Sustainability Management for Tour Operators A two-day course Day Two
CSR TOUR Corporate Social Responsibility Training and Certification in the Travel Sector Project Nr: 2012-1-HR1-LEO05-01703
Day Two CSR TOUR Corporate Social Responsibility Training and - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Sustainability Management for Tour Operators A two-day course Day Two CSR TOUR Corporate Social Responsibility Training and Certification in the Travel Sector Project Nr: 2012-1-HR1-LEO05-01703 Programme Day Two Session 3. Integrate
Sustainability Management for Tour Operators A two-day course Day Two
CSR TOUR Corporate Social Responsibility Training and Certification in the Travel Sector Project Nr: 2012-1-HR1-LEO05-01703
Session 3. Integrate sustainability in your company: 6 steps 3.1 Implementing a sustainability management system: Engage your business, Baseline assessment, Sustainability policy Coffee break 3.2 Writing a policy 3.3 Implementing a sustainability management system: Action plan, Monitoring, Reporting. Lunch
3.4 Writing your action plan Session 4. Communicating and marketing sustainability 4.1 Marketing sustainability – Communication
4.2 Write your company sustainability USP’s 4.3 Marketing sustainability – Distribution Session 5. Next steps and follow-up
What is sustainable tourism Sustainable Tourism Impacts The role of the Tour Operator Marketing Sustainability Internal Management Sustainable Supply Chain Management Sustainable Accommodation Sustainable Excursions Sustainable Transport Sustainable Destinations Customer Communication
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To introduce sustainability management. To focus on first steps. To provide examples of how you can market sustainability messages.
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Write a mission statement and a basic policy. Create and implement a sustainability action plan Introduce sustainability messages into your marketing and identify additional marketing channels Identify and write sustainability USP’s
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At the end of day two you will be able to:
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3.1 Implementing a sustainability management system.
Engage your business Travelife Training
Baseline review Travelife Baseline
Policy
Monitor and evaluate
Action plan & implementation
Travelife Action Planning
Report
& communicate Travelife Reporting
Travelife 6-step approach
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Step 1 - Engage your Business
Outcome: Sustainability co-ordinator Commitment mission statement
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i.e. what is the company’s purpose?
i.e. What is the nature of its business
i.e. What are the company’s values?
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Example sustainability mission statements
Our company’s foundation is built on our values, which distinguish us and guide
environment and benefit the communities where we work. (Chevron)
Apple Computer is committed to protecting the environment, health, and safety
We recognize that by integrating sound environmental, health, and safety management practices into all aspects of our business, we can offer technologically innovative products and services while conserving and enhancing resources for future generations. Apple strives for continuous improvement in
environmental quality of our products, processes, and services. (Apple)
Mission statement
Step 2 – Baseline review Identify current activities, partners and impacts:
company’s total impact Use Travelife checklist Biggest impacts: where? prioritise! Outcome: Overview company supliers, impacts, baseline scenario
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Step 3 – Policy
Outcome: Written plan to reduce negative and maximise positive impacts
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Examples of policy formulations
Travelife policy requirements (put this into the exersice…) Internal management
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Developing a policy - Points to consider during the policy development:
Don’t implement any sustainability activities without having a written policy.
Without knowing your aims in advance, you run the risk of developing a system that cannot achieve its
Objectives and targets should be shaped by the findings of the earlier baseline assessment and the mission statement.
Objectives specify sustainability goals, while targets indicate the level of improvement to be attained.
All managers must support the sustainability policy, and will need to be engaged in its implementation and monitoring. Don’t make the policy too rigid.
After you have begun to implement your sustainability policy and gathered some experience you may wish to modify or extend the policy.
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Developing a policy (cont.)
The policy should be written in such a way so as to respond to developments both within and outside the organisation. Allow room for continuation and evolution of the policy.
Ideally, your policy should state that you aim to evaluate and further develop your sustainability policy. While putting it into practice you will need to revise the policy regularly to establish whether it is still appropriate.
Don’t be too ambitious with your objectives.
Objectives that are formulated too ambitiously have little or no chance to be achieved.
Engage with your suppliers, the community and other stakeholders in the destination in formulating and developing your policy. You may find it useful to discuss your ideas with a few of your company’s suppliers, and use their feedback to help you develop a robust policy.
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The content of the policy should reflect the core company processes including the life cycle of the holiday package, from the planning stage to the development and delivery of the product: Internal management Product development Supply chain management Cooperation with destination Customer relations
General considerations
Even though there are no established requirements about what should be included in a sustainability policy, in general it should: Reflect your sustainability mission statement and/or the objectives of your corporate policy. Be established for and by your organization and not be copied from another company. Address the key aspects of the aforementioned five business action areas. Address key issues, including the impacts identified in the baseline assessment; Correspond with the nature, scale and impacts of the company’s activities and services. Set open, honest and realistic goals. Comply with laws, regulations and codes of conduct. Convey the message that you strive for on-going improvement. Cover both products and services. Encompass all employees, and be understandable to everyone within your organisation. Aim to ensure that suppliers contribute to the company’s sustainability aspirations. Ascertain a commitment to raise awareness about sustainability issues among stakeholders, especially suppliers and consumers. Be accessible to people outside your organisation. Be accompanied by a signature of the Executive Board under the declaration stating that the policy is supported by the organisation’s management.
Audley Travel (UK) : written responsible practices policy (online)
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3.2 Writing a policy
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Clearly explain your sustainability policy and your expectations to your suppliers. Keep messages simple and focused - time, recognition, sources of technical support. It can be communicated through Printed materials such as leaflets, posters and manuals Informal meetings and discussions. Workshops. Internet pages. Checklists and questionnaires designed to highlight key aspects of your programme.
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communicating your policy
To company staff Focus attention to your Sustainability Policy declaration during company meetings. Include ´Sustainability´ on the agenda of the regular staff-meetings. Incorporate your Sustainability Policy declaration in the induction pack for new employees and include appropriate sustainability elements in their key performance indicators. To clients and other stakeholders Place your Sustainability Policy declaration into your company prospectus, your travel brochures and web sites.
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3.3 Implementing a sustainability management system. Prepare an action plan Monitoring Reporting
Engage your business Travelife Training
Baseline review Travelife Baseline
Policy
Monitor and evaluate
Action plan & implementation
Travelife Action Planning
Report
& communicate Travelife Reporting
Travelife 6-step approach
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Step 4 – Action plan and implementation
Outcome: Records of tasks, time-schedule, responsibilities, new measurements of performance & indicators
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Step 5 – Monitoring and evaluation
Outcome: Progress report, reviewed action planning
First Choice (UK), Studiosus (Germany): EMS Exodus: weekly updates, input meetings diverse departments
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Step 6 – Report and communicate
Outcome Report of achievements, external communication
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Engage your business Travelife Training
Baseline review Travelife Baseline
Policy
Monitor and evaluate
Action plan & implementation
Travelife Action Planning
Report
& communicate Travelife Reporting
Travelife 6-step approach
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3.4 Writing your action plan
Writing your action plan
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4.2 Marketing sustainability – Communication Indicators of Greenwashing What to tell your customers
The majority of companies that have a sustainability process don’t know how to market it!
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Don’t Greenwash. “Greenwashing” is an environmental claim which is unsubstantiated or irrelevant – people see through this and react negatively to it.
Some do’s and don'ts
“Sustainability is not about doing business differently, but doing business even better”
Don’t 10 Indicators of Greenwashing
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Fluffy Language – Words or phrases with no clear meaning
e.g. Eco Friendly
Green products v dirty company – sustainable product which is accessed by polluting transport Suggestive Pictures – Green images that indicate a green impact e.g. flowers blooming from exhaust pipes Irrelevant Claims – Emphasising one small green activity when the rest is un-green
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Best in class? – Declaring that you are slightly greener than the rest, even if the rest are terrible Just not credible!! Eco friendly cigarettes – “Greening” a dangerous product doesn’t make it safe Gobbledygook – Scientific Words - Jargon and information that only an environmentalist will check or understand Imaginary Friends or Associations – A “label” that looks like an endorsement except its made up.
No Proof – You could be right, but where is the evidence???? Out – right lying A total lie with claims or data!
Beware People look at these acts as a smoke screen – its not real – just a way of making money
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Travel with greenJet the low Carbon airline. We’re planting Trees so you can fly as often As you please. It’s not just travelling we think about. All our meals Are organic and locally Sourced, and we serve
Travel with greenJet the low Carbon airline. We’re planting Trees so you can fly as often As you please. It’s not just travelling we think about. All our meals Are organic and locally Sourced, and we serve
Our beautiful shoes are made From reclaimed leather and 100% Recycled materials so there’s no Hidden impact behind the hide. We do not use PVC and our products Are entirely free of toxic contaminants Like cadmium and lead residues Now you can feel as good about Your shoes as you look in them.
Do - tell everybody that sustainability is quality!
There are a lot of conflicting messages in the world about this but most customers do care or don’t want to cause harm! Price, location and aspirations come first but after these sustainability values and actions can and do sell a product over another. Consumers in Europe will buy products that are environmentally and socially responsible, but this doesn’t mean they searched for it in the first place! The leisure market doesn’t have to see the words “sustainability” or “green” the same way that you don't have to use quality or luxury all the time. Try to be more subtle about it as too many messages are vague or as a apology. To say nothing or to throw up words that are trendy will give the impression of being an after thought – GREENWASHING – cashing in !!
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Tips:
how your green / sustainability actions can be part of what you normally say.
and make it fun…think about how you can involve them even in hotels – activities that involve a green element.
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Tailor your marketing to your audience
lifestyle, but they represent a very low % of the market. (5-10 %)
but they buy your messages if they feel that they can do their bit and / or get a better product or service if it happens to be sustainable. They may like you because you are different and any “labels” serve to reinforce this and may influence their booking decision. (60 %)
do and so anything you do needs to be behind the scenes and should focus on how it improves their experience with you. (20-30 %)
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Why am I telling customers about sustainability ?
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To make them feel good ?
(Be realistic about your sustainability in your communications.)
they enjoy the benefits.
don’t appreciate it. You are just helping them to do their bit.
brief about your charitable programs (if you have any?) Your recycling policy if appropriate and the use of public transport if you are in a city.
Why am I telling customers about sustainability ?
To raise awareness and change behaviour?
If you want change then be precise and give them something in exchange (knowledge) – recycling, local purchasing, respect local customs.
to do and not just “be green”
saying “save water” show what can be done with the saved water
daytrips rather than those that are hours away
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What Do I Say?
What message do you want to show to the world?
(This is about your sustainability policy, any photos you use, text you write.)
Choose 1-2 messages only, otherwise the message gets confusing.
watching
being here.”
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Where, when, how do I tell them?
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Press & Media
More and more, the press and media are looking for a story that gives a true authentic argument to the sustainability issues in tourism. So think about what makes you different ? Why would people want to read about it.
Coverage that you have achieved should not be forgotten!
Use it on your website, make links to it from your website, use it in mailings to customers. Certification / Awards – a quote from a national or international publication or respected media is likely to give a better impression that a certification or award that has low awareness !! Visit England / ICRT research says that 21% of customers have taken a holiday or short break recommended in a newspaper, magazine or seen on a TV program.
Website
Your website is your portal to the world – Use it wisely and correctly.
Social Media
Sites such as Facebook, Twitter and other specialised social networks or groups are vital to get your message across. Most of these can be used in their basic forms for free
networking to get your messages out.
messages easier to find.
3rd party websites
If you are featured in Lonely Planet, Good Hotel Guide, Bradt Guides or any of the other international directories (online or offline) feature this on your website – (Remember – credibility)
Most companies should be marketing all the time in some way.
How many periods in the life of a booking process can you get your message out – 2, 3, 6 ???? On the average this will be in four periods…….
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Prior to booking / purchase
People need information to help them make decisions so explain why your product is better value, better quality or more appealing because of the sustainability aspect.
Between booking and arrival
Communicate with your customer before they arrive on how to prepare for their visit – what to bring, what they can do (options), if they are self catering recommend local goods that they can pre-purchase before arrival. You could also advise them on any local customs etc.
On arrival
On arrival at hotels or attractions, will you give the right message if you seen to be wasting light (and heat if the doors are left open in the winter)? Your information leaflet should include what you have done to be more sustainable and that this is an every day, on-going policy. Smaller businesses can share their values directly with each arrival whilst showing people to their accommodation.
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During the stay / visit
This is the best chance you have of showing what you do and to prove all your marketing efforts. You can either communicate some information directly to your customer or keep it in the background for your customers to hopefully see and enjoy.
After the stay / visit
Stay in contact with your customer, although they may not come back, they have their own personal networks and can refer you. Thank them for coming and remind them that their visit was done in a sustainable way.
benefiting from their personal engagement.
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4.3 Write your company sustainability USP’s
Customer communication
Growing awareness of sustainability, but…
Communication strategies
Use local restaurants
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Sustainability USP’s (Unique Selling Points)
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Unique selling points are the things which distinguish your business from the rest and add value to your product offer. “Sustainable USP’s” must show how the sustainability feature will benefit the customer e.g. All our guides are recruited locally which means that they know the destination better than anyone. All restaurants in our accommodations purchase fresh produce grown or reared locally to bring you an authentic taste of the destination.
Sustainability USP’s (Unique Selling Points)
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Exercise Sustainable hotels have much to gain by exploiting new marketing opportunities. Compose a sustainability USP for a business you know that is already demonstrating those sustainability features. Try to be as creative as possible by choosing things which are unique to the business and not exhibited by most of their competitors.
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4.4 Marketing sustainability – Distribution channels
Marketing sustainability: distribution
What do you market:
To whom do you market
Need different strategies !
Your (sustainable) company
Communicate your sustainability USP’s and achievements to business partners and clients
Sustainable products
partners.
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Suppliers with a sustainability certificate available for selection
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Distribution of sustainable products. Still small target groups! How to reach them:
web sites focus on sustainable products
emerge
Examples
Green Corner
Shops
potential clients.
type of products.
creating additional value and attracting additional clients.
Common TO logo for sustainable hotels
Virgin Holidays Winter 2008 First Choice Winter 2008
Green corner
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A catalogue of accommodations certified with the Travelife label
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Follow-up programme Online Training & formal exam Planning and Reporting International recognition and certification Market access support
Registered
Travelife Engaged
Stage 1. Travelife Engaged
Online training and exam for your sustainability coordinator. Guidance on improving your sustainability performance. Action planning tool Reporting tool (towards Travelife Partner criteria) Access to B2B Travelife Partner and Certified companies.
Management area Criteria theme
General operations
Sustainability Management Legal requirements, Fair business practices
Office and retail operations
Labour practices and human rights (office and retail) Environment (office and retail)
Community relations
Supply Chain Management
Transport Accommodations Excursions and activities Local partners and representatives Guides & group leaders
Destinations
Destinations
Customers
Awareness raising and motivation Customer rights
Transport
Title Action / Solutions
R* O*
Coach
4.1
Certified Transport Collaboration with coach transport companies with environmental certification
√ √ 4.2
Driving Skills Transport providers are incentivised to implement a sustainable driving style by means of communication of the ´eco-driving´ technique or international equivalents.
4.3
Transport to departure-point Sustainable (public) transport is offered to the point of departure for the international journey.
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Transport to destination Sustainable transport to the destination is part of the holiday package or is offered actively as option.
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CO2 compensation CO2 compensation is options are offered to the clients
CO2 compensation CO2 compensation for the international transport is included in the package price.
4.7
Sustainable transport Suppliers and local agents are stimulated to offer sustainable transport for local transfers and excursions.
Boating Suppliers are stimulated to implement sustainable operations communicatingf Best Practice standards.
Company Action Plan Sustainability report
Planning and Reporting tool
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After compliance with Travelife Partner standards Travelife Partner award and logo B2B featuring of your company and products to all other Travelife member companies. Improving and reporting towards Travelife Certified level (more criteria, more obligations)
Travelife Certified standard
Based on: ISO 14001 - Environmental management GRI - Global Reporting Initiative, tourism supplement GSTC - Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria ISO 26000 - Corporate Social Responsibility Guidelines and principles
On-site audit to confirm Certified level. Use of “Travelife Certified” logo in your promotional materials and website(s). International promotion of your company for its excellent sustainability achievements.
“Travelife Certified” awards to TUI Netherlands, SNP Nature Travel and Kuoni Specialists.
You will receive an invitation with the details You are already registered for engaged level under travelife.info
Company size
< 50 FTE’s 50 - 200 FTE’s 200 - 400 FTE’s Yearly contribution € 150 € 200
€ 300
reporting tool.
travelife.info
CSR TOUR „Corporate Social Responsibility Training and Certification in the Travel Sector“, Project Nr: 2012-1-HR1-LEO05-01703
Project: Corporate Social Responsibility Training and Certification in the Travel Sector – CSR TOUR
The project is funded by the Lifelong Learning Programme Leonardo da Vinci, Transfer of innovation activity. Duration: 1.11.2012. – 31.10.2014. Partners of the project: UHPA - Association of Croatian Travel Agencies (lead partner) Organizations that created and developed Travelife system ECEAT - European Centre for Ecological and Agricultural Tourism (NL) ABTA - Association of British Travel Agents Organizations that will implement the training and certification system: PIT - Polish Chamber of Tourism (PIT), HATTA - Hellenic Association of Travel and Tourist, Agencies LC - "Lauku celotajs" Latvian Country Tourism Association.
WP 1
Improvement and adaptation WP 2 Testing
WP 1.1 Improving and adapting CSR Training system
WP 1.4 Improving technical and support system
environment
WP 2.1 Testing CSR Training system and Technical and support system WP 2.3 Testing CSR Standards for Travel companies and Technical and support system WP 1.3 Adapting CSR Standards
WP 3 Train the Trainers WP 4 Implementation
WP 3.1 Train trainers to provide CSR trainings for travel company staff and CSR courses in VET institutes WP 3.2 Train advisors / auditors to assess CSR Standards for Travel companies WP 3.3 Train auditors to assess Sustainability Standards for suppliers
WP 5 Dissemination & Exploitation WP 6 Project Management
WP 4.1 Implement CSR Training system
3 Certification WP 4.3 Implement CSR Standards for Travel companies
implementation
WP 4.4 Implement Sustainability Standards for suppliers
WP 4.2 Integrate CSR training into VET curricula
integration
WP 1.2 Adapting CSR Training to VET institutes
Training system for VET institutes
Specialization and certification of UHPA members
knowledge and skills of employees in the tourism industry, UHPA launched the project
agencies, which together with supporting marketing activities, has the aim to raise the quality of human resources.
travel agencies along with lifelong education
also among the priority measures for improving the competitiveness of Croatian tourism as defined in the Croatian Tourism Development Strategy until 2020.
accordance with the current requirements of the tourism market and the strategic guidelines of Croatian tourism , through this project of specialization and certification of travel agencies, UHPA will form clusters for the purpose of networking with relevant stakeholders in the tourism industry, sharing knowledge and experience, developing new ideas, employee training and providing high quality services to end users, etc.
development will enable participants to become leaders in their field and to directly contribute to the competitiveness
Croatian tourism through increasing quality of their business.
agencies and establishing clusters have particularly gained relevance with Croatian accession to the European Union since the requirements and market expectations have become much higher since then.
Besides specialization for school trips , there are also specializations in the following areas / markets / topics in plan: PCO adventure tourism car rental accommodation DMC special markets ( depending on the interests
will form a special working group, whose leaders, in collaboration with the staff of the UHPA office, will prepare the criteria for access to a cluster of specialists and ethical conduct for travel agencies / companies involved in specialization process.
by proving past and current business activities, competences of employees and associates as well as their life-long education and also by corporate social responsibility, quality management and their activity in the system of tourist boards.
Social Resposibility (CSR) by adopting the Travelife principles through a certification program that follows three phases of which the first one is " Travelife engaged "
WHO ARE TRAVELIFE ENGAGED COMPANIES?
approach towards sustainability with appointed sustainability co-ordinator who has passed Travelife training.
these companies are not rewarded yet they are working on integrating sustainability practices in key operating areas.
second and third phase of Travelife certification and become Travelife certified , can communicate excellence in sustainability to their customers and
stakeholders via Travelife logo.
activities, UHPA is seeking to expand awareness
the importance of specialized travel agencies , which is essential for their long term survival in the tourism market.
Therefore we herewith invite all travel agencies to engage in a process of specialization and certification in order to create competitive Croatian tourist
market.
Contact: Danijela Džambo Association of Croatian Travel Agencies Izidora Kršnjavoga 1/II, 10000 Zagreb Tel: 01 230 4992 Mob: 098 309 097 Fax: 01 236 0655 e-mail: danijela.dzambo@uhpa.hr www.uhpa.hr Contact: Ivica Projić Association of Croatian Travel Agencies Izidora Kršnjavoga 1/II, 10000 Zagreb Tel: 01 4836131 Mob: 099 732 8164 Fax: 01 236 0655 e-mail: ivica.projic@uhpa.hr www.uhpa.hr;www.travelife.eu www.uhpa.hr
Implementing a sustainability management system The 6-step approach Developing a policy Communicating your policy Action planning and implementation Marketing sustainability Greenwash Sustainability USP’s Distribution channels Next steps & on-going support
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info@travelife.info
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