Business Enterprises For Sustainable Travel
(BEST), a joint initiative of The Conference Board and the World Travel &
Tourism Council, today announced a new “BEST Traveler of The Month” award
program to regularly honor those travelers who have made extraordinary
contributions to the destinations they visit. The “BEST Traveler of the
Month” will be featured on BEST`s Web site: www.sustainabletravel.org.

BEST is a leading source of knowledge on sustainable practices that advance
the interests of the industry, travelers and destination communities. The
new award program will recognize an individual or group of visitors for
their exceptional civic travel practices.

The first “BEST Traveler of the Month” award honors the “New York City
Patriot Tour,” a group of 89 mostly retired individuals from Iowa, Wisconsin
and Minnesota, who traveled by bus to New York City one and a half weeks
after the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. At a time when
people were canceling plans to come to New York, they chose to go ahead with
their tour. Glenn`s Motor Coach Tours of Rochester, Minnesota organized the
trip.

“Even though we live 1,200 miles away, we are your neighbors. If it affects
you, it affects us and we encourage others to visit New York City. Our group
had a terrific experience here,” said Cheryle Haugen, the tour operator for
Glenn`s Motor Coach Tours, who coordinated the trip.

Melinda Marinoff, President and owner of New York Restaurant & Entertainment
Center, who designed this tour, commented, “By having visited New York, they
have inspired many others to follow in their footsteps.”

“Travelers do not check their values at the airport gate when they leave
home,” said Michael Seltzer, Director of BEST. “There are many opportunities
for travelers to contribute to the well-being of the communities they visit,
including patronizing local businesses, helping in efforts to preserve and
even restore the natural environment, and celebrating and honoring local
cultures. Our goal in honoring travelers is to educate others on how they
can take small and big steps to assist others when they go on the road. The
`New York City Patriot Tour` exemplifies how tourism can benefit communities
by lifting spirits and enhancing pride.”

BEST is accepting nominations for “BEST Traveler of the Month” citations.
Nominations can be posted on BEST`s Web site, where information on judgment criteria can also be found.

About BEST
Business Enterprises for Sustainable Travel (BEST) is the first
industry-specific initiative undertaken by The Conference Board
(www.conference-board.org) in its 84-year history. The Conference Board is
the world`s leading business and research organization, including more than
3,000 companies in 67 nations in its global network. BEST is co-sponsored by
the World Travel & Tourism Council (www.wttc.org), which provides
macroeconomic research data and forecasts. BEST serves as a leading source
of knowledge on innovative travel industry practices that advance the
interests of communities, businesses, and travelers. Its support comes from
the American Express Company, the Ford, Charles Stewart Mott and
Pettus-Crowe foundations, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and The New York
Community Trust. Information on BEST may be obtained by contacting The
Conference Board; phone 212-339-0335, or visit the following web site:
www.sustainabletravel.org.

 

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