El Nido Resorts made history as the top winner for Best Branded Accommodation for its innovative and inspirational activities. The inaugural Tourism InSPIRE (Industry’s Sustainability Practitioners Inspiring Responsibility and Excellence) Awards, hosted by the Tourism Promotions Board, was held during the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) New Tourism Frontiers Forum on November 27, 2015 in Legazpi City, Albay.
The award was presented to El Nido Resorts for its outstanding commitment to sustainable consumption and production (SCP) practices and existing internationally recognized sustainable tourism standards developed by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and ASEAN.
El Nido Resorts has taken great strides in making a sustainable and lasting impact to the community and environment. For over 32 years, it has demonstrated leadership in driving sustainable tourism in the Philippines. “We are inspired to get even better,” says Mariglo I. Laririt, Director of Environment and Sustainability.
Entries were from a wide range of tourism entities in 19 designated countries of European Commission-funded SWITCH-Asia program (Regional Policy Support Component)- Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, TPR Korea, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.
Other Awards categories were “Best Community-Based Tourism Initiative”, “Best Responsible Tourism Destination”, “Best Marine and Wildlife Tourism Provider”, “Best Cultural & Heritage Tourism Provider”, and “Best Independent Accommodation.” Winners exemplify use and application of sustainable consumption approaches (resource efficiency, value chain approach, eco-innovation, sustainable consumption, sustainability reporting, community action, cultural heritage, and collective impact).
Elaine is anywhere. She started her career as a Tourism Officer for the
Provincial Government of Isabela where she handled community-based projects in the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park. In 2013, she joined Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) and served as an Ecotourism Advisor in Samar. Her restless feet and heart took her to Africa, volunteering for an ecotourism project in the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe where she acquired a global perspective of tourism and development. Elaine has a degree in Tourism with a Graduate Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of the Philippines-Diliman. She is currently the Environmental Officer of Miniloc Island Resort advocating for sustainable tourism and dreams of a world full of responsible travelers. Indeed, Elaine is anywhere- doing what she loves and what is right.
Ten Knots Group Environment and Sustainability 
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