About ESTC

ESTC 2010: Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference

Organized by The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), the Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference (ESTC) is North America’s largest and only conference focusing on sustainability in the tourism industry. A leading international multi-stakeholder meeting place, the ESTC brings together innovative minds from across the industry to discuss practical ideas and solutions that inspire positive changes. Advancing policies and practices benefiting businesses and communities, the ESTC helps reinforce the roles of tourism in building a more sustainable future.

Co-hosted by Travel Portland and Travel Oregon, the ESTC 2010 (September 8-10, 2010) will be held in Portland, Oregon, a leading U.S. city that has been consistently rated “the most sustainable city” in the country. Bringing together 500+ business leaders, industry professionals and community stakeholders, the ESTC 2010 will feature dynamic sessions, public forums and social functions that offer eye-opening insights into the latest on sustainable business strategies and unparalleled networking and knowledge-sharing experiences.

ESTC Goals

1) To be THE meeting place for tourism professionals that fosters networking opportunities.

2) To promote best practices in sustainability strategies and inspire innovative change.

3) To help build partnerships and networks that advance policy benefiting businesses and communities.

4) To equip businesses with tools to effectively cope with social, environmental and economic challenges.

5) To promote strategies and solutions that reinforce the roles of tourism in building a sustainable future.

Conference Endorsements

	René Welti, Founder, America Live, Inc. "I’ve attended two International Ecotourism Society conferences and can recommend participation to people who seek to network and learn more about the ECO tourism 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, EndangeredPlaces.com, Author, "Disappearing Destinations: 37 Places in Peril and What Can Be Done to Help Save Them" "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, however, I’m confident that the next ones shouldn’t be missed by anyone interested in sustainable tourism."
	Valerie Sheppard, Senior Tourism Development Officer, B.C. Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts "The Madison, Wisconsin NAEC was my first TIES conference. I was very impressed with the level of organization and how smoothly the conference ran… from check-in to the closing ceremonies. I particularly enjoyed listening to and learning from the numerous tourism businesses who presented over the three days of the conference."
	Deirdre Campbell, The Tartan Group and Member, BC Sustainable Tourism Collective. "From my experience in attending past conferences, TIES 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 practices and case studies in the U.S. and Canada, and discuss 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."

We would love to hear your testimonial about TIES past conferences. E-mail us your quote and picture: estc[at]ecotourism.org!