Media Update: April 2005
Eco-friendly Events, Conferences and Meetings: It's Not Easy Being Green
Boulder, CO (April 2005) - Planning events, conferences and meetings that are environmentally friendly is not always easy. Management and sponsors have to be sold on the benefits - enhanced public image, potential cost savings, and reduced environmental impacts. Event planners and organizers must then select environmental priorities and determine how to secure the resources to put into them.
Fortunately, there are many affordable systems and programs available for reducing and preventing waste, recycling, and conserving resources. However, in the past, it's been a challenge to minimize greenhouse gas impacts related to events. Things have changed though. Event planners can now participate in carbon emissions programs, such as the 'Green Conference' package offered by Sustainable Travel International (STI). The 'Green Conference' package is designed to help event participants neutralize their global climate change impacts by offsetting associated greenhouse gas emissions caused by air travel to and from their events.
"Today, travel alone accounts for nearly one third of all greenhouse-gas emissions with air travel being the fastest growing component," said Brian T. Mullis, STI's President. "Minimizing waste, recycling and conserving water are great ways to reduce environmental impacts. However, STI's new 'Green Conference' package affords event planners and organizers an opportunity to up the ante and mitigate the single largest environmental impact associated with their events," Mullis concludes.
Offsetting greenhouse gas emissions is as simple as visiting www.my-climate.com and entering in your departure and arrival cities. STI's carbon calculator automatically determines total greenhouse gas emissions; the cost of which is usually as little as $5-15 for offsetting a round-trip or one-way ticket.
With proceeds from 'Green Conference' package sales, STI finances climatic protection projects that meet Kyoto and WWF Gold Standards in different countries, affording event planners with an opportunity to compensate for 100% of the impact their events and participants have on climate change.
For more information on hosting eco-friendly events, conferences and meetings or 'Green Conference' packages, contact STI at info@sustainabletravel.com or call 800-276-7764.
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The 1st International Libya - USA
Business, Sports and Cultural Exchange
Boulder, CO (April 2005) - Libya is a land of ancient civilizations and breathtaking beauty with its high mountain chains, stellar Roman ruins, sun-drenched Mediterranean beaches, infamous W.W.II battlefields, magnificent Sahara desert and beckoning business opportunities. Although the country affords wonderful opportunities to see extraordinary natural and man-made sites, few travelers have set foot within its borders. In fact, the last American group to visit Libya was in 1978.
In October 2004, President Bush lifted the U.S. travel ban on Libya in an effort to seek enhanced diplomatic and commercial ties between the two countries. Libya is now ripe for tourism (and other business) investment - from beach resorts and golf courses to adventure travel and eco-tourism. And, the 1st International Libya - USA Business, Sports and Cultural Exchange, created by Hemingway Tours and Safaris in association with Sustainable Travel International (STI) and The University of Colorado Leeds School of Business' Center for Sustainable Tourism (CST), is answering the call by offering American citizens with the first opportunity to visit the country since 1978.
"The 1st International Libya - USA Business, Sports and Cultural Exchange is a historic event," said Robert Walz, creator of the program. "Much like the 1st International Hemingway Sports Classic we produced in 1994 to bring the first official group of American tourists to Havana, Cuba," Walz continues. "Not only are we providing the first group of American citizens with the opportunity to visit the country in almost 27 years, but we are also supporting environmental conservation and cultural preservation while providing excellent and very new opportunities for our clients to pursue business investments in Libya. Our business clients will be offered the unique opportunity of with Libyan Ministry Officials and top-level Libyan governmental advisors.
A percentage of gross trip revenues will be donated from the program to support environmental conservation projects in Libya. Participants may even have an opportunity to meet Moammar Kadafi. "The exchange program is really one-of-a-kind," said Brian Mullis, President of Sustainable Travel International. "We'll tour Tripoli and Ghadames, visit the Theatre of Antiquities in Sabartha, the Roman Sand Ruins and venture into the Sahara.
The 'extended stay' option will tour the W.W.II battlefields of Patton and Rommel. Participants will also be able to take advantage of unique opportunities for cultural exchange including Libya's first soft ball game with mixed teams of Libyans and U.S. citizens, Bedouin camel races, and much, much more," Mullis concludes.
Since the Libyan Interest Section in New York does not issue visas, getting a visa to Libya has prevented many from visiting the country. However, those participating in the "exchange" program will be met by a representative from the Libya Ministry of Tourism in Milan where the program originates. This individual will personally escort the group to Tripoli and issue the group's Libyan visas.
The 1st International Libya - USA Business, Sports and Cultural Exchange is scheduled for October 24 to November 4, 2005, and is limited to 40 participants. Registration and deposits are due no later than June 30, 2005, with final payment being due no later than September 15, 2005. For an application, tour cost, and a complete program itinerary, please contact Robert Walz at (303) 530-9275, email copabob@aol.com or visit the company's website, www.HemingwayToursandSafaris.com and click on "Libya."
High Resolution Images Available Upon Request
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