News | Robin Tauck

Sustaining Our Global Commitment To A Stronger Tourism Future

by Robin Tauck | Dec 29, 2022 | Robin Tauck

As 2022 comes to a close, and after my 50 years in this great industry, never have I been more confident. Following three challenging years we are united in strength and focus – we are building forward better, sustainably.

Speaking with over 20 global tourism leaders as part of my In Conversation Series in the last two years, I have been awed by not only their commitment to the industry, but of their unwavering leadership when doing so. These conversations provided incredible insight and a 360 viewpoint on a topic that is rarely addressed in metrics and implementation, despite it being the most critical element in our shared future. Our industry now understands that sustainability is not simply a piece of the greater puzzle – it must be the golden thread flowing through our strategies, product offerings, and financial welfare.

From the beginning of 2020 to the close of 2022, I as the Chair of Tourism Cares, the largest non-profit focused on sustainability in the travel industry, have seen first-hand the impact of sustainable, community driven initiatives. By protecting the people and places of our travel world we future-proof our industry. Sustainability is at the heart of doing good through business and is good for business. Enjoy this special montage of our conversations.

The future of travel is inspiring. As shifts in traveller activity create opportunities for sustainable growth unlike anything we’ve seen before, the need for us all to stay united has never been more important.

As I hand over the Chair of Tourism Cares, I am determined to continue advocating for ‘sustainability first’. We must all keep sustainability top of mind and close to heart. I’m proud to have so many colleagues and friends across the globe working with me as together we build forward better in ways we never could have imagined two decades ago.

Together we will continue to build forward better.

ROBIN TAUCK: IN CONVERSATION ON THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL – Episode 15

by Robin Tauck | Oct 20, 2022 | Robin Tauck

The US travel industry has long valued Tourism Cares as the #1 non profit for the Travel and Tourism industry focused on Sustainability. I am personally very proud of the people at hundreds of great companies who joined this non-profit over twenty years ago, since 2003 and who value its benefit now more than ever. Let’s have a conversation about that. Why is it so?

Travellers today are now looking to make an impact when they travel. Statistics show clearly that traveling responsibly, both before and after the Covid-19 Pandemic, is on an abrupt rise. They want to travel with companies that provide positive, not negative impact to the environment, our oceans and natural resources, wildlife and fauna, and to local communities. They seek positive, social integration and equality, favor authentic handmade traditions and crafts and wish to directly benefit local economies and enterprises.

In this episode of my ‘In Conversation’ Series, I am joined by Greg Takehara, CEO of Tourism Cares, a 20-year champion of the organisation and Malia Asfour the current Vice Chair, who will be taking over the helm as Chair of Tourism Cares in 2023. I have been honored to serve as Chairman and former Vice Chair of Tourism Cares since 2017 – nearly six years is a time of vast change and forward momentum in “doing the right thing” and aligning one of the greatest industries in the world.

In our conversation, we discuss – what’s next for Tourism Cares as Malia becomes Chair – new growth concepts. Listen in! And, we discuss the many ways in which Tourism Cares has advanced the industry to sustainable, and more meaningful travel, and education with new tools for the Sustainable Journey.

The first is our newly created Meaningful Travel Map, currently featuring North America, Colombia and Jordan, where “tour operators and travel advisors find vetted, authentic product that fuels impact into destinations around the world.” The maps are available free online.

The second is our Meaningful Travel Platform, which provides a plethora of professional online courses on Sustainability, all free training and resources to our Tourism Cares members. Members can be accredited by completing a series of courses. New courses, such as “What is Sustainability” and the “Guide to Indigenous Tourism” are popular.

Third, is the Sustainability Help Desk (SHeD), where members can ask questions and get advice on their professional sustainability journey, best practices, and strategy.

These new resources are fantastic, and are a natural fit for Tourism Cares, an organisation that has always brought travel and tourism together to be a force for change in communities, to enhance Social, Cultural, Economic and Environmental Sustainability..

At Tourism Cares we fundamentally believe we can change the world through travel. Meaningful travel has the power to shift the needle for a better tomorrow. Let’s Build Forward Better together.

Please enjoy our Leadership Conversation at Tourism Cares. And dream what can be!

World Tourism Day 2022 – Rethinking Tourism

by Robin Tauck | Sep 21, 2022 | Uncategorized

As the UNWTO’s World Tourism Day 2022 is upon us, it is easy to get distracted with the ‘are we there yet?’. Two years have passed in what feels like an instant, yet everything has changed. As tourism numbers steadily climb to pre-pandemic levels and more and more destinations fully open up to tourism once again, I reflect on this year’s theme for World Tourism Day: Rethinking Tourism.

For the last year and a half, I have spoken about the importance of Building Forward Better. Not the same, not back to how it was before, but better. We have been given a Masterclass by Mother Nature herself, allowing us time to reflect on the issues we were facing in travel and tourism such as over tourism and sustainability, with time and new focus to rethink and change the way we operate.

As Chair of Tourism Cares, the industry’s largest non-profit focused on sustainability, we work every day to unite the industry to make a positive, measurable change in social and environmental actions – all aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

As an industry, we must rethink how we work together to help local economies, protect natural environments, and keep cultures and communities strong. We must rethink our offerings to travellers, providing our customers with ways of travel that contribute rather than dilute the destinations on their bucket lists. Finally, we must rethink our own travels, as we take off our industry hats and put on that of tourist. It is not enough for us to talk the talk as leaders in this industry, we must lead by example.

For this year’s World Tourism Day I have put together a call-to-action video message that I hope inspires you and your networks to rethink tourism as we build forward better together. On September 27th, and every day after, I invite you to join me, and Tourism Cares, in our efforts to create change, build forward better, and rethink tourism for a brighter, more sustainable, tomorrow.

ROBIN TAUCK: IN CONVERSATION ON THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL – Episode 14

by Robin Tauck | Aug 15, 2022 | Robin Tauck

Back in 2019, which now seems long ago, I had the honour of visiting Puerto Rico with over 150 Tourism Cares members. Although our time on the island was brief, the lessons learned from the island’s social enterprises, community organisations and our time on the Centro de Microempresas y Tecnologías Agrícolas Sustentables Yauco (CMTAS, a Puerto Rican community farm), have stuck with me.

From food sovereignty and the importance of agritourism, to the challenges and prioritisation of localising the tourism value chain, Puerto Rico was a brilliant case study on the future of sustainability, particularly in protecting the economy, jobs, community infrastructure, and the environment amidst crisis and uncertainty. It was commendable to see how key the community was, and remains, especially as a central partner in destination strength and advancement, whatever challenges this beautiful island destination faces.

In the latest episode of my In Conversation Series, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Brad Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico. Brad has repeatedly proven himself as a courageous, impactful and inspiring leader through natural disasters and global pandemics alike.

Discover Puerto Rico is a brilliant example for us all in learning how to innovate, communicate, and cooperate with private, government, and non-profits on the island for not only a positive tourism future, but a positive and sustainable island future.

Please enjoy.

ROBIN TAUCK: IN CONVERSATION ON THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL – Episode 13

by Robin Tauck | Jul 25, 2022 | Robin Tauck

Canada has always been an important destination for travellers across the globe – a country offering unique, breathtaking natural and cultural beauty, with a warm welcome from Canadians from coast to coast to coast that always makes travellers feel ‘at home’.

In advance of Tourism Cares’s next Meaningful Travel Summit in Victoria, Canada next month – September 28th to 30th – I am very excited to share my next episode of my ‘In Conversation’ series with one of Canada’s great tourism industry leaders, Beth Potter, President & CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC).

She is a colleague and friend I admire for, most recently, her tireless efforts in inspiring the industry to ‘build forward better’. Enjoy.

Please enjoy.

ROBIN TAUCK: IN CONVERSATION ON THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL – Episode 12

by Robin Tauck | Mar 15, 2022 | Robin Tauck

How proud we are we. The United States Travel Industry generates a total of $2.6 trillion in economic output and vows to put Sustainability #1 for the future.

With 1 out of 10 American jobs are dependent on travel and tourism. It has never been more important to protect our industry, and our workers, particularly as we build forward better to create a stronger, more sustainable world.

Listen in to the latest episode of my In Conversation Series with USTA CEO Roger Dow – the brilliant, long-standing leader who sees “The Future” in $ billions of travel demand for Sustainable, Responsible Travel. We discuss the global impact of U.S. tourism and the responsibility we have to see “Sustainability and Survivability as One.”

Great companies and destinations are leading the way, and the non-profit Tourism Cares stands with USTA. Thank you Roger!

Please enjoy.

ROBIN TAUCK: IN CONVERSATION ON THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL – Episode 11

by Robin Tauck | Mar 1, 2022 | Robin Tauck

Travelling during the past couple of years has certainly been an experience. I have taken flights both domestically and internationally, through different periods of the global pandemic. It was important to me not to stop travelling, just to travel safer. How can we, as leaders in this industry, give advice to our customers if we haven’t experienced the highs and lows and protocol hoops for ourselves?

In the latest episode of my In Conversation Series, I spoke briefly about these recent adventures in flying and my awe at how the airlines have stepped up on customer experience during such a tumultuous time.

The aviation industry has been at the forefront investing and innovating in this space longer than most. In the last two years, particularly, we in travel and tourism have seen the impact on destinations that depend on those airplanes carrying international visitors – providing jobs to locals and needed dollars to local economies.

In my conversation with Norma Dean, Director of Specialty Sales at Delta Air Lines and Jim Magrath, General Manager of Specialty Sales at Delta Air Lines and a Board Member at Tourism Cares, we explore how Delta took used these uncertain times as an opportunity to strengthen the travel experience, improve standards toward the goal of Net Zero emissions by 2030, and improve lives in the communities and places where Delta staff work in.

Much like us all, the aviation industry still has work to do. Together we can learn from the lessons we’ve been given, building forward better in partnership for a brighter tomorrow.

Enjoy.

ROBIN TAUCK: IN CONVERSATION ON THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL – 2022

by Robin Tauck | Feb 14, 2022 | Robin Tauck

Of all my great loves, travel and tourism have been a lifelong treasured experience. I have had the privilege of being a traveller, visiting thousands of incredible places all over the globe, creating dream experiences, as a family owner and leader of Tauck. One of the most rewarding career aspects, is working to protect the destinations and people where we all travel to, through my work in the past with the National Park Service, UNESCO World Heritage, and currently as Chairman of Tourism Cares.

Working within the Travel & Tourism industry throughout all these years has had many highs, many heartbreaks, but the relationships made and experiences had, have made it all my greatest honour.

I love this special episode! It is the best of my In Conversation Series bringing together the industry’s most passionate leaders as they discuss the future of their own love of Travel & Tourism. From sustainability to change and optimism, their words left me feeling inspired and motivated about our need to “Build Forward Better.” – in a new Generation of Travel.

What we love most about travel and its positive impact on the World; will now be enhanced by collective industry efforts to mitigate any and all negative impacts on the Planet and its Peoples. Discovering new destinations, meeting new people, protecting our resources and providing health and wellness for all is, after all Love — at its very essence.

Please enjoy.

CLOSING 2021 REFLECTING ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CONVERSATION

by Robin Tauck | Dec 20, 2021 | Robin Tauck

As we close 2021, it is easy to get a sense of 2022 being a continuation of the year just past. While our world continues to move forward with hope and confidence that this pandemic chapter of our lives will soon close, the new year will bring challenges, just in different ways. My blog today includes “a crystal ball” by several top travel leaders, all “In Conversation” about our future.

This year-end holiday season, many across our Travel and Tourism industry, especially those on the front line including tour operators, travel agents, airline and cruise sales representatives – all of the millions of dedicated people working with travelers, continue to help them reconnect with loved ones and the world, during an Omicron surge. It has not been easy. Hope, however, remains. And I remain hopeful.

The coming year has created reasons for optimism: reasons for reconnection; reasons for conversation; and reasons for change – in how we live, how we work, how we travel. Across our industry leaders espouse their true active commitment to ensure we do not fast-forward into a new world of travel without ensuring the future of travel is truly sustainable – economically, socially, culturally, and environmentally. We must stay united, focused, and show that Travel & Tourism is a force for good for people and places across the world; and can be carbon neutral and enhance the wellbeing of humanity.

With global travel resuming mid-year 2021, I launched 9 Video Episodes: IN CONVERSATION ON THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL – a series of brief conversations with incredible industry leaders from across the world that I am blessed to know personally as peers and friends.

Watch 11 Leaders discuss the Future of Travel

The conversations we’ve had have been remarkable. I am grateful for each one – each conversation providing rich insight into their unique perspectives on how we as an industry come together to build forward, keeping sustainability at the heart of our efforts. I found them to be a great source of inspiration, direction, and importantly, connection. What really stood out for me was how generous each and every leader was in sharing their point of view around the priorities of our industry going forward. Launched with a conversation with cruise sector expert Kelly Craighead, the CEO of CLIA, the series continued. Conversations included talking about the importance of the role of media with respected journalists Arnie Weissmann, Travel Weekly (also a Tourism Cares Board Member) and James Shillinglaw, examining the critical role of Travel Agents with Zane Kirby, CEO of ASTA, talking with UNWTO Special Advisor to the Secretary General and Tourism Cares Board Member, Anita Mendiratta, about the importance of UN World Tourism Day in uniting the global community around the power of our industry, each conversation was a refreshing take on what matters to us all.

Some conversations focused on measuring impact in SUSTAINABILITY – our industry-wide call to action. I so enjoyed my conversations with Randy Durband, the CEO of GSTC, and Jessica Upchurch, Virtuoso’s Vice-Chair & Sustainability Strategist, both leaders who have dedicated their life’s work to embedding sustainability into the DNA of a broad spectrum of travel sectors.

In honor of Giving Month, I really enjoyed my conversation with former Tourism Cares Chairmen: MaCher’s founder and CEO, Derek Hydon and Dan Sullivan, CEO of Collette about the importance of providing financial and technical support and helping others on Sustainability Journey. When it came to making a lifetime of difference, I very happily and very proudly had a conversation with my father – Arthur Tauck, now 90 yrs. old, the founder and former Chair of USTOA and Tourism Cares, in our Thanksgiving episode. We all still have so much to be grateful for and to share our life’s learnings thru adversity, perseverance, and vision.

The theme was consistent: We must do this together – as an Industry, focused on building forward better.

Finally, to close 2021’s leadership conversations, Terry Dale, President of USTOA spoke about the importance of USTOA, convening the tourism industry for 50 years, through good times and bad, as 700 leaders in December gathered in person for the USTOA Annual Conference, all working towards a common end goal: a huge restart 2022-23 and protecting, promoting, and preserving the people and places who are the heartbeat of travel.

For 2022, we now work together, closer than ever, towards common goals – a bittersweet gift of the Pandemic. It is vital we ensure that our shared world remains focused on the future of our industry. Thank you for being a part of this journey and helping to build forward better, together.

I look forward to all that we will share in 2022, as we build forward better as one travel community focused on one common goal: making travel and tourism a force for good, for all. Happy New Year.

ROBIN TAUCK: IN CONVERSATION ON THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL – Episode 9

by Robin Tauck | Dec 6, 2021 | Robin Tauck

It takes vision, commitment, determination and compassion to lead an industry through times of strength as well as crisis. For 50 Years U.S. Tour Operator’s Association, USTOA, has been doing exactly that – inspiring its membership of tour operators and supporting business leaders to come together to create, collaborate and strengthen this incredible community.

USTOA is recognized by travel advisors, consumers and the press as the standard of excellence and leading association of its kind, making a real, meaningful difference to people and places worldwide through its buying power of, in 2019, over $19 billion in travel packages taking over 9.8 million travelers across the globe.

As this special time of celebration for USTOA’s 50th Anniversary, I am focusing the year-end episode of my ‘In Conversation’ Leadership Series to this great organization.

I was honored to sit down with Terry Dale, President of the USTOA as well as a longstanding Board Member of Tourism Cares, to discuss the challenges of the past two years, but also how this community has given back.

My father, Arthur Tauck – former Chairman of USTOA as well as Tourism Cares, joins us as a surprise guest, recalling the founding of USTOA almost 50 years ago, and saluting Terry’s leadership.

I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did.

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