Eco Friendly Travelers Growing Greener

Posted on April 20, 2012 by quest

Trip Advisor one of the world’s largest travel sites today announced the results of its eco-friendly travel survey of more than 700 U.S. travelers. The green travel trend is gaining momentum among TripAdvisor members, as 71 percent said they plan to make more eco-friendly choices in the next 12 months compared to 65 percent that did so in the past 12 months.

“Green initiatives are an increasing priority for hospitality businesses that are trying to reduce their environmental footprint,” said Jenny Rushmore, director of responsible travel for TripAdvisor. “Our survey shows that TripAdvisor travelers are interested in eco-friendly practices, but hungry for more information about which green plans and policies are actually in place.”

The travel survey found among other things that twenty percent of respondents said they would consider an “eco-tourism” trip but 17 percent said they are unfamiliar with such trips. Nearly a third of travelers (30 percent) would choose a destination for a trip because it is considered eco-friendly. And this was no surprise, Costa Rica is the most popular destination in the world for travelers interested in an eco-friendly trip. TIES a trade organization founded in 1990 has been dedicated to promoting ecotourism. It defines “ecotourism” is defined as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.”

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Virgin Gets Its Green On In San Francisco

Posted on April 14, 2012 by quest

Virgin America, the only California-based airline, is partnering for the fifth consecutive year with the California State Parks Foundation (CSPF) for its 15th Annual Earth Day to support vital environmental restoration and clean-up projects across the state. Virgin America teammates (along with employees from presenting sponsor Pacific Gas and Electric Company) were pitching in today at San Francisco’s Candlestick Point State Recreation Area where they were planting native trees, installing new redwood garden boxes and landscaping to help restore and preserve the park. Virgin America teammates in other cities across the country are also participating in local environmental clean-up events throughout Earth month. In addition to Virgin America’s efforts on the ground, the airline was the first domestic airline to offer guests the ability to offset their carbon in-flight by using the Red seatback touch-screen entertainment system to make a donation to CSPF or to offset the carbon emissions of their flight via the nonprofit Carbonfund.org.

“We’re pleased to continue our partnership with the CSPF for the fifth year in a row, in order to support their efforts to protect and restore our state’s natural resources — especially those in underserved communities like Candlestick Point,” said David Cush, President and CEO of Virgin America. Candlestick Point State Recreation Area is the state’s first “urban” park and includes a community garden, open wildlife areas and other public spaces that support a better way of life in the underserved Bay Area neighborhood. “We are proud to continue our partnership with Virgin America – an airline that has long supported environmental work and our efforts on behalf of state parks,” said Elizabeth Goldstein, President of California State Parks Foundation. “Not only are Virgin teammates helping us on the ground by volunteering in state parks, Virgin also helps us from 35,000 feet by providing an in-flight donation option on its entertainment platform.

Virgin America’s efforts will also stretch across the nation with clean-up and restoration projects. “Our region has long been known as a model for the nation and the world in terms of championing sustainable best practices,” said San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee.” San Francisco which was named the “Greenest City in North America” will also be hosting a FREE Eco-Event for Everyone! Celebrating Earth Day in San Francisco, Sunday, April 22nd, in the event features two-stages of Music and Speakers, plus Workshops, Organic Chef Demos, Eco-Fashion Shows, Holistic Health, and Clean-Energy Zones, a Permaculture Village, Interactive Art, a Huge Kids Zone and much more. The festivities run 10am to 6pm at the Civic Center Plaza in Downtown San Francisco. Sponsored by SF Parks Alliance, Nissan.

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Solar Press Presenting At Clean Equity Monaco 2012

Posted on March 26, 2012 by quest

Solar Press will present at CleanEquity Monaco 2012; the conference is on March 29th & 30th at the Sporting d’Hiver, Monaco. Solar Press was included, by expert selection, as one of the world’s most inspiring cleantech companies, to present to industry-specific, senior financial and strategic investors, policy makers,legislators, end users and media.Solar Press (www.solar-press.com) is an early stage company whose vision is to be the world’s leading provider of Organic Photovoltaic (OPV) process technology to enable the low cost reliable manufacture of solar panels in high volume in all regions of the world. Solar Press works in partnership with coating equipment manufacturers and materials suppliers to deliver a unique turn-key manufacturing solution for OPV solar cell production. Solar Press’ customers are companies in all regions of the world wishing to manufacture OPV solar panels to address local market needs.

The Company’s development laboratory and corporate headquarters are in London, UK. Solar Press has received seed funding from Carbon Trust Enterprises Limited.Innovator Capital, the London specialist investment bank, hosts the annual invitation-only event with, this year, the Nobel Sustainability Trust. The Nobel Sustainability Trust is a Nobel family initiative taken by visionaries and global socially responsible Nobel family members, to encourage the research, development, commercialisation and implementation of products and procedures within the field of renewable and sustainable energy.

Other local partners and sponsors include Prince Albert II of Monaco’s Foundation, the Monte-Carlo SBM and the Monaco Chamber of Economic Development.Collaborators on the 2012 event include the Hinduja Foundation, Qualcomm Halo, PR Newswire, Covington & Burling, Ministry of Science and Innovation New Zealand, Auckland UniServices, Clark Langdon Partners, Carbon Trust an the United Nations UNEP Fi.

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Solar Energy Powering Viking River Cruises Longships

Posted on March 14, 2012 by quest

Viking River Cruises a leading world river cruise line, announced today that it has commissioned six more Viking Longships for delivery in 2013. The six vessels will be joining Viking Freya, Viking Idun, Viking Njord, Viking Odin, which will be christened on March 21, 2012, and Viking Embla and Viking Aegir, which will be delivered later in 2012.”The new orders reflect the great interest in Viking River Cruises and its revolutionary Longships,” said Viking’s Chairman Torstein Hagen.Viking Longships integrate patent-pending* design and cutting-edge technology with comfortable amenities that reflect guest preferences and current travel trends, to include; Sustainability upgrades, such as solar panels, an onboard organic herb garden and energy-efficient hybrid engines that reduce vibrations for a remarkably smooth ride.

Viking River Cruises, is a leading river cruise company, offers scenic cruising along the rivers of Europe, Russia, China, Southeast Asia and Egypt. The company has been honored multiple times as the top river cruise line on Conde Nast Traveler’s “Gold List” and Travel + Leisure’s “World’s Best” Awards as well as recognized as the World’s Leading River Cruise Operator at the World Travel Awards and by the editors of Cruise Critic as “Best River Cruise Line” in the website’s 4th Annual Editors’ Picks Awards.

The Viking Longship series has been designed by celebrated maritime architects Yran & Storbraaten and Los Angeles based Rottet Studios. They are all being built at the Neptun Yard in Germany, part of the Meyer Neptun group.”At Viking, we are proud of our Norse heritage. The ancient Vikings were the ultimate explorers, and that tradition lives at Viking River Cruises today. For that reason, we have honored our new Viking Longships — and our beautifully refurbished Russian fleet — with names of celebrated Viking gods and heroes,” said Hagen. With the six additional vessels, Viking will have invested over $400 million in its fleet development program over three years.

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South Pacific Resort An Eco Innovator

Posted on February 21, 2012 by quest

Paul Gauguin Cruises operator of the highest-rated and longest continually sailing luxury cruise ship in the South Pacific, the m/s Paul Gauguin, has announced the completion of a $7 million renovation. The renovation took place during the ship’s 10-night crossing from Tahiti to Brisbane, Australia, as well as during the 11-night drydock that followed, when extensive enhancements were made to both the interiors and exteriors of The Gauguin. Renovations throughout the ship include new flooring and replaced carpeting, elegant new furniture, new window treatments and decorative wall panels, and new signage, providing a lighter, brighter feel. Additionally, all suites and staterooms feature new teak railings on the balconies and new bathroom flooring

On the culinary front, La Veranda offers guests a redesigned entrance, refinished indoor and outdoor furniture, and solar shades throughout. Le Grill boasts new decorative partitions and divider walls, as well as a new buffet area and new lighting. L’Etoile also features a redesigned entrance in addition to video equipment for conferences. Promenade Deck 5 boasts a new built-in banquette and expanded casino in Le Casino, and Deck 6 received a new integrated display case for books and art. La Palette features a decorative stone band along the front of the bar and an updated lighting system, as well as new outdoor furniture. Le Grand Salon and La Palette offer refurbished dance floors to provide the perfect venue to dance the night away.

Paul Gauguin Cruises is owned by Pacific Beachcomber S.C., the leader in French Polynesia luxury destination resort who has over 25 years of experience in the French Polynesian tourism market, Pacific Beachcomber is the country’s largest luxury hotel and cruise operator in the region. Pacific Beachcomber is also currently developing a luxury eco-resort, The Brando, located on the actor’s private island and slated to open in 2012. Pacific Beachcomber operates five award winning hotels which are all sustainable and Green Green Globe - EARTHCHECK Certified, including the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa is pioneer in use of sea and water air-conditioning (SWAC) technology.

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Marin Therapist Takes EcoTourism To High Ground

Posted on December 11, 2011 by quest

After a few minutes talking with Kathy Kapps you can sense there’s something really unique about her. The tuned in Zen Shiatsu therapist and Marin resident is originally from the motor city of Detroit. She has been traveling back and forth to the Himalayan high mountain kingdom of Nepal since the early eighties. I happened to have met her up on Hill 88 in the Marin Headlands. She would say, “there is no happenstance.” She recently returned from Nepal, a journey she’s been making now for 7 years after a 15 year break. Several months ago I literally ran into her along a steep Marin trail above the Golden Gate Bridge, when she told me she was heading back to the magical kingdom. I wished her well – but what pleasantly surprised me weeks later was an email photo of a prayer flag she had placed for my mother. It turns out she places prayer flags at the Khumbu Glacier two days away from base camp at Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain. She told me,”The memorial prayer flags for those lost loved ones are hung at the sacred memorial site at the end of the Khumbu Glacier. The sacred site is at the end of the whole huge Khumbu glacier and many people who died climbing Everest are memorialized there. My personal prayer flags for friends and family are hung at the foot of ‘Lady Everest.”

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Kat as she is affectionately called not only places prayer flags, but also takes needed medical supplies to hospitals in the remote areas of the Solo Khumbu an area high in the Himalayas outside the ancient and busy city of Kathmandu.In addition to this she has also raised funds to contribute to the education of a college bound student who will be majoring in tourism.

In her soon to be released book “The Inner Mandala” Kat writes about her own personal losses and discoveries. For close to thirty years Kat has been a practicing Zen Shiatsu therapist and instructor working in San Francisco and Marin county. Inspired by author and philosopher Dadaji whom Kat says profoundly changed her life for the better, she is initiating a new venture,“Lady Everest” for those who are interested in learning and exploring Mount Everest, the Himalayas and the Nepal region. By Richard Andrews