World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards (‘WSTHA’) has announced that its inaugural ceremony will take place at the historic Cahal Pech Archaeological Reserve in Belize, the official host destination. Leaders in sustainable tourism will gather for the VIP reception on 27 September 2024 when the winners will be unveiled.
Located in San Ignacio Town, Cahal Pech is a Maya collection of temples that was first settled between 1,200 and 1,000 BC. The VIP reception will form the climax of a series of curated experiences enabling delegates to explore Belize.
The announcement follows the close of voting for the WSTHA 2024 programme. The nominees, drawn from across the globe, featured a fascinating range of individuals and organisations that are accelerating change and impacting net positive tourism. Industry professionals, the media, and the general public voted for the nominees they consider to be leading the world in sustainable tourism.
Justin Cooke, Executive Vice-President, WSTHA says: “Excitement is building ahead of our inaugural ceremony in Belize. We cannot think of a more fitting venue than the historic Cahal Pech Archaeological Reserve, the embodiment of sustainable tourism, and fully aligned with our mission to spotlight those individuals and organisations that are leading the way in safeguarding our planet for future generations.”
He adds: “We wish to extend a heartfelt thank you to our Advisory Board for their guidance, the team of Sustainable Business students of Nova Business School for their rigorous review of entries, the thousands of entrants, the hundreds of nominees, and the many travel professionals from around the world who voted in this, our inaugural event. The calibre of entries has proved exceptional, many with fascinating stories of how they are accelerating change and impact in sustainable tourism. This serves as a healthy indicator of the momentum, drive and innovation towards creating a net positive travel industry. We look forward to revealing the winners at our gala ceremony in Belize on 27 September.”
As the Official Host Destination of WSTHA 2024, Belize values responsible tourism and develops projects that encourage travellers to engage with its rainforests, reefs and unique culture in a sustainable manner.
Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism & Diaspora Relations, Belize, says: “With only a couple of weeks to go until the first World Sustainable Travel and Hospitality Awards, we’re on the final stretch, making the finishing touches to hosting the inaugural awards at Cahal Pech Archaeological Reserve. The oldest-known Maya site in Belize will make the perfect backdrop for hosting the awards and honouring those making a difference in sustainability across the travel and hospitality sector.
“We want to thank every single individual and company who submitted their entry into one of the 21 categories. Each one of them highlighted an impressive stance on changing sustainable tourism for the better. We’re looking forward to welcoming all nominees and congratulating the winners in person while sharing Belize’s sustainable tourism initiatives with a global audience.”
The WSTHA programme is run in partnership with the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, whose members and partners represent over 50,000 hotels, 7 million rooms globally, 270 brands, and 40+ supply chain and strategic partners.
Glenn Mandziuk, CEO, World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, says: “As we prepare to unveil the winners of the inaugural World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards in Belize, we are not just celebrating achievements; we are setting a new standard for our industry. These awards honour the inspiring leaders who are driving transformative change towards our vision of Net Positive Hospitality, marking a crucial step in our journey to create a sustainable future for travel and tourism.”
All entries to the WSTHA 2024 programme were assessed by Sustainable Business students from Nova Business School, with the shortlist then analysed and approved by the WSTHA Advisory Board, ahead of the public vote.
The WSTHA Advisory Board selected the 21 WSTHA categories to reflect the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and net positive framework of People, Planet, Place, Prosperity and Partnerships.
WSTHA is the sister event of World Travel Awards, currently celebrating its 31st anniversary.
