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    ITB Berlin recognises industry pioneers

    March 12, 2018
    Travel Conference /Marts / MICE News
    ITB Berlin recognises industry pioneers

    TravelBizNews —

    Berlin: This year, at the world’s largest travel trade show, honours were once again bestowed for dedication and support in a number of different areas.

    In addition to sustainability and social responsibility, the outstanding role of women and support for the LGBT community were also recognised.

    With the Sustainable Destinations Top 100 Awards ITB Berlin and Green Destinations honoured destinations which provide an outstanding service to sustainable tourism. Prizes were awarded in several categories.

    A jury comprising 12 experts including Albert Salman from Green Destinations and Valere Tjolle from TravelMole picked the winners in each category.

    In the Best of Nature category Botswana was the winner with Chobe, Makgadikgadi, Okavango and Selinda. In the Best of Cities, Communities & Culture category, QualityCoast in western Portugal claimed first prize. The Best of Seaside title went to Dutch QualityCoast Delta. The jury presented the Earth Award to the Kingdom of Bhutan.

    Further prizes were awarded in the Best of Africa, Best of the Americas, Best of Asia-Pacific, Best of Europe, Best of the Atlantic and Best of the Mediterranean categories.

    Social responsibility was the main theme at the TO DO! Awards. These have been taking place since 1995 and honour tourism projects that safeguard local residents’ interests during the project’s planning and implementation phases. The TO DO! Award for Human Rights in Tourism was presented for the second time under the patronage of the German UNESCO Commission. Tren Ecuador (the national railway network) and Maquipucuna (a biodiversity conservation project), two projects from Ecuador, were honoured for their socially responsible approach to tourism. IKhwa ttu from South Africa was recognised for its dedication to preserving the San culture.

    The study group presented the TO DO! Award for Human Rights in Tourism to Herman Kumara. The internationally renowned human rights lawyer and head of the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement Sri Lanka defends the rights of local fishermen whose fishing grounds are threatened by tourism projects.

    The role of women was the focus of the Celebrating Her Awards for Empowered Women. The International Institute for Peace Through India (IIPT) awards the prize every year.

    Five women –  Sandra Howard Taylor, Colombian Deputy Minister of Tourism; Isabel Hill, Director of the National Travel & Tourism Office, US Department of Commerce; Caroline Bremner, Head of Travel, Euromonitor International; Daniela Wagner, Director, International Partnerships and Jacobs Media Group EMEA, PATA; and Jyotsna Suri of CMD Lalit Hotels, India. , were awarded for their commitment to tourism.

    This year witnessed the first presentation of the ITB LGBT + Pioneer Awards at ITB . The winners were Gustavo Nuguera and Pablo de Luca, who represented Gnetwork CCGLAR.

    Best exhibitors of ITB Berlin 2018 :

    Best of the Best: Bayern

    Asia/Australia/Oceania: India

    Americas / The Carribean: Costa Rica

    Africa: Rwanda

    Near-/Middle East: Abu Dhabi

    Europe: Poland

    Germany: Bayern

     

    Hotel Business: Iberostar Hotels & Resorts

    Carriers: Lufthansa Group

    Travel Organisation: Lernidee Erlebnisreisen

    Travel Support & Media: Flughafen München

    Travel Technology: Oracle Hospitality

    Source : ITB Berlin / March 11 , 2018

     

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