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At Further East earlier this week, we were heartened to see two of Asia’s Sustainable Travel Changemakers take the stage. Chalana Perera joined a dynamic panel on “Asia’s Overtourism Problem: Where It’s Heading and How to Solve It,” while Sarah Rhodes led an insightful masterclass on "Make Sustainability Magnetic for Your Staff.”

This week’s Feature Story highlights Tuu, an organization established by three media and travel veterans, to track and rate sustainability data in hotels, restaurants, offices, and schools.

Finally, are you a sustainability solution provider and looking to increase your company’s visibility in Asia’s hospitality and travel sector? Scroll down to submit your listing to our Sustainability Solution Providers directory.

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Tuu Eco Stay Awards: Elevating Hospitality with Data-Backed Sustainability Practices 

As discussions around sustainability gain traction in global tourism, Asia Pacific is taking center stage. During her keynote address at ITB Asia 2024 in Singapore, Liz Ortiguera, Managing Director for Asia-Pacific and Senior Advisor to the CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), pointed out the region's impressive economic contribution, projected to reach 3.2 trillion USD by the end of 2024.

This booming sector supports over 191 million jobs, showing its important role in local economies. Alongside this growth, there's a surging demand for eco-conscious travel, with 76% of travelers seeking sustainable options. 

Against this backdrop, the Tuu Eco Stay Awards was established to celebrate and recognize genuine sustainability efforts of hotels across Asia, helping the industry grow responsibly and transparently.

A Mission Rooted in Real Progress

The Tuu Eco Stay Awards was conceived with a clear objective: to recognize hotels that make genuine strides in sustainability rather than those that merely pay lip service to the concept.

Terry Blackburn, Founder of Tuu, explains, "The Tuu Eco Stay Awards were created to recognize hotels making measurable progress in sustainability, not just claiming it."

This initiative follows Blackburn's successful tenure with the Asia Property Awards and his realization of the need for a platform that focuses on real, verifiable sustainability in the hospitality sector. With Asia being a big player in hotel development, Blackburn believes the region "offers the perfect opportunity to encourage meaningful change."

Categories That Matter

The awards focus on four categories that reflect the pillars of sustainability:

1. Environmental Impact: This evaluates how hotels manage resources, focusing on reducing their ecological footprint through efficient resource use and innovative practices.

2. Sustainability Planning: Focuses on long-term strategies, assessing how well hotels integrate sustainable practices into their core operations.

3. Local Community: Celebrates hotels that actively engage with and contribute to their neighboring communities, promoting social responsibility.

4. Cultural Heritage: Honors the preservation of local traditions and enriches guest experiences by integrating cultural appreciation.

"Together, these categories provide a comprehensive approach to sustainability, rewarding hotels that are leading the way," says Blackburn.

"We've designed the awards to encourage hotels to go beyond compliance. Categories like Local Community and Cultural Heritage show hoteliers that sustainability isn't just about environmental impact—it's about social and cultural responsibility too," he explains.

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