Latest Feedback - Conference / Incentive Operated by Viaventure

Dear Noe, James & Becky

Just a note to thank you for a wonderful trip.  Guatemala was magnificent - everything we remembered it to be and with the added bonus of watching our clients faces as they saw the sights and felt the atmosphere of this beautiful country

Everything was meticulously handled by Noe - he really had crossed every t and dotted every i and it made it such an effortless trip for us knowing that all rooms/dinners/tours were scrupulously engineered.  Each destination was great - the Casa Domingo a fabulous hotel to use - with it's added bonuses - a good start to the trip.  Hotel Atitlan was picturesque  and the weather was perfect - our first night swim/jacuzzi with cocktails overlooking the lake will always be remembered.  Tikal was as exciting as before and we were so lucky with the weather it really couldn't have been better - like a beautiful May/June day in the UK perfect for viewing the ruins and seeing the rainforest.

The transfer to Belize was effortless (for us not the poor bus driver moving things on and off the bus) and the restaurant we stopped off at - which we'd seen on the site visit - was really great - an easy/atmospheric place with the coolest dude facilitating.  We arrived at the hotel at around 15.00 which was really nice and gave people time to check-in and relax for the rest of the day

Your guides were great and Jane was truly fantastic.  She became the mother of the group - ensuring everyone was happy, the tours were to their liking, giving advice and helpful information and taking full responsibility for her role in the team. She really is a treasure (especially for UK guests who can relate to her so well. )In Belize she really helped me and this too, whatever our nervous misgivings, worked to plan - yes they work in a Caribbean way - but after a few cocktails neither I or the delegates were really over bothered

Noe thank you again for all your hard work - it paid off admirably - it was a truly perfect conference.  

Our valuation forms came out with 9 for the hotel, 9.1 for tours & 9.8 for general organisation - can't do much better!

thanks again

ANNE & MICHAEL

Conference Plus Ltd

Pathways House

Loom Lane

Radlett Herts

WD7 8NZ

TOPS - Tour Operators Promoting Sustainability

T O P S - Tour Operators Promoting Sustainability

Tour operators joining forces

The Rainforest Alliance recognizes the crucial role that tour operators play in supporting sustainable tourism development in the destinations where we work. Tour operators that share our belief that sustainable tourism can help conserve nature and generate sustainable livelihoods are welcome to become part of an international group of Tour Operators Promoting Sustainability (TOPS).

Over the years we have seen individual tour operators invest in sustainable tourism actions to help conserve nature and support host communities. By uniting our efforts, we foresee better coordination and effectiveness in the actions undertaken to support destinations in countries where the Rainforest Alliance and participating operators work. Unity is strength!

TOPS represents a platform from which tour operators can work together, transforming the way natural and cultural resources are utilized to provide sustainable tourism services, transforming  business practices to embrace conservation and community development, raising awareness and changing  consumer behavior.

Sharing and networking with likeminded companies

In addition to supporting sustainability efforts in key destinations that are relevant for their businesses, by becoming part of this joint effort, tour operators can:

·         Strengthen relationships with local and international colleague operators.

·         Access sustainability tools and training materials for management, staff and suppliers.

·         Participate in virtual and in-person seminars on diverse themes that will be hosted throughout the year (topics to be defined based on operators´ interests and priorities).

·         Contribute to a collaborative project to support a social or environmental cause selected by participating operators every year.

·         Share experiences with fellow operators working in different countries.

·         Generate business opportunities with operators equally committed to sustainable tourism development.

·         Jointly support socio-cultural and environmental projects in key tourism destinations.

·         Access an inventory of sustainable tourism suppliers in preferred destinations (updated every six months).

·         Enjoy a 10% discount in the fees associated with verification assessments for inbound operators.

·         Take advantage of discounted participation fees for in conferences and tradeshows.

·         Participate in familiarization trips to various destinations to meet sustainable suppliers and experience local sustainability initiatives first hand.

·         Post information about your commitment to source from sustainable tourism suppliers and your sustainability projects on the Rainforest Alliance´s SustainableTrip.org.

·         Improve your image and credibility by publicly committing to working with the Rainforest Alliance in fostering sustainable tourism and communicating how your claims are translated into actions.

·         Access ongoing virtual communication mechanisms to connect with a global community of companies and share experiences in sustainable tourism.

·         Attend an annual gathering of participating tour operators.

Demonstrating commitment to sustainability

All participating tour operators, apart from formally registering, must demonstrate their commitment to sustainable tourism by:

·         Undergoing a verification assessment by the Rainforest Alliance and achieving a level of compliance with sustainability requirements equal or greater than 50% of the totality or requirements and committing to achieve at least 70% compliance in the following verification assessment (for inbound operators - see more information about verification services in http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/tourism/verification). 

·         Signing an agreement with Rainforest Alliance committing to sourcing from sustainable suppliers: at least 30% of all suppliers in key destinations in the first year must be verified or certified, 50% during the second year and increasing percentages in the subsequent years to be determined (for inbound and outbound operators – see more information about sourcing agreements in http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/tourism/sourcing).  

·         Informing the Rainforest Alliance on progress towards achieving sustainability goals.

·         Participating operators will support the work of TOPS by making a charitable contribution of US$ 550 to the Rainforest Alliance, of which US$50 will be directly allocated towards a collaborative project to support a social or environmental cause selected by participating operators.

Communicating our support

The Rainforest Alliance will communicate the commitment participating operators have to helping achieve our mission by:

·         Attending and disseminating information at international conferences and events.

·         Developing and updating a brochure to be used by participating operators in international conferences and events.

·         Participating in special activities organized by operators and partner associations (e.g. road shows with travel agents in Germany in coordination with ARGE, CATA, etc.)

·         Informing regional and international organizations about TOPS sustainability initiatives.

·         Featuring a section about TOPS and participating operators on the Rainforest Alliance web site.

·         Organizing and participating with tour operators in press events.

Organization

The Rainforest Alliance will be responsible for the coordination of TOPS’ activities. A part time staff person will provide such support. An advisory group comprised of a representative from each country for inbound operators as well as regional representatives of outbound tour operators will serve as liaisons and lead the work in their respective geographic areas. An annual meeting of participating operators will be organized to discuss progress reports and to provide training opportunities for the participants.

Belize Feedback - Tour Operator from South Africa

I trust this e-mail finds you well. My two clients have returned from their trip to Belize, and by all accounts, they had a fantastic trip! Below please see some of their comments:

“The trip was really an awesome experience & we thoroughly enjoyed it. The daily activities (caving to snorkelling) were amazing & yes arrangements went as planned. Everything from the accommodation facilities, the warm & friendly people running the facilities, to our tour guides (Jose our ViaVenture representative was just remarkable), was absolutely perfect and made our trip a truly remarkable & memorable honeymoon. 

We also had the opportunity to meet with the couple that runs The Lodge at Chaa Creek (Micky & Lucy Fleming), a very warm & friendly couple. The Chaa creek staff were outstanding & made sure we felt their warm welcome.

The Island town of San Pendro was a perfect destination for relaxation, with our room at the Victoria Hotel providing some breath taking views, lots of sunshine & white sand beaches at our door step.

I honestly don’t believe there are enough words to describe this life-time experience. I would therefore like to thank you, your team and everyone involved in making this a truly incredible experience for us.”

I would like to thank you and everyone involved for making this trip such a huge success for my client – because without you, it simply would not have been possible.

I sincerely hope that we will be able to do business again in the future.

Until then, do take care!

Kindest Regards,

LATA Foundation Support Local Guatemalan Charity through Viaventure

Natural Cosmetics in Guatemala
The LATA Foundation provided all the start up costs to fund a cottage industry near Antigua to produce a range of natural cosmetics in conjunction with As Green as it Gets. Equipment included a 20 ton oil press to process coconut oil, cocoa butter and avocado oil, a filtration system and vacuum distiller, scales, blenders and all the necessary equipment for producing and packaging a range of products, including hand cream and a line of scented oils.

Case Study: Maria Benita
One of our projects team, Claire Betts of Last Frontiers, travelled to Guatemala recently on a trip hosted by Viaventure. They kindly arranged for her to meet up with As Green as it Gets. This is an edited extract of Claire’s report, the full version can be found on the LATA Foundation website:

'Hello, my name is Maria Benita' says the small figure in halting English. Maria Benita is shy and she takes some coaxing but within moments of talking to her you can tell how driven and determined she is. Thanks to the LATA Foundation and with the guidance of Franklin Vorhoes of As Green as it Gets, she started making a lip balm three years ago. Her original product, Maria Benita’s Lip Balm, is made from beeswax, mint and macadamia oil. She says it was a struggle at first, that she didn't know what she was doing or how to market her product. But with a lot of hard work and guidance she has gone on to sell over 3,500 lip balms and has branched out from the original vanilla flavour into other flavours.

As Green as it Gets has a small coffee shop, the Whiskey Den, which sells her lip balms and the other soaps, shampoos and creams produced as a result of LATA Foundation support. Maria herself visits Spanish schools in Antigua a couple of times a month and in a good afternoon can sell about twenty balms to foreign students. She can sell around another twenty at a fair trade market once or twice a month.

Maria Benita is still in her teens. She is studying sustainable tourism and English, studies which she now pays for herself. Thanks to her, the eleven members of the family household now have their first proper shower and a lavatory with running water. Her prospects are good. Until recently she had never used a computer, now she has her own e-mail account. Maria is hoping to start exporting to the United States soon.

The LATA Foundation will continue to watch – and report - her progress with interest.






Maria Benita’s Lip Balm We are delighted to introduce you to Maria Benita. Maria Benita’s Lip Balm made from beeswax and macadamia oil. The production process is supporting the Gonzalez family in beekeeping, a number of farmers in the production of macadamia nuts and the Pinzon family in processing the nuts to extract macadamia oil. By supporting local farmers in producing castor beans, aloe vera, cardamom, cacao, pine kernel, avocados and coffee fruit, by providing capital equipment and training processors, we are helping produce new products for which there is already a market. Maria has sold 3500 units to date. This has enabled her to install a proper shower and lavatory with running water in the family home. She is hoping to start exporting to the United States soon