The Caribbean Tourism Organization’s 2013 edition of the CTO-TravelMole Sustainable Tourism Awards competition is now open to receiving nominations. Let’s get Cayman recognized!!!

Information on the Award categories and the application process can be accessed via a link on the OneCaribbean.org homepage. Completed nomination forms and any supporting photos are to be uploaded by March 1st , 2013, via:

http://www.onecaribbean.org/programs/ctosustainable/travelmoleuploads.aspx;

OBJECTIVE

These CTO-TravelMole annual Awards are aimed at identifying and showcasing Sustainable Tourism Good Practices in the Caribbean. The awards recognize individuals, groups, organizations or companies in any of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Member Countries which have developed unique and attractive tourism products or are engaged in implementing sustainable tourism-related initiatives which embrace sustainable tourism concepts and core values. These initiatives should also help to enhance the country’s tourism product offerings and advance sustainable and responsible tourism in the Caribbean.

In the Caribbean, Sustainable Tourism Development is understood as “the optimal use of natural, cultural, social and financial resources for national development on an equitable and self sustaining basis to provide a unique visitor experience and an improved quality of life through partnerships among government, the private sector and communities” (CTO Caribbean Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework, 2008).

AWARD CATEGORIES

1. Caribbean Excellence in Sustainable Tourism Award

2. Destination Stewardship Award

3. Sustainable Accommodation Award

4. Community Benefit Award

5. Heritage Protection Award

6. Biodiversity Conservation Award

1. CARIBBEAN EXCELLENCE IN SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD

The product/initiative should contribute to a better quality of life in the destination and provide a unique visitor experience. Only one application can be submitted by each CTO member country’s Ministry/Department of Tourism for this overall award. It must cover five key areas of tourism sustainability selected from amongst the following (A-I) areas:

A. Environmental Management: water (fresh and wastewater), energy conservation/renewable energy, solid waste

B. Terrestrial or Marine Area Planning and Management

C. Destination Stewardship: sustainable tourism management in destinations

D. Local Community Involvement: training, management, benefits

E. Heritage Protection: cultural, built and natural heritage (including flora and fauna)

F. Education: staff training, communication, service excellence and public awareness

G. Safety and security: visitors and staff

H. Financial Sustainability

I. Partnership: multi-stakeholder support to economic, environmental or social initiatives

J. Innovation and Originality

2. DESTINATION STEWARDSHIP AWARD

This Award is open to a CTO member destination (country, region or town) that is making solid strides towards sustainable tourism management at the destination-level through on-going and integrated initiatives and programs designed to improve sustainable tourism planning and promote widespread adoption of good practices, ensure multi-stakeholder engagement, address social and community issues, foster economic linkages, preserve cultural heritage and protect the environment. Applicants may include government agencies, NGOs, or trade associations on behalf of the destination. Nominees in this category must demonstrate sustainable tourism policies and strategies that cover four of the areas below:

Improve long-term competitiveness of tourism businesses and destinations

Enhance well-being of communities as healthy places to visit, live, and invest

Preserve and conserve cultural, historical and natural heritage

Promote a sense of place and authenticity

Involve tourism stakeholders in decision-making

Communicate and promote sustainable tourism good practices to other tourism stakeholders

3. SUSTAINABLE ACCOMMODATION AWARD

This award is open to small or medium-sized (less than 400 rooms) tourist accommodation facilities (hotels, ecolodges, guesthouses, B&B’s, camp sites, homestay facilities, villas or other). Nominees must demonstrate how they have successfully achieved four of the following results:

positive impact on the local supply chain or sustainable consumption practices

positive impact on local  communities minimizing environmental impact through environmentally sensitive architecture, operations and management (e.g. proper solid waste management, recycling, waste water treatment, energy and water conservation) education of staff and guests about sustainable tourism practices

support for cultural and natural heritage preservation in local communities

collaboration with other private, public or non-government stakeholders to achieve sustainability good practices relevant certification, awards and marketing initiatives that highlight sustainability efforts use of sustainable transport e.g. use of bicycles, biofuels in vehicles

4. COMMUNITY BENEFIT AWARD

This award is for a tourism enterprise, community or an entire country that manages tourism well for the long-term benefit of the destination and local people as well as visitors. Nominees in this category must show how their tourism initiatives have benefitted local communities through four of the following areas:

direct social and economic benefits to local people e.g.  employment and business creation/expansion, capacity building and transfer of industry skills through training and educational opportunities, career advancement, fair wages etc.

community development

a positive contribution to the maintaining the heritage (built, cultural or natural) of the destination/community and promotion of a sense of place and authenticity

opportunities for local community input and empowerment in tourism development planning

multi-stakeholder engagement in tourism management

educating locals and visitors on the sustainable tourism efforts of the enterprise, community and/or country

5. HERITAGE PROTECTION AWARD

A tourism organization or initiative making a significant contribution to protect and promote heritage (cultural, built, natural, intangible) can be nominated for this award. Nominees need to demonstrate how their efforts have directly contributed to heritage protection through four of the following initiatives:

efforts to pass on cultural and intangible heritage traditions and skills to younger generations

documentation and/or copyrighting of local heritage related materials

educating visitors on  local heritage  and local stakeholders, including the media

sustainable financing of local heritage conservation

engagement of local communities, public,  NGO and/or  private sector entities in preserving and promoting local heritage

communicating your actions to local stakeholders, including the media

6. BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AWARD

This Award is open to any group, organization, tourism business or attraction working towards the protection of wild/marine life and/or expanding/restoring their local habitat  or supporting biodiversity conservation e.g. a national park, marine park, biosphere or wildlife sanctuary. Nominees in this category must be able to demonstrate four of the following types of initiatives:

that your tourism initiative has made a tangible contribution to the conservation/protection of nature in the destination

institution and successful implementation of specific policies and activities towards nature conservation

how your nature conservation efforts have directly benefited the socio-economic well-being of local people

efforts to educate visitors about local conservation initiatives

how your actions are communicated to other local stakeholders, including the media

JUDGING

The Awards will be judged by an Award Selection Committee comprised of a panel of experts selected by CTO, representing various sectors of the tourism industry at the national, regional and international levels. This Committee will shortlist and select one winner in each award category based on the applications received and merit. Special mentions may also be made at the judges’ discretion.

For the Category 1 Award, the Committee will give 0 to 10 points to each of the five selected areas, depending on the level of coverage of the submitted product. Additionally 0 to 10 points will be given based on originality or innovation of the ideas and concepts presented. Each submission can receive a maximum of 60 points. (Download attached additional guidelines for Category 1.)

For the other Category Awards, the Committee will allocate a maximum of 50 points based on how well the nomination contributes to tourism sustainability. The criteria listed for these Category Awards are meant to guide both the application completion and judging process.

ENTRY RULES

1. Completed nomination forms and photos must be uploaded by March 1, 2013, via the CTO corporate site at:

http://www.onecaribbean.org/programs/ctosustainable/travelmoleuploads.aspx;

Download nomination form.

Download Category 1 award description of Sustainable Tourism areas

2. For the overall Caribbean Excellence in Sustainable Tourism Awards (Category 1), nominations must be submitted by the Ministry/Department of Tourism of CTO Member Countries. Each country is allowed to submit only one entry for this Award Category. Countries are free to follow any selection procedure at the national level.

3. For all other Awards, nominations can be submitted directly by individuals, groups, organizations or companies for Categories 2-6. Should you wish to enter more than one category, separate applications must be submitted addressing the specific criteria.

4. The product/initiative itself should have been in operation for at least two (2) years.

5. Each entry must consist of the following elements:

~ A completed nomination form;

~ A general description of no more than 150 words on the product/initiative and a maximum of 1,500 words for Category 1 applications  and 1,200 words for Category 2-6  applications on how it contributes to tourism sustainability using  the criteria  provided for the respective category as a guide.

~ A maximum of two photographs (4 MB max. each) and a website link may also be submitted.

6. All submitted material must be available for publication and will not be returned.

7. All materials become the exclusive property of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, which reserves the right to publish or reproduce them, with appropriate credit to the owner and/or manager of the product.

8. Any nominated project that does not receive an Award can be nominated in the following years, presenting updated information.

Queries should be directed to: [email protected] and copied to: [email protected]

RECOGNITION

~ Information on the award winning project(s) will be publicized via through CTO’s and TravelMole’s global public relations mechanisms.

~ All nominees, including Finalists and Special Mention Awardees for each category will be invited (at their own expense) to the CTO Annual Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development where a Special Awards function to present the Awards to the winners will be held. Certificates will be given to Special Mention awardees.

~ Information on the winning initiatives will be included in CTO’s Sustainable Tourism Good Practices database.

We encourage you to participate as Cayman strives for sustainable tourism recognition.

For the overall Caribbean Excellence in Sustainable Tourism Award only one nomination can be submitted by each CTO member country.

Should you have any questions about the awards or the nomination process, please contact Gail Henry, CTO Sustainable Tourism Product Specialist at [email protected] and copied to Alicia Serrao at  [email protected]

or by phone (246) 427-5242 Ext. 2230.