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ABOUT US
ECOCLUB® - International Ecotourism Club™
promotes social &
ecological change through & within Tourism. It is an
acclaimed social
network with Members,
individuals & organisations worldwide.
We support the philosophy and practice of
Ecosocially Just Tourism / Social Ecotourism worldwide. We
participate in tourism policy & decision-making processes, conferences
and the worldwide progressive movement.
On a day to day basis, we act as an alternative, low-cost ecotourism
consultancy, promoting environmentally-friendly holiday options & related
services,
supporting ecotourism practitioners, academics and students, offering resources
such as specialist news coverage, networking and career opportunities,
information about upcoming events, new publications, consultancy and
funding opportunities and much more. We also promote
quality cooperative, eco and organic products through the
ECOCLUB.com Shop.
The ECOCLUB.com Team is co-directed
by Antonis B. Petropoulos & Frosso K. Dimitrakopoulou. ECOCLUB
was founded as a private company on July 1, 1999 and is based in Athens, Greece, European
Union, while our website, ECOCLUB.com was launched in early 2000. Our correspondence address is: ECOCLUB S.A. PO BOX 65232, PSIHICO,
ATHENS 154 10, GREECE. The word and mark ECOCLUB®
is a registered trademark of ECOCLUB S.A. Contact us
MILESTONES
- October 2009: Director speaks at the "Ecotourism in Europe - The
Challenge of Quality Certification" Conference organised in the context
of
ECO-DESTINET, a program co-funded by the European Union which aims
to create a European Ecotourism Labelling Standard (EELTS) and reviews
the draft EELTS criteria.
- 1 July 2009: ECOCLUB Celebrates 10th Anniversary and holds live
online winning ceremony of the
6th Annual ECOCLUB.com
Ecotourism Awards, which will fund, following a democratic member
vote, community eco projects in Peru, Guyana and Honduras.
- May 2009: Director makes a live virtual presentation on "Social
Ecotourism as a small-scale, local solution, to large-scale, global
problems" at the
International EcoFest in Dominica, a green travel & trade event
organised by our Member, Jem Winston.
- March 2009: Director interviews
Brian Tokar,
leading Social Ecology advocate, and Director of the Institute of
Social Ecology, Vt. United States.
- January 2009: Director makes a live virtual presentation on "Marketing
Ecolodges in an Ecological, Ethical & Effective Way"
at the Responsible Tourism Marketing Conference, of the
International
Centre for Responsible Tourism, University of Leeds, United Kingdom
- December 2008: Award-winning journalist
Angus Begg
represents ECOCLUB, at the
Travelers'
Philanthropy Conference in Arusha, Tanzania, also making a
presentation about the ECOCLUB.com Ecotourism Awards.
- November 2008: A. Petropoulos appears on veteran reporter's
Makis Nodaros show on
Greece's
Ionion FM to comment on the new proposed Land use plan for
Tourism.
- October 2008: A. Petropoulos coordinates the
"Tourism & Ecology"
Conference in Chania, Crete, visits sites threatened by tourism
development in the Chania prefecture as part of an
Ecologists-Greens delegation and participates in joint meeting with
the municipal council of Inahorio. Later that month, Director speaks at an
ecotourism
event in Samos island and appears live on 4 local radio stations.
- September 2008: ECOCLUB Director interviewed on Greek National Radio
(NET
105.8 FM) on the occasion of the World Tourism Day; speaks of the urgent
need to greenify rather than further develop Greek tourism and presents
some key related proposals. Coordinates Tourism & Transport Seminar
for Ecologist-Greens members in Athens, conducted by experts from the
European Parliament.
- August 2008: ECOCLUB Director interviewed by Tom Eves, for
Ecotourism feature in "Badges", the Monthly Magazine of
The Hong Kong Jockey Club,
established in 1884, and today one of the largest racing organisations
and charity donors in the world.
- August 2008: ECOCLUB.com appointed Media Partner of the
Ecotourism & Sustainable Tourism Conference
to be held in Vancouver, Canada, October 27-29, 2008
- July 2008: ECOCLUB Director speaks about Ecological Tourism
in the central square of the city of Pylos, Greece, as Coordinator of
the Tourism Thematic Group of the Ecologists-Greens
party of Greece.
- July 2008: ECOCLUB Director
appears live on SKAI TV, a leading Greek network, in the "Eco News"
show presenting the Ecologists-Greens positions on the forest policy of the Greek
government, one year after the mega-fires of the summer of 2007.
- July 2008: First two lodges, in Dominica & Belize
receive ECOCLUB Rating.
- July 2008: ECOCLUB Director speaks at the
European Greens / EFA
high level Conference on
Tourism & Climate Change at the European
Parliament in Brussels.
- June 2008: 5th Annual ECOCLUB.com Ecotourism
Awards held.
- May 2008: ECOCLUB Director, member of the Greek Greens
delegation which visits villages in the Peloponnese destroyed by the
mega-fires of August 2007 and discusses ecological reconstruction
solutions with the municipal and prefectural authorities.
- April 2008: ECOCLUB.com appointed Media Partner of the
Travelers' Philanthropy Conference, organised by CESD, to be held
in Arusha, Tanzania, December 3-5, 2008
- February 2008: ECOCLUB becomes Business Supporter of the
International Vegetarian
Union (est.1908)
- January 2008: ECOCLUB Director appointed Coordinator of
the Tourism Thematic Group of the Greek Green Party (Oikologoi-Prasinoi) and a
Moderator of the party's online Forum.
- December 2008: 4th annual ECOCLUB.com Ecotourism
Awards successfully completed.
- November 2007: Mintel International Report
"Eco-accommodation, Travel & Tourism Analyst No.20" (Report
Details) showcases ECOCLUB as one of just two "internet-based
marketing agencies of niche alternative tourism worldwide" that "build
constituencies" and as "self-sustaining businesses based on the
marketing of goods and services as well as drivers for the building of
a sustainable model of tourism". An interview with the ECOCLUB Director
also appears in this special report. Three ECOCLUB Members are also
showcased in the report out of a total of just 9 ecotourism businesses
worldwide.
- November 2007: Director
interviewed
by Planeta.com, the global journal of practical ecotourism.
- October 2007: Following complaints from Medasset, an
environmental NGO, over the harassment of protected sea turtles from
tourist boats in Zakynthos National Marine Park in Greece, ECOCLUB
intervenes and written dialogue ensues between the NGO, ECOCLUB and the
National Marine Park. The latter counters most of the allegations but
recognises that there are still problems and promises to continue to
work towards their solution.
- September 2007: Director a keynote speaker at the
"Activities & Recreation" Conference organised by
Tallinn
University and the Estonian Olympic
Committee, Tallinn, Estonia, 21 Sep. 2007.
- July 2007: ECOCLUB.com appointed Media Partner of the
North American Ecotourism
Conference, Madison, Wisconsin, 26-28 Sep. 2007.
- June 2007: 4th Annual ECOCLUB.com Ecotourism
Awards held.
- May 2007: Director speaks at the
Global Ecotourism
Conference, Oslo, Norway on "Defining & Uniting the Ecotourism
Movement through Improved Communication".
- April 2007: ECOCLUB.com appointed Media Partner of the
4th IIPT African
Conference, Kampala, Uganda, May 20-25, 2007
- March 2007: ECOCLUB.com appointed Supporting Media for the
Lao Ecotourism
Forum "Bridging the Mekong Region" 26-29 July 2007
- March 2007: ECOCLUB.com one of just 7 Finalists at the
prestigious 14th World Travel
Awards in the "World's Leading Responsible Tourism Website"
category.
- March 2007: ECOCLUB represented by Malaysian Member Mr
Albert Teo of Sukau Rainforest Lodge
at the UNCTAD Asia-Pacific
E-Tourism for Growth Conference held in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.
- January 2007: ECOCLUB moves to new offices in downtown
Athens.
- January 2007: Director accepted as a Lifetime Member of the
World Leisure
Organisation
- December 2006 - May 2007: Director participates in a Greek
Ministry of Tourism Working Group to evaluate the new "Marketing
Strategy and Tourism Branding of Greece"
- December 2006: Co-Director featured in
Young Leaders
of the Greek Economy 2007 Directory.
- November 2006: Appointed Media Partner of the
Global Ecotourism
Conference, to take place in Oslo, Norway in May 2007.
- October 2006: Director speaks at the
World Leisure Congress
in Hangzhou, China, as a panellist in the Leisure & Sustainable
Environments plenary session.
- July 2006: Appointed Industry Partner of
Adventures in Travel Expo,
Sydney, Australia, 24-26 November 2006.
- May-June 2006: ECOCLUB.com Ecolodge
Awards 2006, are held, funding eco-projects in Ecuador, Guatemala
and Malaysia.
- April 2006: Included in
The
Ethical Travel Guide, a best-selling guide written by Polly Patullo
and Orely Minelli, published by Earthscan for
Tourism Concern. UK
daily. 'The
Independent' also recognises ECOCLUB.com as 'Starting point' for
ethical travel in Greece.
- March 2006: Director attends UN WTO's
ST-EP meeting at ITB in Berlin.
Director participates in the 1st joint meeting / luncheon between the
Association of Greek Tourist Enterprises and the Standing Committee on
Production & Trade Committee of the
Greek Parliament,
in Athens.
- February 2006: ECOCLUB S.A. accepted as a Member of the
Association of Greek
Tourist Enterprises, which unites the most influential tourism
enterprises in Greece.
- December 2005: ECOCLUB.com listed in both the Ethical &
Green Topics and Travel & Holidays Categories of
The
Good Web Site Guide 2006 a best-selling guide published by
HarperCollins
- December 2005: ECOCLUB.com a Supporter of WWF
International's
PowerSwitch
Campaign
- December 2005: ECOCLUB.com Ecolodge
Project in Karnataka, India successfully completed.
- November 2005: Mass circulation magazine
Transitions Abroad (USA)
requests and is granted permission to republish entire
ECOCLUB
Interview with Bill Tuffin on Ecotourism in Laos.
- October 2005: ECOCLUB presented as "model of best practice"
at the IIPT 3rd Global
Summit on Peace through Tourism, which will took place in Pattaya,
Thailand.
- July 2005: ECOCLUB accepted as Endorsing Organization of
the World Tourism Directory
- July 2005: ECOCLUB appointed
Supporting
Organisation of IIPT 3rd Global Summit on Peace through Tourism.
- June 2005: Included as one of four Internet Resources in
"USAID &
Sustainable Tourism, Meeting Development Objectives" (p.116)
- June 2005: ECOCLUB showcased on Athens'
Radio Epikinonia 94 FM.
In a 30 minute show of the series "Nature & Nutrition" by Athena
Perraki, ECOCLUB Director presented ECOCLUB's Ecotourism philosophy and
practice.
- June 2005: ECOCLUB exhibits at the first major
Environmental Fair in Athens, ECOLIFE
2005, at the Athens Olympic Stadium. Over 1,700 people actually
enter the ECOCLUB stand and talk with our team.
- May 2005: ECOCLUB.com included in
Guide to Best Practices in Tourism and Destination
Management, Vol. 2, issued by the American Hotel & Lodging
Association's Educational Institute.
- April 2005: ECOCLUB.com is
"Best Responsible Tourism Site Winner 2005"
at the Travel & Tourism Web Awards organised by
TravelMole and
sponsored by Worldspan.
- March 2005: ECOCLUB Director invited to high-level
conference & roundtable on Sustainable Tourism in Greece, organised
by the British Embassy in Greece.
- March 2005:
Frommer's Budget Travel Magazine includes
ECOCLUB.com as one of two sources one can trust when selecting an
Ecolodge.
- January 2005:
The Guardian selects ECOCLUB.com as one of 8 Green
Travel Directories
- December 2004: ECOCLUB / Ranweli
Project completed.
- June-July 2004: First Annual
ECOCLUB Ecolodge
Award 2004 Competition held. After a Members vote, the
project
proposed by Ranweli
Holiday Village of Sri Lanka, becomes first winner. The project
involves the creation of a greenhouse and organic farm for a School,
and will be implemented within 6 months with a Euros 500 grant from
ECOCLUB.
- May 2004: Director visits award-winning Members in
South
India.
- May 2004: ECOCLUB.com was one of the four finalist
websites, short listed in the
Travel & Tourism Web Awards organised by
TravelMole, in
the "Responsible Tourism" category.
- February 2004: ECOCLUB.com chosen as a Winner in the "Best
Practice Awards in Tourism & Destination Management", in the
Sustainable Tourism Category, by
Georgia Tech's Economic Development Institute
(USA)
- November 2003: ECOCLUB.com
recognised as one of "two key websites" and a "good starting place for
those interested in community-based travel with a focus on ecotourism"
Transitions Abroad.
- September 2003: Director
submits paper to the European Union in the context of the formulation
of a new policy on "Basic orientations for the sustainability of
European tourism" is accepted (can be found at the
official
site of the EU.)
- July 2003:
The Guardian (UK)
newspaper (19/7/2003 issue, Travel Guardian)
chooses ECOCLUB.com as one of three sources for
"accredited ecotourism destinations and tour providers" and features 8
ECOCLUB.com Ecolodge Members !
- May 2003: Director a
Panellist at the
European
Union Environmental Governance Conference, Volos, Greece and
Exhibitor at the same Conference.
- May 2003: Selected by
Corriere Della Serra
Newspaper (Italy) ("Sul Web le ferie per lo spirito" May 12)
- April 2003:
ECOCLUB, the Print Edition of our
monthly magazine is launched.
- April 2003:
ECOCLUB.com
welcomes first two Sponsors
- March 2003:
Selected for the 'Internet & Travel' Guide,
published by the mass-circulation Kathimerini Newspaper, Greece
- March 2003:
Director co-authors an "Ecuador
Ecotourism White Paper" which is later presented to the Government of
Ecuador
- January 2003:
Appointed "Co-Sponsor" of the IATOS
2003 World Congress, Business Marketing and Global Strategies
Conference Tracks, Chicago, USA, Feb 19/23, 2003
- January 2003:
Reviewed
in the Chicago Tribune
- August 2002:
Reviewed by the Wall Street Journal
- March 2002:
ECOCLUB.com
is invited to participate in the Working Group for "Development of a
draft Commission Decision establishing the ecological criteria for the
award of the European Community Eco-label for tourist accommodation"
- March 2002:
Accepted as Partner Organisation of the OneWorld
Network
- October 2001:
Director visits
award-winning Ecolodge Members the Black Sheep Inn, in Ecuador
- September 2001:
Director
presents paper on "Ecolodge Internet Promotion" at the Ecotour Amazonia
2001 Conference, Manaus Brazil - September 2001
- August 2001:
Director
talks "live" on BBC World Service Radio for a "Talking Point" Show on
Tourism
- August 2001:
Director interviewed as "Face of Ecotourism" by
the Ecotourism Observer
- October 2000:
ECOCLUB.com becomes a
Three Year Supporting Institution of The International Ecotourism
Society
- 21 March 2000: ECOCLUB.com website
officially launched on the first day of Spring.
- January 2000: ECOCLUB opens the new
millennium by adopting a bear called Wesna for 1 year. Wesna had been
evacuated by environmentalists from the Belgrade Zoo to the
Arktouros Refuge in
Nymfaio in Northern Greece, during the NATO bombing campaign
against what was then Yugoslavia.
PRESS & TESTIMONIALS
"My hearty congratulations on your annual Awards ceremony
and 10-year anniversary!"
- Arq. Hector Ceballos
Lascurain, Director General,
PICE, Mexico, July 2009
"Congratulations on 10 years of ECOCLUB!...From my
perspective it's an absolute pleasure dealing with such a
professionally run, passionate, innovative and informative
organisation. Thank-you for your marvellous work and
thank-you for the Award which will make a big difference
very soon for the Peruvian community of Chichubamba."
- JJane Crouch, Responsible Travel Manager,
Intrepid Travel, Australia - July
2009
"I wanted to thank
you for your efforts with sustainable and responsible travel, and for
giving us an outlet to encourage people to follow responsible travel
opportunities"span>
- Chosen as one of
"20 favourite responsible travel sites"
-
V. Ronco,
DreamBank,
Canada, March 2009
"A great source of information I have always used"
- J.
Schonharl,
ECOT,
Chiangmai, Thailand, February 2009
"Many thanks for taking care of the indigenous Khow and Kalash
communities. I do hope that the reverent ECOCLUB under your leadership
will continue its support to protect the cultural heritage and natural
environment of the people in the Hindu Kush and to developing it into
potential tourism products in future."
- Shams Uddin,
CAMAT Chitral, Pakistan, January 2009
"No doubt the publicity we received through Ecoclub (for the ESTC 2008
conference) was an important factor in making it such a well-attended
event. Thank you very much for your generous support"
- Ayako
Ezaki, Director of Communications,
The
International Ecotourism Society (TIES), November 2008
"We are very happy to be part of Ecoclub, it has been
very useful for us, not just with the award but also in finding staff.
We are also looking now for business partners in other countries and so
I will be using your bulletin board again soon! In the meantime thanks
to you and your members for making our project possible."
- Debby Watkins, Director, Carpe Diem Travel, January
2008
"Ecoclub has inspired me to create more than just a bed
and breakfast for tourists in upstate New York. With the guidelines
that I have learned through your organization we have created a Bed and
Breakfast that works with our lifestyle, has an emphasis on ecology and
is interwoven with the local culture. The result is a more meaningful
experience for me and my son, for each guest and for the local
community. Our little homebased business has a much higher purpose. We
are hoping that our efforts help to preserve not only our 5 acre farm
but this very vulnerable County."
- Mary Koch, Owner, Thyme in the Country,
November 2007
"For many ecotourism devotees,
“luxury is the opposite of eco,” said Antonis Petropoulos, director of
the Athens-based Ecoclub, an international network of affordable lodges
that focus on nature. In Spain, for instance, Ecoclub’s sole (Ecolodge)
member is Mas Lluerna Eco Farm in Catalonia, where visitors live on an
organic farm and surrounding wetlands and cook on solar-powered ovens."
-
New York Times, "Trying to be green, with very little water",
19 August 2007, Article by Joanna Kakissis.
"Our
guest left today after extending from 6 booked nights to 11 - and then
15 nights! (record) - Ecoclub clients are the best! She came to Sri
Lanka because of Ecoclub and Tree Tops"
- Lars Sorensen, Proprietor, Tree Tops Jungle Lodge,
Sri Lanka, July 2007
"Ecoclub
(www.ecoclub.com), based in Greece, links to the Web sites of
eco-lodges, hotels and resorts in more than 80 countries. It also
offers useful eco-travel news and advice."
-
Washington Post, "How to Find a Hotel That's Truly Fit for The
Eco-Friendly", 8 June 2007
"We
could not be successful in our public relations without the
contribution you make to us on such an ongoing basis. So, thank you
again for your efforts in our conference announcements and other
operational notices."
- Katie Maschman, Director of Membership & Communications,
The International Ecotourism
Society (TIES), March 2007
"A
big "Thank you" for the support of Bintang Bolong Lodge through
www.ecoclub.com. We had (and still have) a very successful season,
which considerably exceeded our expectations. This is mainly due to the
promotion and the increasing awareness level in the internet.
www.EcoClub.com made a very big contribution to our success. Thanks
again"
- Sebastian Reinelt, Proprietor, Bintang Bolong Lodge,
The Gambia, February 2007
"I
had two fully funded PhD
students come to Leeds Met as a result of the interview I
did for ECOCLUB back in 2004, the most successful marketing channel
I’ve had so far"
- Xavier Font, International
Centre for Responsible Tourism, Leeds Metropolitan
University, February 2007
"I
am continually fascinated by the level of ecotourism information on
your site and find it a great resource to keep tabs on the global
ecotourism movement."
- Ian Wasson, Greenbox,
November 2006
"What a blessing ECOCLUB has been for us this year. We have received so many
inquiries thanks to your website and it's only the first month of our
open season!"
- Nicole Patel,
Shaam-e-Sarhad, October 2006
"Take
real trips, meet real people, make real friends...The Ecolodges listed
at ecoclub.com set out to help guests do just that. Each Ecolodge
listed follows tough environmental and community support guidelines."
- Kate Crawford, Ciao!
Travel with Attitude, October 2006
"I
am an admirer of the important work that you have been doing with
ECOCLUB. You are providing a great service to ecotourists and ecolodge
fans, and thus also contributing to sustainable development and the
conservation of the world's natural and cultural heritage. My sincere
congratulations!!"
- Arq. Héctor Ceballos
Lascurain, Director
General, PICE, September, 2006
"The
partnership with ECOCLUB has significantly enhanced the Adventures in
Travel Expo particularly from a visitor-attraction perspective,
contributing at an international level by its recognition as a
leader in the movement for better tourism and for environmental,
social and economic justice. ECOCLUB involvement has allowed the Expo
to reach a greater global audience..."
- Adventures in
Travel Expo - Sydney, 13 September 2006
"The
best part of making the adobes was seeing how the ECOCLUB Award moneys
have immediately given paid work to our local community"
- Andres Hammerman & Michelle Kirby, Black Sheep Inn, 31
August, 2006
"ECOCLUB
is doing very well and generating more bookings for us. Thank you! This
is the best month we ever had in our history"
- Lars Sorensen, Tree Tops Jungle Lodge,
August, 2006
"A
vacationer looking to spend time and money in an environmentally
conscious manner might run across names such as ... Ecoclub"
- Dan Oko,
CNN.com, July 7, 2006
"Thank you so
much for all your help with our advert for a field biologist we have
been overwhelmed by the response" - Marti Everett, Head Keeper,
Amigos de las Aves, Costa Rica", March 2006
"ECOCLUB
- monthly publication is free online to members and is a very useful
resource"
GCE
in Travel & Tourism, Syllabus & Tutors Handbooks,
Oxford, Cambridge & RSA Examinations, 2005, p.132
"www.ecoclub.com a network providing
a wealth of information about all aspects of ecotourism"
- "The Good Web site Guide 2006, The completely
revised, best-selling guide", by Graham Edmonds,
HarperCollinsPublishers, London 2005: p.137 & p.480.
"It
is my pleasure to support your efforts. I've been a fan of ECOCLUB for
quite a while as I've had many operators and lodge owners make mention
of your marketing successes on their behalf"
- Keith W. Sproule, Ecotourism Advisor, TIMD,
Supreme Commission for Tourism, Saudi Arabia, November 2005
"I
just want to let you know I have booked a stay at 3 Rivers in Dominica. We don't
go until February. The booking process was very easy and Jem was very
helpful. This will be the third ECOCLUB lodge we will have stayed at.
The first two, Spring
House Farm in NC and Sonrise Resort in Jamaica
were wonderful so I know 3 Rivers will be, too. Thank you for your
great work!
- Karen Jordan, long-time
ECOCLUB Member, Columbia, TN, USA, October 2005
"I have been a Member of ECOCLUB for a year now and find it
be a very good trade association for people working in the sustainable
tourism industry. Your efforts to share information on what is going on
around the world in this quickly changing field are very much
appreciated."
- Carol Patterson, Kalahari
Management Inc, June 2005
"Greece-based
ECOCLUB.com's general aim is to work steering the tourism industry in a
more ecological, democratic and equitable direction, focusing on
support that is receptive to ecological tourism principles, rather than
antagonising those that are not receptive to these ideas and concepts.
The network attempts to fit all of its actions into a framework for
bettering tourism, in which the industry tries to minimize its own
environmental impact, supports environmental conservation and local
projects, increases environmental and cultural knowledge, involves
local people as equal partners, and is available to less-affluent hosts
and guests. The network's platform combines elements of e-government,
e-learning, environmental governance, participatory democracy and
international cooperation."
- Educational
Institute of the American Hotel & Lodging Association,
Guide to best Practices in Tourism & Destination Management, May
2005
"Thank
you for all the efforts you make. We are proud to be part of ECOCLUB."
- Kurt Schmack, La
Laguna del Lagarto Lodge, Costa Rica, May 2005
"The
final award was the Responsible Tourism Site Award, sponsored by
Worldspan and this year won by ECOCLUB SA. The judges said the
winner stood out for its straightforward approach, engendering sense of
community and display of ecological intent."
- TravelMole.com,
UK, April 2005
"Congratulations
again for your beautiful, most interesting, easy to navigate filled
with useful information website."
- Vassilis Kouroutos, Executive Director, MEDASSET, Greece,
November 2004
"Thanks to ECOCLUB, and your featuring my profile, I have
been asked to join a team looking at ecotourism in Panama. With this, I
have become a USAID registered consultant, and am available to
communities in countries that USAID has ecotourism projects, without
having to charge the communities for my help."
- Douglas B. Trent, Focus Tours & Focus Conservation Fund,
April 2004
" Without initiatives like ECOCLUB life was
more difficult for most lodges since most of them are remote whereby
daily access to the outside world is a comfort many people take for
granted !"
- Jacques van Egeraat, Amazonat
Jungle Lodge, Brasil, February 2004
"Based in Greece, this web site spotlights
eco-lodges and activists around the globe. Features, news services, and
real-time chats are first-rate. "
- Transitions Abroad, 2003
"I have pleasure in sharing with you our
success in Ranweli Holiday Village, being selected as a Highly
Commended Project (Runners up) in the Environmental Experience Category
of the British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow Awards 2003. I take this
opportunity to thank you for your assistance without which our success
would not have been possible."
- Chandra de Silva, Founder & Director Ranweli Holiday Village &
President, Ecotourism Society of Sri Lanka, November 2003.
"Congratulations for this excellent work you
do through ECOCLUB. It is based on solid views and ideas!"
-
Eleni Svoronou, WWF Greece, October 2000
"The ECOCLUB is a very interesting
international community, basically dealing with Ecotourism. It is an
information network of this sector, which is not just academic but also
very practical and experimentative."
- Professor Ulhas Rane, Architect & Tourism Planner,
Bangalore, Karnataka, India, May 2003
"ECOCLUB is one of my favourite sites, period"
- Ron Mader, Travel Writer & Journalist,
Webhost of Planeta.com, May
2003
"We
are very glad to be members of such important, exclusive and supporting
club. Eco Hotel Uxlabil-Atitlán have been growing through the
long way with all your support and interest"
- Francisco Sandoval, Ecohotel
Uxlabil-Atitlan, March 2003
"...helped circulate information that was more
accessible to the interested stakeholders and public, than the official
websites"
- Pam
Wight, Consultant, Rapporteur to the World Ecotourism Summit,
December 2002
PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS
 |
 |
Greece,
July 2008:
On SKAI TV's Eco News, discussing forest policy a year after the
mega-fires of summer of 2007 |
Estonia, September
2007: at the "Activities & Recreation" Conference organised by
Tallinn University and the Estonian Olympic Committee |
 |
 |
 |
| Norway,
May 2007: ECOCLUB Director addresses the Global Ecotourism Conference
in Oslo. |
Greece,
April 2007: Hon. Member Professor Trevor Sofield visits ECOCLUB offices. |
Greece,
March 2007: ECOCLUB inaugurates new offices near the Acropolis in
Athens. |
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 |
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| China,
October 2006: At the World Leisure Congress
with UNWTO's Assistant Secretary General Mr
Geoffrey Lipman and ECOCLUB Members Professor Sofield &
Professor Marafa. |
China,
October 2006: In a plenary session panel with Professor Trevor Sofield
and Dr. Ren Zughe, Director of Green Globe China. |
China,
October 2006: Director intervening from the floor, in one of the
plenary sessions. Some 2,000 delegates attended this unique
event. |
 |
 |
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Ecuador,
July 2006: Construction of a rural Andean Recycling Centre, funded
through the
ECOCLUB.com
Ecolodge Awards |
Guatemala,
August 2006: Preservation of traditional fishermen boats, funded through
ECOCLUB.com
Ecolodge Awards |
Malaysia,
August 2006: Reforestation along a river in Borneo, funded through the
ECOCLUB.com
Ecolodge Awards |
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Germany:
10 March 2006:
Promoting Ecotourism at ITB, the world's largest travel fair, in Berlin. |
Athens,
Greece: 13 July 2006:
Member meeting near the Acropolis. |
Berlin,
Germany: March 2006:
With our Member Ms Annette Monreal, of Green
Discovery Laos, at the Laos PDR Stand at ITB |
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Pattaya,Thailand,
Oct 2005:
Director speaks at the IIPT Global Summit on
Peace Through Tourism. (Interview
with IIPT Founder) |
Kuraburi,
Thailand, Oct 2005:
At the office of NATR, a local NGO helping tsunami-stricken villages
recover (read
Interview) |
Leeled,
Thailand, Oct 2005:
Co-director, visiting a Homestay, in Leeled village where REST is
initiating Community Based Tourism. (read
Interview) |
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London, UK: 22 April 2005:
ECOCLUB Director, receives the TraveMole Responsible Tourism Website
Award from Ms Eleanor Baume of Worldspan
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Athens,
Greece: June 2005:
ECOCLUB exhibits at the Ecolife Fair at the Athens Olympic Stadium |
Athens,
Greece: 13 June 2005:
ECOCLUB Director interviewed on Athens' 94 FM Radio |
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HONORARY
LIFETIME MEMBERS OF ECOCLUB
In December 2006 we honoured with honorary
lifetime memberships, 6 personalities who have significantly advanced
the philosophy and practice of Ecotourism through their work. These are: (in alphabetical
order)
 Hector
Ceballos-Lascuráin (Mexico):
Leading Eco Architect and ‘inventor’ of the term Ecotourism in 1983.
Héctor Ceballos-Lascuráin also provided the definition of
Ecotourism officially adopted by IUCN (The World Conservation Union) in
1996. Hector has worked both in the public & private sectors as
architect and consultant.
 Louis D’Amore
(United States): Founder and President of the
International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT). A pioneer in
social & environmental ethic within the tourism industry since the
mid-70s., he founded IIPT in 1986, with the aim of turning Tourism into
the world’s first "Global Peace Industry"
 Megan Epler Wood
(United States): Founder and former President of The
International Ecotourism Society (TIES), the world’s oldest ecotourism
association, played the major role in making Ecotourism an organised
force. A leading consultant, spokesperson, lecturer¸ and trainer
for governments, NGOs, and the private sector around the world.
 Ron Mader
(Mexico/United States): Internet
pioneer in Ecotourism as the founder of Planeta.com. Based in Oaxaca,
Ron is a much needed voice of conscience in Ecotourism. He is also an
influential tourism journalist and guidebook writer and a role model
for
US/Mexico relations.
 Trevor Sofield
(Australia): A Homo
Universalis of Sustainable Tourism, professor, senior diplomat,
editor, leading consultant, entrepreneur, Trevor has done it all and
excelled at all. He is currently Team Leader for the Mekong Tourism
Development Program, Cambodia and Vietnam and a Professor at the
University of Tasmania.
 Pamela A. Wight
(Canada): played a leading role in the organisation
and management of the United Nations International Year of Ecotourism
and was also responsible for drafting the world’s first (Quebec)
Declaration on Ecotourism as a Rapporteur. A former advisor to the
Canadian government and a leading tourism consultant for numerous
ecotourism projects worldwide.
Honorary
Memberships will be again awarded in 2009, to mark the 10 years
of ECOCLUB.
 Participate in the global ecotourism
movement, join ECOCLUB TODAY!
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