WORLDWIDE: Voting has opened in the inaugural World Sustainable Travel and Hospitality Awards (WSTHA), with hotel groups including Accor, Radisson and Mandarin Oriental among the nominees.
The WSTHAs were launched in January as a sister event to the established World Travel Awards, in partnership with the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance.
They have been created to “recognise, celebrate, and share the stories of individuals and organisations that are accelerating change and making an impactful contribution in sustainable travel and tourism”.
There are a total of 21 categories, covering areas including supply chains, energy efficiency, health and wellbeing, waste and water, finance, technology, conservation and biodiversity, female empowerment, accessibility and inclusion, and leadership.
The categories were selected to reflect the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and net positive framework of People, Planet, Place, Prosperity and Partnerships.
There are also three categories specific to Belize, which is the official host destination for this year’s awards.
The WSTHA said it had received hundreds of entries, which were assessed by Sustainable Business students from Nova Business School, with a shortlist being analysed and approved by the WSTHA Advisory Board.
Voting runs until 2 August, with industry professionals, the media and the general public all eligible to take part, and the winners will be revealed at a gala ceremony in Belize on 27 September.
Shortlisted organisations range from hotel groups and individual properties, to travel companies, data management firms including Danish start-up BeCause, and sustainability management platform Weeva.
Individuals shortlisted in the Sustainability Leader category include Agnes Pierce – director, global head of sustainability – hospitality at Amadeus, and Philip Halanen – head of sourcing and sustainability at Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, who spoke to Sustainable Hotels News for one of our Q&A sessions last year.
Q&A: Philip Halanen, head of sourcing and sustainability EMEA Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
For details on all the categories and nominees, and information on how to vote, visit wstha.com.
Justin Cooke, executive vice-president of WSTHA said they had been “overwhelmed by the interest in the inaugural WSTHA programme”, while Glenn Mandziuk, CEO, World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (and vice-chair of the Advisory Board of the WSTHA), commented:
“At the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, we are thrilled to witness so many deserving and inspiring entries.
“As we delve deeper into how these nominees are driving transformative change and making Net Positive a reality for our industry, I encourage everyone to vote and recognize these extraordinary efforts.
“Some of these remarkable nominees will have the honour of being named inaugural WSTHA winners. Good luck to all.”
Image supplied by WSTHA