Pata climate change group moves to face the environmental challenge

Confronting Climate Change agreed to collaborate on a range of initiatives to confront climate change, such as Banyan Tree's green audit programme, Intrepid Travel's project management plan and Expedia's World Heritage Alliance.

"The CEO Challenge successfully facilitated the sharing of these valuable, practical initiatives," the association's president and CEO Peter de Jong told the 236 delegates during the closing session yesterday.

De Jong said he was delighted that so many industry leaders - from all sectors of travel and tourism - accepted the challenge to share their thoughts, ideas and actions on climate change.

"It has really delivered on our goals, with so many good ideas, innovative programmes and practical solutions, and, most importantly, opportunities for collaborative action."

More than 350 people, including officials of the Tourism and Sports Ministry, registered media and accompanying persons, engaged in the day-and-a-half programme, including a welcome reception and dinner hosted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand last night.

While summarising the outcomes of the Pata CEO Challenge, event facilitator Rohit Talwar of Fast Future suggested there was a simple action plan for any leader of a travel and tourism organisation: start a discussion with his management team and board to agree on principles and priorities for a climate-change strategy.

The goal is to create a compelling vision to ensure internal and external stakeholder support, to conduct an environmental audit, set targets, and measure, verify and record results.