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Home / Business Operations / Business Growth and Development / Sustainable Practice
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Sustainable Practice

In an increasingly complex and risk exposed sector, tourism operators must proactively plan to ensure long-term business sustainability. Sustainable practice incorporates not only long-term economic viability, but social and environmental sustainability as well. The implementation of sustainable practices within a business can help to extend the growth and maturity phases of the business lifecycle. Read more
In an increasingly complex and risk exposed sector, tourism operators must proactively plan to ensure long-term business sustainability. Sustainable practice incorporates not only long-term economic viability, but social and environmental sustainability as well. The implementation of sustainable practices within a business can help to extend the growth and maturity phases of the business lifecycle. The Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre (STCRC), through one of its landmark reports Small and Medium Tourism Enterprises identified a series of criteria that can used in assessing good practice of SMTEs:

Business Operation Tip

Communicating the verified sustainability practices of a business to it’s customers, suppliers and funding bodies can provide a comparative advantage for the organisation.

 

  • Strategic Planning including formal planning processes, clear goals and performance monitoring;
  • Financial Management including record keeping, budgeting, access to finance, targets and outcome measurement;
  • Market Knowledge and Activities including industry experience, research, monitoring and market analysis;
  • Human Resource Management including employee relationships, training and recruitment, rewards and performance appraisal;
  • Quality and Customer Focus including industry standards, accreditation, customer satisfaction, improvement processes;
  • Networking and Relationship Management including external assistance, partnerships, industry associations and government support; and
  • Leadership and Management including quality of leadership, management and governance, structure.

    The implementation of environmental and social practices within a business can also provide benefits for a business in terms of operational cost savings, comparative advantage, leverage marketing and to support corporate social responsibility obligations. While environmental sustainability has been the focus of much attention over the past decade there are still a number of barriers that need to be overcome for small businesses to successfully implement these practices. Research by the STCRC has shown that the main barriers are implementation costs, lack of customer demand, the labour-intensive nature of becoming certified, lack of government and industry support and the technicality of information forums.

     

    For further information on corporate social responsibility, performance monitoring and environmental benchmarking please see the ‘Monitoring and Evaluation’ section.


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    Discussion results

    • Ethical Performance

      I have recently come across an interesting publication developed by Ethical Performance who produce an 'independent newsletter for socially responsible business'. Worth a read if you have an opportunity to pick up a copy. There is however an annual subscription ranging from 359-575 pounds.

      /discussion/default.aspx?g=posts&t=83

    • EarthCheck Trainers

      Hi All,

      Welcome to the EarthCheck Trainers forum! The forum is open to our global network of certified in-house and commercial trainers.

      Here you will find posts and discussions about EarthCheck training programs, links to tools and resources and information to assist you with the delivery of EarthCheck training to your networks.

      As Trainers in EarthCheck Standards, programs and products, this forum provides the opportunity for you to connect with other trainers, share feedback, ideas and ask questions.

      I also encourage you to share training opportunities, sustainability resources, tips and tools that you come across in your work as Trainers.

      To get the ball rolling, I thought you might be interested in this online resource developed by UNEP. Its useful tool designed as a practical guide to sustainability for the hotel sector... enjoy!!

      http://www.unep.fr/scp/tourism/publications/envirotel/index.html

      /discussion/default.aspx?g=posts&t=101

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