Brief History

An Asian proverb says, "Tourism is like a fire, you can use it to cook your soup, but it can also burn down your house". If undertaken responsibly, tourism can be a positive force for sustainable development, conservation and environmental protection - but if unplanned, tourism can be socially, culturally and economically disruptive, and have a devastating effect on fragile environments.

It was this challenge that inspired John Van Praag (then Chief Executive of Inter-Continental Hotels) to commission an environmental manual for his own hotels back in 1990. It was an impressive document, a cross between 'Handy Green Hints for Around the Hotel' and a 'Mission Statement for Sustainability'. His managers really sat up when he announced that part of their bonus scheme would be based on their properties' environmental performance.

But Van Praag also realised that collectively the industry could be much more effective than Inter-Continental acting alone. "The Hotel business is fiercely competitive - and needs to continuously improve its standards," Van Praag said. "We are all in this together, and if we can achieve more by acting together, then that has to be the best way forward."� It was then that The Prince of Wales and Lord Forte first became involved. The Prince of Wales was convinced that real progress could be made when businesses that are more used to working in competition with each other show a willingness to work together in the pursuit of a better environment for us all. If Van Praag had said to his opposite numbers around the world. "Let's get together to launch a new initiative on the environment,"� he might have got a rather chilly response. But an invitation from Kensington Palace was a far more intriguing proposal.

By one of those unfortunate coincidences, the date chosen for the meeting (November 29, 1991) just happened to be Thanksgiving Day in the United States. But that didn't stop a powerful group of people gathering to discuss the possibilities of further action, and a decision was eventually made in principle to proceed with a joint initiative building on the Inter-Continental environmental manual, and under-pinned by a unanimously agreed upon charter. The International Hotels and Environment Initiative (IHEI) was born, and it was christened 18 months later at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

In 2004, after 12 very successful years it became apparent that an integrated, industry wide approach to responsible business in tourism was needed. In response, the IBLF launched the International Tourism Partnership at an event convening chief executives, chairmen and executive directors from leading international companies, non-profit organisations and intergovernmental agencies working with the travel and tourism industry. Hosted by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, the meeting focused on how responsible business and sustainability in tourism can be operationalized through a partnership among the players in the industry. The International Tourism Partnership builds on the success of the IHEI expanding to provide the innovative tools and programmes to help the industry demonstrate that economic, social and environmental benefits are possible through practical action.

Over the past 15 years the International Tourism Partnership has played a leading role in bringing tourism companies together to improve their approach to sustainability. There have been many firsts along the way. Published in 1993 and now in its third printing, the Environmental Management for Hotels - a comprehensive guide to quality environmental management has become the reference text the industry. Since 1995, greenhotelier magazine has been inspiring, educating and challenging the industry and is now one of the most respected publications of its kind. In 2005, the International Tourism Partnership published the only Sustainable Hotel Siting and Design Guidelines, another groundbreaking first for the industry.

From human rights guidelines to a sustainable communities initiative the International Tourism Partnership will continue fostering and implementing new ideas to address the emerging global issues facing the tourism industry and helping the industry to become a truly positive force for sustainable development with warm soup and no burnt houses.