Impact Travel Launch: Strengthening Communities Through Sustainable Tourism

March 27th, 2018 5:30PM -7:30PM

The World Affairs Council was pleased to introduce Impact Travel of Greater Seattle on March 27. At this launch event, we engaged in conversations with three panelists who shared how their respective organizations use the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) as a framework to tackle community and global challenges. Through education, advocacy and community-building around sustainable tourism, the ITA-GS Hub is one of the 30 Impact Travel Alliance Hubs worldwide.

Following this event, the Impact Travel of Greater Seattle (ITA-GS) plans to develop community interest groups that unite Greater Seattle’s tourism industry (hotels, restaurants, shops, tour operators, etc.) and community leaders in support of local initiatives that strengthen communities through the UNSDGs of sustainable cities, quality education and job creation in Washington State.

All panelists agreed, that the SDGs are not just for underdeveloped countries. They're all interconnected. They give a common language and conceptual understanding that we can use to help drive the global agenda. Compared to the MDGs, Professor Murg remarked, "[it's] an enormous step forward." Professor Murg went on to explain how SPU is a Global Climate Action Champion. One of only 67 worldwide. The relevance of climate change and the SDGs should be taught in each discipline. Since these goals are so interrelated, it follows that they need to be implemented at an interdisciplinary level among educators and students.
As for companies, Katherine Cheng of Expedia commented that we can't separate businesses from corporate social responsibility, because, especially in the travel industry, your business impacts the areas you travel to, and if the impact is negative, it would feedback into the company's own business. With regard to how companies can be political yet not partisan, Katherine pointed out that "when [the administration "withdraws" from an agreement like the COP21], companies know where they have to be – they've already based their businesses on complying." This strengthens the idea that large businesses do not like to renegotiate large policy agreements like the Paris Accords, as they rely on government confidence and follow-through in order to implement huge initiatives in their own priorities.
Emilie McGlone, representing the nonprofit sector with regards to travel and SDGs, said that "it's important to build bridges with civil society, so that if governments are unable to take action, then civic groups know where to take the initiative. Observers don't have to view the action through a state-centric lens." Emilie confirmed that civic groups fill in the gaps where businesses and government's fail to act, yet also function as intermediaries between public and private entities.
A powerful moment came when Katherine was questioned on how a large company like Expedia prioritizes the SDGs. She claimed that the employees are the heart of the operation and that they are both the driving force in implementation, but also "the leaders" for a company. Therefore, the education of their employees across the world had become a huge initiative for Expedia in aligning with the SDGs.

Panelists:

  • Katherine Cheng, Head of Global Corporate Citizenship & Community Relations, Expedia Inc.
  • Bradley Murg, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Political Science & Director of Global Development Studies School of Business, Government, and Economics, Seattle Pacific University.
  • Emilie McGlone, UN Liaison & Executive Director, Peace Boat US 

Networking and Information Reception: 5:30pm-6:00pm

Discussion: 6:00pm-7:30pm

 

Gallery

Details

When: March 27th, 2018 5:30PM -7:30PM

Venue

Miller Nash Graham & Dunn LLP

Pier 70 2801 Alaskan Way, Suite 300 Seattle, WA 98122
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