The ATTA’s mission is to empower a global travel community to deliver experiences that protect natural and cultural capital while creating shared economic value. Our events, which bring together our vibrant, diverse community periodically throughout the year, are important to achieving our mission. As part of our commitment to sustainable tourism, our Events Sustainability Policy, adapted from the Global Sustainability Tourism Criteria strives to:

• Maximize social and economic benefits to the local community and minimize negative impacts
• Maximize benefits to cultural heritage and minimize negative impacts
• Maximize benefits to the environment and minimize negative impacts

In our agreements with event host partners, we collaborate to align the ATTA community's values and goals with that of the destination’s in order to purchase locally, conserve water, reduce plastic use, avoid food waste, and limit energy consumption and transport within the context of each event.

Recognizing that the travel sector contributes 8 percent of all global carbon emissions, we measure the carbon emissions associated with our events, including staff and delegate travel, and budget for a combination of carbon offsetting and removal of these emissions. (Carbon offsetting is a way of compensating for emissions by paying for emissions reductions elsewhere or by funding tree planting, for example. Carbon removal describes processes that result in carbon being taken out of the atmosphere and put into permanent storage.)

For the 2022 AdventureELEVATE in Eugene, Oregon, ATTA and our host partners, Eugene Cascades & Coast and Travel Oregon, have implemented the following measures to support overall event sustainability

• ATTA is measuring the emissions associated with staff travel, accommodation, and meals for the event, along with emissions stemming from Day of Adventure activities for both staff and delegates. ATTA will help offset and remove these emissions through through climate action tools available also to the broader community, Neutral Together and Tomorrow’s Air.
• Eugene, Oregon has been on the leading edge of sustainable cities. Learn more here: https://www.eugene-or.gov/509/Sustainability-in-Eugene

Here's how you can help!

Reuse

• Banners and other signage
• Badge holders and lanyards

Reduce

• Reduce paper handouts by going digital. If you must print, print locally, and source recycled, sustainably certified paper options
• Use recyclable materials such as cardboard for signage
• Leave no trace behind by shipping out all booth properties and packing materials and donating extra giveaways

Recycle

• Break down all cardboard boxes and put them in the hotel’s recycling area

Refuse

• Avoid foamcore signs and other materials that cannot be recycled

Giveaways

After 16 years of events, ATTA has received a lot of feedback about the kinds of giveaways that are appreciated and valued and those that are not because of either their environmental impact, or simply because they have received so many through the years. Consider this another opportunity to showcase your culture as well as your understanding of the adventure travel industry’s values around sustainability

Do’s

• Artisan made local crafts tied to your culture
• Edible treats, cookie, chocolates, tea, coffee
• Scarves, hats, especially locally made in your region
• Useful items like branded notebooks,
  pens, tote bags, hand sanitizers

Don’ts

• Reusable water bottles (they have said they now have enough)
• Luggage tags
• Items that won’t travel well because they are large or breakable
• Plastic trinkets, keychains

We would like to thank Switzerland Tourism for supporting our Sustainability efforts for AdventureELEVATE 2022 as part of their Swisstainable campaign.

Untouched nature touches our hearts. As a travel destination, Switzerland is synonymous with spectacular mountains, wild gorges and mystical forests; our nature has the power to provide energy. We aim to preserve this – for many generations to come.