate risks and ensure future viability, with Melia Hotels International being highlighted for responsible tourism efforts.

🏨 BCL Hotel Group joined ITH in Madrid on October 23, 2024, reinforcing the hotel area. The group, headquartered in Benidorm, manages 5 properties with over 500 rooms and 1,600 accommodation slots, predominantly in Alicante province. The collaboration focuses on exchanging ideas and expertise in digital transformation, with BCL benefiting from ITH's events like Hotel Energy Meetings and ITH Hotel Data Game. The partnership aims to integrate cutting-edge solutions for energy efficiency, cost reduction, and improved guest services while emphasizing sustainability. Since 2020, BCL has been investing in refurbishment, energy efficiency, and digital transformation, with further plans for expansion in 2025.