FITUR 2021 sustainability awards
For the second edition of the Sustainable Stand Award, the jury chose Vectalia, Paradores, SEGITTUR, Argentina, the Balearic Islands, Asturias, Canary Islands, and the Costa Rican Tourism Institute.
FITUR Tourism Recovery Special announced the winners of the Second Sustainable Stand Awards, organised in partnership with the Responsible Tourism Institute (ITR). It aims to acknowledge and highlight exhibitors’ efforts to demonstrate their alignment with the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals that will be a feature of the sector’s recovery.
The awards went to the stands by Vectalia, Paradores, SEGITTUR, Argentina, the Balearic Islands, Asturias, Canary Islands and Costa Rica. They all shared a common feature: to be environmentally friendly in what they leave behind by using recyclable materials and fully renewable energy sources.
In addition, a highlight of Vectalia’s sustainability approach was its donation of a thousand trees to the stand’s visitors, with a traceability mechanism to track the destination of these trees. This initiative was a novel way to offset its carbon footprint, with a particularly valuable educational aspect.
Singular Features
The jury members were tourism and sustainability experts. They also highlighted certain unique features of the different approaches, such as displaying an information panel about the destination and future use of all the building materials used for the Paradores stand, an exercise in both disclosure and transparency. Another was the use of Braille signage throughout the Segittur stand. Argentina’s stand eliminated 98% of disposable materials, while the Balearic Islands’ stand removed architectural barriers.
At the stands of Asturias, the Canary Islands and Costa Rica, the most relevant aspect was choosing appropriate materials to promote recycling and reuse.
These awards also highlighted the work that IFEMA MADRID has been doing for some years now to improve the impact of its business activity on its social and natural environment while passing on these values to exhibitors, companies and visitors participating in the fairs and events held at its venues. In addition, Fitur, like all Ifema events, is ISO 20121 certified for sustainable events.