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Tag: environmental sustainability

  • News: United Airlines launches sustainable supply chain initiative

    United Airlines is launching a Sustainable Supply Chain (SSC) initiative with a purpose to better understand the environmental performance of its suppliers and deepen relationships with its key supply chain partners. The initiative underscores United’s effort to guide commercial aviation as an environmentally responsible company and builds at the airline’s actions and commitment to environmental sustainability.

    “We work with hundreds of suppliers so it’s important for us to realize the environmental impact on our supply chain, and this new initiative allows us to be proactive,” said Katrina Manning , United’s vice chairman of technical procurement. “Focusing on our supply chain presents us with a chance to make responsible decisions to further strengthen our commitment to the surroundings.”

    The SSC program involves measuring and evaluating the sustainability of United’s current suppliers’ products and operations through a comprehensive survey, starting with those suppliers in traditionally high-risk industries in addition to members of the airline’s strategic supplier community. United also will integrate the environmentally focused questions into its request for proposal (RFP) process. Through implementation of the SSC program, United will evaluate whether the usage of its suppliers’ product or services would scale back the airline’s impact at the environment.

    “We are pleased to launch this program that demonstrates our commitment to working with key supply chain partners on environmental issues,” said Jimmy Samartzis , United’s managing director of worldwide environmental affairs and sustainability. “We won’t only incorporate environmental considerations into our buying decisions, but may even seek to spot opportunities to collaborate with our suppliers to enhance the environmental profile of the goods and services we use.” 

    In 2014, United will seek to determine targets for improvement and start to speak those expectations to its suppliers.
    The SSC initiative is aligned with the airline’s participation within the United Nations Global Compact, which inspires its signatories to advertise environmental practices throughout their supply chain. United was the primary U.S. airline to sign up for the worldwide Compact.

  • Focus: Eco-retreats at Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives

    Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives is an intimate coral island in a sparkling lagoon, with jetties threading around the water out to spacious villa accommodations.

    Everywhere you look, marine life abounds. And the gleaming waters beckon. Formerly generally known as Soneva Gili by Six Senses, Gili Lankanfushi is decided at the private island of Lankanfushi within the North Malé Atoll.

    This luxury resort is simply a 20-minute speedboat ride from the International Airport at Malé, the capital of the Republic of Maldives. All of its 45 over-water villas, crafted in a conventional style from natural materials, reflect the harmony of life by the water’s edge.

    For ultimate privacy, guests can stay in a single of the seven Crusoe Residences or the personal Reserve, accessible only by personal boat.

    All villas at this luxurious island resort offer an individual water garden, outside bathroom, and roof-top terrace and over-water sundecks.

    The interiors recreate a natural habitat, using sustainable woods, natural materials and standard fabrics, while still offering all of the modern amenities and providing the relaxation of true luxury.

    Luxury dining is available in the shape of an individual dinner in this secluded island.

    The cuisine will whet your appetite with fresh offerings and native produce, while the extreme settings will leave an indelible impression.

    The surroundings are teeming with marine life and the resort has its own fully-equipped PADI diving school plus a number of water sports. This place tops the list of must-do destinations for those within the know.

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    “As an eco-sensitive resort, we’re committed to the rules of environmental sustainability, which plays an ideal part in Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives corporate philosophy,” said Iain McCormack, general manager of Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives. “We’ve tailored the operations of the resort around this philosophy.”

    McCormack added: “We have on staff a marine biologist, who’s liable for several ecological conservation programmes with regards to the sea. We also maintain our own organic herb and vegetable garden, which gives fresh and native ingredients utilized in the resort’s kitchens. An active recycling program of using waste for building materials is practiced.”

    Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives’ corporate responsibility extends beyond the resort’s perimeter in addition, with several programs currently active and may be continued following the name change.

    Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives marks the parent company – Hotel Properties – fifth property within the Maldives. The opposite properties inside the group are Four Seasons Resort at Kuda Huraa and Landaa Giraavaru; Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma; and Rihiveli Beach Resort.

    More Information

    For additional information visit the official website.

  • UNWTO and Casa Arabe to advertise tourism development within the Arab world

    UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai and Casa Arabe Director General Eduardo Lopez Busquets have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to advertise sustainable tourism development and strengthen institutional capacity in Arab countries.

    Signed at UNWTO headquarters in Madrid, the Memorandum furthers cooperation between UNWTO and Casa Arabe in common interest areas, including sustainable tourism and institutional capacity building aimed towards socioeconomic growth and poverty alleviation.

    The agreement places a different deal with improving public policy and management models for tourism development and promotion, in addition to supporting strategic alliances in the framework of promoting and investment in Arab countries to foster economic progress and job creation.
    “This agreement is a good step in developing tourism as a fantastic instrument for economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability within the Arab world,” said the UNWTO Secretary-General.

    “Tourism development involves the growth of trade between our societies in any respect levels: economic, cultural and sociopolitical, three dimensions that constitute the core work of Casa Arabe,” said Eduardo Lopez Busquets, Director General of Casa Arabe.

    Casa Arabe and its International Institute of Arab and Muslim World Studies is a consortium of Spain´s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, the Spanish Agency for International Development (AECID), the autonomous communities of Madrid and Andalusia and the city councils of Madrid and Cordoba. Its main goals include strengthening bilateral and multilateral policies and promoting economic, cultural and academic relations within the Arab and Muslim world.

  • UNWTO and Casa Arabe to advertise tourism development within the Arab world

    UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai and Casa Arabe Director General Eduardo Lopez Busquets have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to advertise sustainable tourism development and strengthen institutional capacity in Arab countries.

    Signed at UNWTO headquarters in Madrid, the Memorandum furthers cooperation between UNWTO and Casa Arabe in common interest areas, including sustainable tourism and institutional capacity building aimed towards socioeconomic growth and poverty alleviation.

    The agreement places a different give attention to improving public policy and management models for tourism development and promotion, in addition to supporting strategic alliances throughout the framework of selling and investment in Arab countries to foster economic progress and job creation.
    “This agreement is a favorable step in developing tourism as a superior instrument for economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability within the Arab world,” said the UNWTO Secretary-General.

    “Tourism development involves the growth of trade between our societies in any respect levels: economic, cultural and sociopolitical, three dimensions that constitute the core work of Casa Arabe,” said Eduardo Lopez Busquets, Director General of Casa Arabe.

    Casa Arabe and its International Institute of Arab and Muslim World Studies is a consortium of Spain´s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, the Spanish Agency for International Development (AECID), the autonomous communities of Madrid and Andalusia and town councils of Madrid and Cordoba. Its main goals include strengthening bilateral and multilateral policies and promoting economic, cultural and academic relations within the Arab and Muslim world.

  • News: WTTC 2013: Aviation takes centre stage at Global Summit

    Government inaction and an absence of understanding of the positive future economic impacts of international air traffic growth dominated discussion on the opening session of day two of the 13th annual World Travel & Tourism Council Global Summit.

    A panel of airline industry leaders reiterated the decision for increased government support – and the abolition of passenger duty taxes – to navigate a route towards sustainable sector development.

    Moderated by Peter Greenberg, travel editor, CBS News, the discussion covered political and economic instability, capacity, runway access, government policies, taxes and environmental sustainability as portion of a session entitled ‘Airlines: Turbulence or clear skies ahead’.

    “Aviation is a quick-moving, highly competitive environment; high cost, low margins. One of many biggest challenges we are facing is convincing governments that airlines will need to have greater and easier access,” remarked James Hogan, chief executive, Etihad Airways, in his presentation.

    Also at the panel was Willie Walsh, chief executive, International Airlines Group, who agreed with the stance taken by Hogan.

    “Not a single penny raised through passenger duty goes to the industry or environmental issues.

    “As a vehicle to trigger economic growth, we’d like a fundamental change in attitude from governments in Europe.

    “A recent PricewaterhouseCoopers shows that in case you scrap the tax, you really boost the economy and notice a favorable effect.”

    The importance of partnerships to today’s airline business model was highlighted by Hogan who says that it’s far critical in relation to bilateral value, and necessary to achieve a cheaper price base and scale.

    “How we partner is definitely changing and the power to construct a better proposition is key.

    “We are seeing the emergence of the battle of the hubs, and in order that connectivity model is important.

    “Government policies make it difficult to head as fast as one would love, but we’re seeing strong opportunities for growth,” he remarked.

    With consolidation not an option in certain markets, partnership through alliances is the norm, but Walsh says they’re a “poor substitute for correct consolidation.”

    “We accept that in case you didn’t have restrictions on ownership or control, you’d be seeing more consolidation.

    “But we’re an industry that’s always changing; five years from now you will notice an exceedingly different industry, and two decades form now will probably be unrecognisable,” he said.

    Walsh cited the united states for example where consolidation is driving change for the simpler, with just five carriers currently controlling 84-85 per cent of capacity.

    “It’s about profitability now. 

    “The industry seriously is not sustainable unless airlines are making profits in an effort to afford investment. 

    “The industry has got to come back its cost of capital and we’re now seeing a realisation among industry leaders within the US, that that is the main objective,” he added.

    “Unless we make a profit, we can’t develop within the way the client expects, and how the arena economy needs,” added Tony Tyler, director general IATA.

    Tyler also raised the perennially debated topic of visa accessibility, using Chinese travellers to the united states as a .

    “The waiting time for Chinese travellers to get US visas approved was previously 160 days, now it’s right down to two-three days.

    “Aviation support 57 million jobs and is answerable for US$2.2 trillion of monetary activity, yet governments put things inside the ways and visas are an excellent example.”

    On the flip side, CBS News’ Greenberg touched on ancillary fees, quoting a figure of US$33-34 billion, and asking the panel, “where do you spot revenue obsession stopping”

    “It won’t stop.

    “The wonderful thing about the industry now’s that it competes with regards to different business models, in order a shopper you could choose what you desire.

    “Where choice is genuine, it’s a great thing. In the event you get a carrier like Ryanair, there’s got to be justification to the model he applies as annually he carries increasingly people,” said Walsh.

    “It’s about value. If persons are going to modify a booking or tie up call centre agents, what’s wrong with charging for that service” added Hogan.

    The Global Summit is being hosted by Jumeirah at Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi.