CATO talks sustainability at inaugural symposium in Alentejo, Portugal

The inaugural CATO Symposium in Alentejo, Portugal, kicked off last week with 14 members of the Canadian Association of Tour Operators (CATO) in attendance.

Renowned for its stunning landscapes, rich cultural heritage and fascinating history, Alentejo allowed participants to savour the region’s exquisite Portuguese cuisine and exceptional wines; visit vineyards, cork tree plantations and olive groves; and explore the ruins of Roman temples and the medieval streets of Évora.

“Alentejo offers both the beauty of its remarkable past as well as a vision for a promising future,” said CATO Chair Brett Walker. “A future in which residents and travellers don’t simply co-exist but instead enhance each other’s wellbeing and benefit equally. CATO shares this vision and it was abundantly clear during our time in Alentejo that our members do to.”

READ MORE: “An incredible week”: CATO’s first out-of-country symposium underway in Portugal

The warmth and friendliness of locals was evident not only throughout the trip, but also during meetings with local suppliers and visits to hotels, cultural events, outdoor activities and wine tastings.

The event featured a variety of working sessions, including a meeting with more than 50 local suppliers, as well as a presentation and discussion on sustainable development in the travel industry.

It provided participants with firsthand experience in sustainable development and allowed them to recognize the essential steps needed to create a meaningful impact in the travel industry, including raising awareness, providing education and implementing concrete actions for a sustainable future.

CATO members also took part in a workshop run by Professor Graham Miller and Rochelle Turner entitled Sustainability Accelerator, which focused on answering the questions, “What is sustainability?” and “Why does it matter for business?”

Miller is the Rodrigo Guimaraes Chair of Sustainable Business at the Nova School of Business and Economics, where he is also the academic director of the Westmont Institute of Tourism and Hospitality.

His research concentrates on the factors that drive greater sustainability across society, particularly in the travel and tourism sector.

Turner serves as the global B Corp impact manager at Intrepid Travel, where she is responsible for overseeing and enhancing the company’s impact in alignment with B Corp certification. Additionally, she co-chairs Travel by B Corp in the U.K.

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