Destination Think

How is electrification transforming modes of transportation worldwide? Vernon, British Columbia, has its own unique twist on the movement—electric Zambonis. As part of the City’s Climate Action Plan, the move is improving indoor air quality in arenas and cutting emissions. It also supports the desire for sustainable experiences within the city's major market, sports tourism. Today's guests are Torrie Silverthorn, Manager of Tourism at the City of Vernon and Jonny Rockall, e-bike entrepreneur and Zamboni driver. Tune into Travel Beyond to learn more about how Vernon is leading the way. https://lnkd.in/gkHfgvtv

The team at Mammoth Lakes Tourism, led by John Urdi, CDME, coined the phrase “the Real Unreal” to describe their destination – a place so beautiful that it seems unreal but is, of course, populated with real people and a real community. Living in a popular destination comes with advantages; amenities like recreation opportunities and great restaurants are made possible partly due to the influx of visitors boosting the tax base. However, when the number of visitors far outweighs the number of locals, balance can be difficult to achieve. To maintain a happy, healthy, and thriving community, Mammoth Lakes Tourism invests in critical community housing projects and prioritizes in-depth community engagement. We always like to see successful destination organizations embedding themselves in the community to develop an understanding of the needs and frustrations of residents. #therealunreal #mammothlakesca #destinationmanagement #sustainability https://lnkd.in/gsG87uA3

We've heard how Tito Jankowski at AirMiners is calling on the travel industry to embrace the opportunity to take on a leadership role in building a stable climate. JetBlue is doing just that. By investing in the direct air capture carbon removal startup Avnos, Inc., they're participating in real, positive change for the travel industry. https://lnkd.in/eSBNdx9e

Is the travel industry missing this moment of sustainable innovation? In part two of our conversation with TITO JANKOWSKI - AIRMINER of AirMiners, he shares why carbon removal is a key part of travel's future and what that means for airline CEOs and other industry leaders. Tune into this episode of Travel Beyond to learn about the opportunities for climate leadership and the current state of carbon offsets. https://lnkd.in/g5jud82w

Announcement: This World Tourism Day (September 27), we're hosting a global, 24-hour event celebrating the changemakers and innovations transforming the travel industry. At 24 Hours of Travel Innovation, you'll learn from industry leaders through keynotes, panels, and case studies as they offer practical insights and proven solutions to tackle the travel industry's challenges. Join the Destination Think team and organizations worldwide to build momentum for positive change by seeing what is already possible. Save the date. Registration is now open! https://lnkd.in/gNQZkTZx #WorldTourismDay #SustainableTravel

As we learned in this week's podcast, the world needs to reduce its carbon output and remove carbon from the atmosphere. While carbon offsets often set off alarm bells for their risk of greenwashing, this project in Alaska uses funds generated from tourists to install heat pumps specifically to replace oil heating systems. In a place where electricity is cheaper and less polluting than oil heat, this project genuinely reduces emissions and saves residents money. https://lnkd.in/gV4zhuTE

"This is the generation that gets to discover how to build a stable climate." Today on Travel Beyond, we speak with TITO JANKOWSKI - AIRMINER, Co-Founder and CEO of AirMiners, an accelerator for carbon removal startups. Working with a community of over 2000 scientists, entrepreneurs, engineers, and policymakers who want to be part of reversing climate change, Tito's not worried about the warming planet. He's motivated by the opportunity. Listen to learn more about carbon removal, its potential as an industry, and why it's a climate solution to watch. https://lnkd.in/g5jud82w

Build innovation into your strategic planning A winning strategy is as much about research and analysis as it is about creativity. Our time-tested strategic planning tool has helped organizations like yours make clear choices about the future of their destinations while incorporating the most promising innovations. Learn more from our fan-favourite article. https://lnkd.in/guW-J-Ze

Monika Iuel, Julia Louw, and their team at Wesgro (better known as South Africa’s Western Cape) see tourism as a gateway to flourishing communities and jobs. For Wesgro, the key to a thriving economy is effective collaboration at all levels. When everyone is moving in the same direction, the destination can best benefit from the tourism economy. Their organization spans tourism, trade, and investment, and all sectors must flourish to provide benefits to the communities in which they operate. Wesgro recognizes that, for them, a maximum return on investment can be achieved through private/public partnerships. https://lnkd.in/dqx2yAk

As we heard in this week's podcast, technological innovations can accelerate change and help to build a better world. Harbour Air in British Columbia is already doing it. With a vision to develop a sustainable aviation hub on the west coast of North America, the company plans to start flying electric planes commercially in 2026. https://lnkd.in/ggW5GiFc