Sustainability will be one of the main topics on the agenda at ITB Berlin.

The world’s leading travel trade show will make use of its key role to promote a dialogue among companies in their effort to provide economically, socially and ecologically responsible tourism products and services.

The most important event setting the pace is the ITB CSR Day, which was launched successfully three years ago.

On March 10th leading figures from politics and science will be discussing innovative concepts, best practices and the economic potential of sustainable tourism.

Among the key topics will be Asia with its emerging markets, the question as to whether luxury is compatible with sustainability, and tourists’ preferences as regards CSR.

In this context, an empirical survey by Hochschule Chur will take a new look at how tourists make their decisions.

Business Travel Day

At the Business Travel Days from March 9th to 11th the initial findings of a pilot project carried out by the TÜV Rheinland Akademie, entitled Sustainable Business Travel in Berlin, will be released.

Among other topics, the Hospitality Day on March 10th will highlight concepts and evaluations concerning the environment and CSR.

Climate-friendly transport is an innovative trend which has an enormous potential in the tourism market. Consequently, and for the first time, ITB Berlin will hold an Eco-Mobility Day on Friday, March 11th, where transport experts will discuss the eco-mobility status quo.

An up-to-the-minute market survey by GfK will formulate motorists’ needs.

André Borschberg, chief executive of Solar Impulse, and Louis Palmer, the initiator, tour director and pilot of the well-known solar taxi will talk about best practices.

ITB Berlin is sponsoring a photovoltaic cell on the wing of the aircraft with which Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg will attempt the first solar-powered circumnavigation of the world in 2012.

The cell sponsored by ITB Berlin bears the number10498.