ITM ANNOUNCES ICARUS AWARD WINNERS 2011
The Institute of Travel & Meetings (ITM) UK & Ireland has today announced the UK winners of the third annual ICARUS Sustainability Awards during the closing session of its annual conference to over 320 UK and Ireland based travel buyers and suppliers.
Speaking about the awards and winners, Jamie Hindhaugh, ITM's chairman, said "This year, in the third year of the awards, we are recognising two companies who have demonstrated to the ICARUS Advisory Board their credentials in this sector as leading the way for their peer organisations. We are delighted to award these two companies at a time when sustainability has not necessarily been a priority for many."
The association has presented 2011 Sustainability Awards to British Airways in the "Transportation" category and Carlson Wagonlit Travel in the "Intermediary" category. The awards were presented on behalf of Project ICARUS, the sustainability project created by ITM in 2006, after a panel of academics, consultants and travel buyers judged the two winners as leaders in their sectors.
The citation for British Airways read, "The judges were impressed with the continuing efforts of this airline to build sustainability into the ethos of the organisation. Whilst many companies cut back their investment in sustainability programmes during the financial crisis this carrier enhanced its commitment to the development of ‘alternative' fuels and fully supporting the ‘one destination' programme of targets to reduce CO2, lower noise levels and recycle waste. Its programme of supply chain procurement was particularly worthy of note."
The citation for CWT read, "This travel management company has again shown its commitment to the development of sustainability as a core part of its business proposition by investing in both its own business and client products and services. Of particular note is the effort to develop a programme of ‘demand management' tools which provide a full range of solutions and informs travellers of the "door to door" options for multi-modal routes. In addition, journeys are benchmarked against the key aspects of a sustainable travel plan alongside the creation of a package which will address the need for transient and Meetings & Events reporting."
