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| Downtown Portland at Nightfall, taken from my iPhone... |
Recently I returned from Portland, OR where I attended The International Ecotourism Society's (TIES) conference, 'Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference' or 'ESTC10' for short. Founded in 1990, TIES has been in the forefront of the development of ecotourism, providing guidelines and standards, training, technical assistance, research and publications. TIES' global network of ecotourism professionals and travelers is leading the efforts to make tourism a viable tool for conservation, protection of bio-cultural diversity, and sustainable community development.
The ESTC is North America’s largest and only conference focusing on sustainability in the tourism industry. My longtime friend and colleague, Hunter McIntosh, of The Boat Company, got me involved in a panel discussion at this year's ESTC.
We participated in a panel discussion consisting of Hunter McIntosh of The Boat Company, Dave Parker or Orvis Travel, myself (Robert Glenn Ketchum) and Larry Edwards from Greenpeace USA. The topic of the panel was 'How To Build Win-Win Partnerships For Your Business and Community'.
Specifically, I was at the conference to speak about my relationship with The Boat Company which goes back nearly 25-years. They supported my work in the Tongass and the distribution of the Tongass book on Capitol Hill as well as an exhibit at the National Museum of Natural History. Our working relationship is an example of a sustainable tourism business partnering with an individual through many different ways, but purposefully to protect the geographic area in which they were running their tourism business. Our partnership had many significant effects, not the least of which was helping to pass the largest timber reform bill in American history.
Oh, and by the way, The Boat Company is a non-profit educational organization offering luxury eco-cruises through Southeast Alaska. They specialize in treating the needs and wishes of each guest effortlessly. Hikers, fishermen, sightseers, and all sorts of outdoor adventurers are in heaven with The Boat Company. I have been on their boats many times. They are without a doubt one of the very best ways you might ever see the Tongass. The dining, especially fresh catch is AWESOME. The guides know all the secret trails and coves. And... they can deal with your kids! At 8 and 11, my two children did their first trip. Now they are whining to go back.
Oh, and by the way, The Boat Company is a non-profit educational organization offering luxury eco-cruises through Southeast Alaska. They specialize in treating the needs and wishes of each guest effortlessly. Hikers, fishermen, sightseers, and all sorts of outdoor adventurers are in heaven with The Boat Company. I have been on their boats many times. They are without a doubt one of the very best ways you might ever see the Tongass. The dining, especially fresh catch is AWESOME. The guides know all the secret trails and coves. And... they can deal with your kids! At 8 and 11, my two children did their first trip. Now they are whining to go back.
#rgk
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