Endorsements

Chris Desmond, Director, 10,000 Islands Dolphin Project

"I returned from my second TIES Conference with a wealth of information and new friends. As an eco-tour operator, I was looking to meet, hear and learn from other eco-operators and, indeed, I did. The sessions were in-depth with practical experience I can apply to my business."

Oliver Hillel, Program Officer, Secretariat for the Convention on Biological Diversity

“The ESTC provides global players with the best venue to discuss joint proposals and projects, and network with the best practitioners all over the world. The width of the issues discussed, the diversity of skills and experiences of participants, and the innovative solutions shared make it a reference and a watering hole for professionals trying to make a difference in the competitive and growing fields of ecotourism and sustainable tourism."

Malia Everette, Director, Reality Tours Global Exchange

"TIES assemble an incredible and diverse pool of experts, business owners and travel enthusiasts from the sustainable and ecotourism industries. As a proponent of socially responsible travel for decades, I appreciated the opportunity to network, engage and learn from others in the sustainable tourism industry. I came away from the conference reassured by the clear intentions and passionate values behind the TIES community."

Ray Berardinelli, Associate, Sustainable Industries

"ESTC 2010 was a great opportunity to network with the Who's Who of the ecotourism and sustainable tourism industry. Participants from around the world brought a unique mix of perspectives to the event, and the panel presentations were superb."

Christina Tunnah, VP of Business Development-the Americas, World Nomads

"It was an honour and pleasure to be involved in the event as a panelist, especially with my cohorts on the panel. It was one of the best conference I had attended this year; the camaraderie, knowledge share and openness to networking were boundless. Many thanks for including World Nomads and allowing us to share our experiences with Footprints and social media."

René Welti, Founder, America Live, Inc.

"I’ve attended two TIES conferences and can recommend participation to people who seek to network and learn more about the ecotourism market and sustainability issues. The speakers and attendees offer a wealth of information and great contacts. The conference is also a good example of how to run a 'green' conference.”

Kimberley Lisagor, Editor, Author, Journalist

"As more and more travelers gravitate toward ecotourism, it’s increasingly important for travel professionals and the travel media to have the kind of in-depth, reflective dialogue that happens here. This conference is a tremendous resource for new ideas, fresh perspectives and inspiration."

John Ivanko, co-author ECOpreneuring and co-innkeeper of Inn Serendipity

"Whether you’re greening your travel business or expanding your presence in the hot ecotourism segment of the tourism industry, the TIES conference captures the pulse of the green travel movement that’s making the world a better place."

Dave Butler, Director of Sustainability, Canadian Mountain Holidays Inc.

"I attended the Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference in 2007 and 2008 and found it to be an amazing opportunity to learn, network and to be inspired. As useful and relevant as those conferences were, I’m confident that the next ones shouldn’t be missed by anyone interested in sustainable tourism."

Deirdre Campbell, Owner, The Tartan Group

"The ESTC is the definitive source for bringing together experts and key influencer's from across the tourism industry for an unbelievable networking opportunity. The upcoming conference will not only provide sustainable solutions for tourism businesses, it will also highlight innovative sustainable practice case studies and effective ways to utilize the sustainable tourism community’s experience and expertise to tackle some of the critical issues and key challenges facing the industry today."