Program

• Keynote
• 09:00 - 10:15
• Speakers: Dr. Bob Willard
• Keynote: Bob Willard - “Leadership Advice for Sustainability Champions”
• Based on his new book, The Sustainability Champion’s Guidebook, Bob Willard provides practical guidance on how to imbed sustainability into a corporate culture. By connecting the dots between timeless leadership practices and sustainability strategies, he shows how sustainability champions at any level in a company can lead a transformation to a smarter and more sustainable enterprise that will thrive in the new economy. He outlines seven steps to take, seven leadership tips and techniques to use, and seven derailers to avoid. This presentation includes the critical step of developing a compelling business case for sustainability strategies described in Bob’s first two books, The Sustainability Advantage and The Next Sustainability Wave.
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• Network Break
• 10:15 - 10:30
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• Executive Panel
• 10:45 - 12:00
• Moderator: Bryce Conacher
• Speakers: Mandy Farmer , Graham McKenzie, Debbie Baxter
• Executive Panel - Leading by Example
• Today’s business leaders are confronted with a unique set of challenges that often conflict with the tenet of profitability for its shareholders and sustainable business values for the benefit of all its stakeholders. Balancing these two key principles requires risk- taking and the vision to understand how the travel and tourism product is changing and the sustainable best practices needed to meet future customer expectations while also thriving in a very competitive business environment. The plenary session “Leading by Example”, brings together executives from various areas of travel to share their experience as to the key drivers that moved them towards offering responsible travel products while embracing a long-term sustainable business strategy.
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• Keynote Luncheon Address
• 12:15 - 01:45
• Speakers: Adam Stewart
• Keynote Luncheon Address: Sandals & Beaches CEO Adam Stewart
• Adam Stewart is the 29 year-old CEO of Sandals Resorts International and one of the travel and tourism industry’s youngest and most inspirational leaders. Stewart took control of the operational aspect of the company in 2006 from his legendary father ‘Butch’ Stewart who founded the company 30 years ago. He oversees all areas of operations for the resort empire, which employs 10,000 people across 22 properties in the Caribbean.
  
  Stewart is a visionary with a passion for the environment. Under his watch, the Sandals Foundation, the charitable arm of Sandals Resorts International was created to bring together three decades of philanthropic work by the company.
  
  Now in 2010, Stewart discusses how the Sandals Foundation has provided the platform for award-winning and market-leading environmental programs, which engage guests, travel partners, team members and local communities alike.
  
  
  
  Presentation of 2010 RTTF Leadership Award
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• Industry Panel
• 14:00 - 15:00
• Moderator: Michael Merrithew
• Speakers: Teresa Ehman , Nikki White , Michel Lemay
• Industry Panel - Working Together to Achieve Sustainability
• The diverse and fragmented nature of travel and tourism makes it difficult for the industry to adopt standard sustainability best practices. However, from the retail sector, to tour operating and aviation, associations around the world as well as individual businesses are collaborating to develop frameworks which uphold social and environmental values.
  
  The plenary session Working Together to Achieve Sustainability, will feature case studies from the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), the Tour Operator Initiative (TOI) and Air Canada. These organizations demonstrate the power of building networks to develop sustainable business leadership along the full travel and tourism value chain.
  
  Featured speakers include ABTA’s Nikki White; Michel Lemay of Transat and TOI; and Air Canada’s Teresa Ehman.
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• Workshop 1
• 15:15 - 16:15
• Moderator: Cheryl Gregory
• Speakers: Brenda Paxson, Barb Steele
• Workshop 1: Green Teams – How to Engage and Motivate Staff to Support Your Sustainability Strategy
• Developing managing and evaluating successful green teams can be a challenge for any size company. In this workshop, Canadian Business for Social Responsibility will present a practical Green Teams Guide and provide a useful framework to create successful teams that will help to deliver the sustainability strategy. A travel industry case study will also be showcased.
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• Workshop 2
• 15:15 - 16:15
• Speakers: Pamela Divinsky, PhD
• Workshop 2: Social Branding - How to Increase Brand Value Through Responsible Handling of Social Issues in Travel and Tourism
• Everyone’s doing it – corporate responsibility, environmental and social sustainability, corporate philanthropy, cause marketing or “giving back”. While required, it is not respected. This type of activity is still considered a cost to business, not a driver of business.
  
  How can a social purpose or mission strengthen your business?
  
  How can social commitments cultivate employee pride, strengthen consumer bonding, deepen community respect and fortify reputational equity?
  
  This workshop will outline the various ways companies and brands are defining social missions and how they are – or are not – having a true impact and building the business.
  
  What model might be right for your company?
  
  What are the social issues that you might champion?
  
  And how?
  
  Because if everyone’s doing it, you want to know how to be distinctive.
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• Workshop 3
• 16:30 - 17:30
• Speakers: Steven Pacifico, Michel Gauthier
• Sustainable Meetings, Conferences and Festivals – How to Plan and Execute Environmentally Friendly Events
• Whether it is a company meeting or a mega festival, customers are becoming more aware of the environmental impact of events. This workshop will provide an easy to use guide to help companies understand what steps can be taken to manage a sustainable event every time. The Icarus Foundation Canada will share their work to green Pride Week in Toronto/ A travel industry case study will also be showcased.
  
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• Workshop 4
• 16:30 - 17:30
• Speakers: Paul Klein, Allison Wallace
• Giving Back to the Community - Whether in Canada or in Destination Make the Most Effective Use of Your Donations
• Most companies will have some form or community investment. From “dress down Friday” to strategic partnerships with not-for-profit organizations, resources to champion social causes need to be carefully managed . This workshop will provide guidelines to leverage community investment to maximize differentiation, enhance the brand, and increase customer and employee loyalty. A travel industry case study will also be showcased.
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