The United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) has introduced its "USTOA Sustainability Policy" to all active and associate members. Designed to enhance member efforts to begin or continue their sustainability journey, the "USTOA Sustainability Policy" is the culmination of nearly eight months of work by the cross-member Sustainability Committee and is the latest milestone of the association’s “50 Years Forward” commitment made in 2022 when it passed the 50-year mark.
Accompanying the "USTOA Sustainability Policy" is the "USTOA Responsible Travel Promise," a document for signature by active and associate members that states the company’s support of USTOA’s efforts and is designed to motivate action within their respective businesses to build sustainability plans that share USTOA’s ambition.
The "USTOA Sustainability Policy" details over-arching goals to “ensure a sustainable future for the travel and tourism industry by balancing economic growth, environmental care and social well-being.” Members will find the USTOA Sustainability Policy and Travel Promise on the Sustainability Resource Hub in the Member Room at USTOA.com. “The USTOA Sustainability Policy and Member Promise are designed for us as an Association to look both internally and externally at how we can make a difference, and to enhance our members’ efforts through our highly engaged Sustainability Community,” said Terry Dale, USTOA president and CEO.
As part of the association's Sustainability Community, members are invited to attend USTOA’s SIR (Sustainability is Responsibility) Education Series sessions, become a Tourism Cares Member, and are encouraged to sign the USTOA Sustainability Promise.
In her message to all members about the launch of the USTOA Sustainability Policy, Global Social Impact Manager Molly Laycob—who joined the USTOA in January 2023—made it clear she is available as a first-step resource and contact to help all members identify their sustainability plans and ultimately publish a sustainability statement for their company.
USTOA’s third Sustainability Is Responsibility (SIR) Summit will be held in Singapore in 2024, where members will gather to continue the conversation and learn about best practices.
For more information, visit www.ustoa.com.
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