American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) is the sole association  representing all sectors and stakeholders in the United States' lodging industry, including individual hotel property members, hotel companies, student and faculty members, and industry suppliers. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AH&LA provides members with national advocacy on Capitol Hill, public relations and image management, education, research and information, and other value-added services to provide bottom line savings and ensure a positive business climate for the lodging industry.

American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) is the world's largest association of travel professionals. ASTA's members include travel agents and the companies whose products they sell such as tours, cruises, hotels, car rentals, etc. ASTA are the leading advocate for travel agents, the travel industry and the traveling public in the United States.  The organization offers many benefits to its members and the traveling public. The majority of ASTA's members are travel agencies. However, travel suppliers, such as airlines, hotels, car rental firms, cruise lines, and tour operators join ASTA. Additionally, ASTA has membership categories for students, travel schools, retail travel sellers, and others.

Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST) is a non-profit organization established by members of the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) in 1997 to promote responsible environmental and social management of natural and heritage resources respectively, within the hotel and tourism sector.  As CHA’s key subsidiary, it is also the only not-for-profit in the region that focuses on the responsible development of the Caribbean tourism private sector. Through its programs and services, CAST provides guidance and expertise in awareness raising programs, environmental management systems (EMS) and best practices in accordance with the goals of Agenda 21.

National Geographic Center for Sustainable Destinations (CSD) is part of the Research, Conservation, and Exploration division of National Geographic Mission Programs and is dedicated to protecting all the world's distinctive places through wisely managed tourism and enlightened destination stewardship. The core strategy for achieving this mission is  geotourism, defined as tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place—its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents. Working with many allied organizations, both global and local, CSD helps develop and disseminate information for adopting the geotourism approach—by destination communities, by tourism professionals, and by travelers themselves.

Condé Nast Traveler is one of the world's leading travel publications and a strong voice for the advancement of sustainable tourism practices.  A "stylish guide for discerning travelers," Condé Nast Traveler has continued to provide an insight into the world's premier destinations for over 20 years.

Conservation International (CI) is a non-profit organization based on cutting-edge science, comprehensive partnerships, and concern for human well-being. With these three principles guiding CI, the organization safeguards valuable species, preserves the most important landscapes and seascapes, and supports communities that care for and rely on Earth's natural resources. To reach these goals, CI focuses on three strategies: dedicating the organization to innovation, raising awareness about conservation, and maintaining business-like effectiveness. 

The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD) was established to support the goals of the Convention, the product of the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio De Janeiro on sustainable development. The SCBD is a neutral organization based in Montréal, Québec, and is staffed by international civil servants that assist and provide administrative support to the  Convention bodies. The SCBD represents the day-to-day focal point for the Convention, organizes all meetings under the Convention, prepares background documentation for those meetings and facilitates the flow of authoritative information on the implementation of the Convention. The Secretariat plays a significant role in coordinating the work carried out under the Convention with that of other relevant institutions and conventions, and represents the Convention at meetings of relevant bodies.

Ecotourism Society of Kenya (ESOK) s a civil society organization that was founded in 1996 to promote ecotourism and sustainable tourism practices in Kenya. Founded with enormous industry support, the society was charged with the responsibility of providing the required support for the development of ecotourism and sustainable tourism in the country.  Today, the society continues to pursue the vision of making Kenya’s tourism sustainable, in terms of concern for the environment and the welfare of local populations. As a membership organization, Ecotourism Kenya brings together individuals, community based organizations (CBOs) and corporate organizations in a forum where they can discuss the concept of ecotourism and use this knowledge to improve practices in their respective fields.

ECOTRANS is a European network of experts and organisations in Tourism, Environment and regional development, who are seeking to promote good practice in the field of sustainable tourism. The ECOTRANS concept was established in 1988 at the International Conference Tourism and Environment in Europe in Bressanone/Brixen, Italy. The non-profit organisation ECOTRANS e.V. was founded in 1993 at the International Tourism Exchange (ITB) in Berlin.  The name ECOTRANS embodies two basic principles: the link between "ecology" and "economy" as well as the transfer and publication of know-how and hence greater transparency.

Expedia, Inc., is parent company to some of the world’s leading travel companies, providing travel products and services to leisure and corporate travelers in the US and around the world. We own and operate a diversified portfolio of well-recognized brands — including Expedia.com, Hotels.com, Hotwire.com, TripAdvisor, Egencia, Classic Vacations®, and a range of other US-based and international businesses. Together, these popular brands and innovative businesses make Expedia, Inc. the largest online travel agency in the world, the third largest travel company in the US, and the fourth largest travel company in the world. And we are on a mission to become the largest and most profitable seller of travel in the world, by helping everyone everywhere plan and purchase everything in travel.

Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) was created to ensure the continued long term success of the air inclusive holiday by influencing governments and opinion formers on the benefits to consumers and other stakeholders of air inclusive holidays compared to other forms of holiday arrangements. FTO and its members have been proactive in the field of holiday health, safety and hygiene for many years. We have a committed and proactive Health and Safety Committee attended by industry professionals, who are supported by the FTO Head of Health, Safety and Operational Support and independent technical experts in such areas as fire safety, security, food hygiene, health and transportation. Through partnership, education, information and support, we continue to exercise a powerful influence for change on issues such as, health, safety and hygiene, and regulatory improvements overseas. 

Gesselchaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit, GmbH (GTZ) is a federally-owned international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations that supports the German Government in achieving its development-policy objectives. It provides viable, forward looking solutions for political, economic, ecological and social development in a globalized world. Working under difficult conditions, GTZ promotes complex reforms and change processes. Its corporate objective is to improve people’s living conditions on a sustainable basis. GTZ is based in Eschborn, Germany, and employs 12,000 people in over 120 countries.

HM

HM Designs is a holistic Planning and Design firm specializing in sustainable tourism, ecotourism physical planning, and both the landscape architectural and architectural aspects of ecolodges.  Currently HM Designs is working on projects with current projects in Costa Rica, Indonesia, Montenegro, Turks and Caicos, Colombia and Dominica. Hitesh Mehta, president, is one of the world’s leading authorities, practitioners and researchers on Ecolodges and has vast experience in Protected Area Physical Planning having worked on Sustainable Tourism Plans for National Parks that protect the last remaining endangered species such as Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda and DR Congo; Chimpanzees in Uganda and Rwanda; Giant Pandas in China; Tigers in India and Black Rhinos in Kenya. Mr. Mehta is currently writing a new book, Authentic Ecolodges, which will be published by Harper Collins in June 2009.  He sits on the Executive Board of The International Ecotourism Society, advisory boards of Adventure Council and “Dances for the Earth and all her Peoples” – IUCN and is one of the founding members of Ecotourism Kenya. Mr. Mehta is the International Advisor for the Japan Ecolodge Association and the French Ecotourism Association.

International Hotel and Restaurant Association (IH&RA) is the only global business organization representing the hospitality industry worldwide. Officially recognized by the United Nations, IH&RA monitors and lobbies all international agencies on behalf of this industry, estimated to comprise 300,000 hotels and 8 million restaurants, employ 60 million people and contribute 950 billion USD annually to the global economy.

The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) is the largest and oldest ecotourism organization in the world dedicated to promoting ecotourism. As a non-profit, non-governmental and multi-stakeholder association, TIES is unique in its efforts to provide guidelines and standards, training, technical assistance, research and publications to foster sound ecotourism development. TIES' global network of ecotourism professionals and travelers is leading the efforts to make tourism a viable tool for conservation, poverty alleviation, protection of culture and bio-diversity, sustainable development and educational, as well as enjoyable, travel. TIES currently has members in more than 90 countries, representing various fields including academics, consultants, conservation professionals and organizations, governments, architects, tour operators, lodge owners and managers, general development experts, and ecotourists.

National Geographic Adventure is a world-renown publication and website that features the best in  adventure travel and ecotourism, with destinations, photos, videos, maps, gear, and more.

Rainforest Alliance (RA) works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior.  Based in New York City, with offices throughout the United States and worldwide, the Rainforest Alliance works with people whose livelihoods depend on the land, helping them transform the way they grow food, harvest wood and host travelers. From large multinational corporations to small, community-based cooperatives, RA involve businesses and consumers worldwide in our efforts to bring responsibly produced goods and services to a global marketplace where the demand for sustainability is growing steadily. Rainforest Alliance sets standards for sustainability that conserve wildlife and wildlands and promote the well-being of workers and their communities. Farms and forestry enterprises that meet our comprehensive criteria receive the Rainforest Alliance certification seal. We also work with tourism businesses, to help them succeed while leaving a small footprint on the environment and providing a boost to local economies.

Sustainable Travel International (STI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, dedicated to providing education and outreach services that help travelers, travel providers and related organizations support environmental conservation and protect cultural heritage while promoting cross-cultural understanding and economic development.

Tourism Concern is an independent, non-industry based, UK charity focused on fighting exploitation in tourism.  The organization has a membership of  almost 900 and works with partners in over 20 destination countries to ensure that tourism always benefits local people.  Tourism Concern is the only organization in Europe actively campaigning on tourism and human rights issues, working tirelessly to expose and challenge tourism's exploitative practices.  Tourism Concern takes a solution driven approach and has played a crucial role in promoting forms of tourism that provide meaningful benefits to people in destination communities.

Travelocity®, a Sabre Holdings company, is committed to being the traveler's champion -- before, during and after the trip. In keeping with that commitment, Travelocity was the first major online travel company to offer voluntourism grants and carbon offset options to its customers. These core elements are the bedrock of Travelocity’s Travel For Good program mission: to better the world, one trip at a time by embracing travel as an agent for positive change.

Travel Weekly is one of the most influential B2B news resources for the travel industry. Via a multimedia portfolio of products, Travel Weekly and TravelWeekly.com deliver the late-breaking news, analysis and research that travel professionals need to succeed.  In a rapidly changing and competitive marketplace, Travel Weekly and TravelWeekly.com provide travel professionals with a necessary global perspective through in-depth coverage of every business sector, including airline, car rental, cruise, destination, hotel and tour operator as well as technology, economic and governmental issues.

United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system's designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action.  The UNEP Governing Council reports to the UN General Assembly through teh Economic and Social Council.

United Nations Foundation (UNF), a public charity, was created in 1998 with entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner’s historic $1 billion gift to support United Nations causes and activities. The Foundation is an advocate for the UN and a platform for connecting people, ideas and resources to help the United Nations solve global problems. The UNF helps the UN take its best work and ideas to scale—through advocacy, partnerships, constituency building and fund-raising.

United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is a specialized agency of the United ‎Nations and the leading international organization in the field of tourism. It serves as a ‎global forum for tourism policy issues and a practical source of tourism know-how.‎  UNWTO plays a central and decisive role in promoting the development of responsible, ‎sustainable and universally accessible tourism, paying particular attention to the ‎interests of developing countries.  The Organization encourages the implementation ‎of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, with a view to ensuring that member ‎countries, tourist destinations and businesses maximize the positive economic, ‎social and cultural effects of tourism and fully reap its benefits, while minimizing its ‎negative social and environmental impacts.‎  Its membership includes 160 countries and territories and more than 350 Affiliate ‎Members representing the private sector, educational institutions, tourism associations ‎and local tourism authorities.‎

Eco & Sustainable Tourism Israel is a non-profit organization, established on March 2006, in order to promote sustainability and ecotourism in Israel – on both the supply and demand levels.  The organization's vision: “Turning the Israeli tourism industry into a vehicle for conserving natural and cultural resources and enhancing local communities' self sufficiency and empowerment capabilities". Our work is focused on raising awareness and providing knowledge and tools to stakeholders through different platforms and frameworks; including our website: www.ecotourism.org.il, professional courses, workshops, lectures, educational events, interpretation materials, etc.

Forum Anders Reisen is a business association of small and medium-sized tour operators promoting a kind of tourism that is ecologically sustainable, economically viable, ethical, and socially just. It’s members have committed themselves to work in line with a comprehensive set of criteria. The association has introduced a CSR process to monitor whether these criteria are being observed. The umbrella organisation supports it’s members by doing basic groundwork, by coordinating and bundling communication and by marketing their travel and tourism products. Forum anders reisen raises public awareness for the ecological, economic and cultural impacts of tourism. It was founded in 1998 by twelve tour operators and has grown to comprise more than 150 members (April 2009). 

Global Development Research Center (GDRC) is a virtual organization that carries out initiatives in education, research and practice, in the spheres of environment, urban, community, economy and information, and at scales that are effective. A key initiative of GDRC is the Sustainable Tourism Gateway, set up in order to (a) develop awareness and educate on issues related to sustainable tourism; (b) assist in policy and programme development; and (c) facilitate monitoring and evaluation.

The Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) supports, protects and promotes its over 7000 members so they can excel in today's challenging business world. For over 90 years, HAC has helped them to compete by building and maintaining a high profile with governments, developing innovative marketing programs, hosting events to celebrate excellence, and providing current industry information and resources. All of HAC's activities share a singular goal: to help our members be more competitive and successful.

International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) is an association of professionals throughout the world that currently bring together over 7500 members. ICOMOS works for the conservation and protection of cultural heritage places. It is the only global non-governmental organization of this kind that is dedicated to promoting the application of theory, methodology, and scientific techniques to the conservation of the architectural and archaeological heritage. ICOMOS is a network of experts that benefits from the interdisciplinary exchanged of its members, among which are architects, historians, archeologists, art historians, geographers, anthropologists, engineers and town planners.

International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges. It supports scientific research, manages field projects all over the world and brings governments, non-government organizations, United Nations agencies, companes and local communitied together to develop adn implement policy, laws and best practice. IUCN is the world's oldest and largest global enviromental network - a democratic membership union with more than 1,000 government and NGO member organizations, and almost 11,000 volunteer scientests in more than 160 countries. IUCN's work is supported by over 1,000 professional staff in 60 offices and hudred of partners in public, NGO, and private sectors around the world. The Union's headquatrers are located in Gland, near Geneva, Switzerland.

M-Travel Switzerland is represented with seven travel trade brands on the Swiss Market: Globus Reisen, Travelhouse, ESCO, Tourisme Pour Tous, Hotelplan, Migros Ferien, Denner Reisen and FCm First Business Travel. Approximately 1500 employees in Switzerland ensure that the travel guests enjoy unforgettable and smooth holidays. In about 115 individual travel agencies, travel guests receive professional and competent information on their holidays. All agencies are equipped with the latest technology. In addition to their own holiday brands, there can be found offers of other selected holiday specialists.

The Nordic World Heritage Foundation (NWHF) is a category II centre, working under the auspices of UNESCO, supporting the implementation of UNESCO's World Heritage Convention (1972) for the Protection of the World's Cultural and Natural Heritage in cooperation with the World Heritage Centre (WHC). NWHF is organised as a non-profit Foundation supporting international activities within the programme framework of UNESCO, such as WHC’s Tourism Programme. NWHF specifically work to promote sustainable tourism as a development tool and its implementation through the support of a community of best practices. The Foundation was established on a permanent basis in 2002 by the Government of Norway in cooperation with the other Nordic Governments and UNESCO, and is based in Oslo, Norway.

Oceania Sustainable Tourism Alliance (OSTA) is an opportunity for sustainable community-benefit tourism in the Pacific Islands modeled on the Global Sustainable Tourism Alliance, a USAID program that allows tourism destinations in developing countries to access world-class expertise with proven success in addressing sustainable development challenges. The OSTA aims to bring together leading NGO, University and private international development organizations to assist destinations with designing and implementing innovative, integrated, and market-based tourism approaches that foster sustainable futures for individuals, local communities, small enterprises and societies.

Our Native Village is a 100% eco resort that aims to reconnect people with simple, earthy yet joyful experiences that are far away memories now… reconnect to nature, to loved ones, to themselves… And to do all those things you always said you never had the time to.  As a 100% eco, we generate 70 to 80% of our electricity ourselves using a wind mill, solar panels and 2 bio gas plants. Most of our water is rain water, all our construction is eco construction, using bricks that were made onsite using the soil from the foundation excavation and then sun baked. We process and reuse all our waste in the most innovative methods. Most of the vegetables in the kitchen are from the 12 acre organic farm that the resort is on. We do not use any chemicals whatsoever at the resort.. Even the soaps and shampoos in the rooms are natural, organic and handmade exclusively for our resort. And last but not the least, we have the regions first 100% natural swimming pool, where we use aquatic plants to clean the swimming pool rather than chemicals.  From an experiential perspective, we are reviving games, rituals, and practices from the Indian village. We are reviving interest in 6 forms of Indian art, and in Veerakallus (Hero stones). Most of our staff are from the surrounding villages. In line with our inclusive policy, our resort is handicap friendly and most entertainment in the evenings are performed by blind artists.  To take personal sustainability to the extreme, we have a Soul Spa – the first one in the world, where we achieve rejuvenation and deep cleansing at a soul level, rather than only at a skin level

Planeterra is a non-profit organization with a long history of supporting sustainable community development through travel and voluntourism. By getting to know local people in the communities we visit, we are able to help identify individual needs and act quickly to meet them.  Our range of over 30 projects worldwide - providing water tanks to families in Kenya to a women's weaving co-operative in Peru - offer travelers with a few hours, a few days, or a few dollars to spare, a unique opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people and communities around the world. 

Solimar International is a tourism development firm dedicated to promoting the goals of sustainable tourism by providing marketing, sales, and consulting services to tourism businesses, associations, development agencies, and national tourism authorities. Solimar takes an innovative approach to tourism development, integrating proven business solutions with years of collective experience in tourism consulting, creative services, marketing, and travel operations. Our aim is to transfer knowledge, business processes and market linkages to local entrepreneurs that in turn are able to pass on this knowledge to tourism MSMEs, improve industry cooperation, and create business linkages, all while improving destination market opportunities and growth.

SNV-Netherlands Development Organization SNV is an international development organisation of Dutch origin with over 40 years of experience in Africa, Asia and Latin America. We are dedicated to a society where all people enjoy the freedom to pursue their own development. SNV supports national and local actors within government, civil society and the private sector in their endeavours to find and implement local solutions to development challenges. We actively engage in partnerships with other development agencies as well as the private sector to leverage our resources and efforts for genuine economic development and sound governance.

Social Venture Technology Group (SVT) is an innovative firm based in San Francisco, California. Founded in 2001 by Sara Olsen, SVT Group (formerly SVT Consulting) has worked to further the adoption of social return on investment standards. A big idea from modest beginnings, SVT Group came to be after Sara co-founded the Global Social Venture Competition (GSVC) with four peers while in business school. Since then, SVT Group has become a bedrock organization in the development of non-financial valuation methods and the related area of social enterprise in general. SVT Group is now part of an informal network of world leaders in many related fields. We firmly believe that building a better world will involve the interaction of practitioners the world over as we share, collaborate and learn.

The Spirit of Big Five Foundation grew out of the guiding philosophy of Big Five Tours & Expeditions, a leading luxury tour operator.  Since its inception in 1973, Big Five has been committed to responsible travel that fosters the preservation of the natural world, priceless cultural heritage and, equally important, the well-being of local communities.  Formally launched in 2007 as a 501 3c nonprofit organization, the Spirit of Big Five Foundation seeks to broaden the scope and depth of support to conservation, poverty alleviation, education and healthcare in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America.  The foundation is funded by the Sanghrajka family, the founders of Big Five Tours & Expeditions.  With many of our guests returning home from their journeys also inspired to make a difference and to be part of the solution, the foundation also benefits from guest donations.  And to honor that sense of community and dedication to making the world a better place, the Spirit of Big Five Foundation guarantees that 100% of donations made go directly to the selected project(s).  We are proud of the important projects we support around the world, which demonstrate how tourism can help protect nature as well as sustain the well-being of local communities.
 

The University of Utah Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Department is where education and citizenship combine to enhance the quality of life for the world we touch. The department's mission is to create, share, and apply knowledge about park, recreation, and tourism resources and phenomena in order to advance the intellectual and professional development of students, serve social needs, inform policy, promote economic development, and foster health and the quality of life for individuals, families, communities, and the environment.  The department serves Bachelor of Science through PhD, offering courses and research projects on all facets of sustainable tourism development and natural resource management.