“Spain Talks” puts sustainability in spotlight at Toronto event

The Tourist Office of Spain in Toronto welcomed members of the Canadian media, academics, and tourism industry leaders at the STORYS building on Sept. 25, for Spain Talks: a thought-provoking exploration of contemporary challenges and innovative solutions in sustainable tourism.

Through keynote addresses and expert panels, the educational evening put Spain’s sustainability initiatives in the spotlight, as representatives from the Tourist Office shared a message of optimism and further collaboration with Canada.

“Spain Talks is not only about promoting tourism to Spain,” said Alfredo Martínez Serrano, Ambassador of Spain to Canada, in his opening remarks, as shared in a press release. “It’s about creating a common space - where two countries that have embraced their diversity in culture and nature can come together, respect our shared values, and work towards positive horizons.”

In addition to Ambassador Serrano, the event was attended by Isabel Martín Benítez, Consul of Tourism Affairs in Canada, as well as the Promotion Director of the Valencia Region Tourism Board and a delegation from Lanzarote Island, including the President of the Association of Hotels and Apartments of Lanzarote.

Some of Canada’s most distinguished academic and tourism industry voices weighed in on panels like “How to Keep Balance between Local Populations and Tourists” and “Designing a Tourism Industry That Includes Everyone,” sharing invaluable knowledge and best practices with those in attendance.

Among them were sustainability experts Dr. Rachel Dodds, Professor in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Toronto Metropolitan University and Fergus Maclaren, Professor Emeritus of the International Cultural Tourism Committee (ICOMOS).

Toronto-based AccessNow CEO and Founder Maayan Ziv and Miguel Carrasco, Director of Accessible Tourism from Spain’s Tur4All, lent their voices and ideas to an in-depth discussion about making destinations accessible.

The Toronto edition of Spain Talks is part of a series of flagship forums hosted in major European cities, such as London, Istanbul, and Stockholm.

It marks the debut of the series in Canada. In addition to the dialogues, the Tourist Office also presented a series of awards, celebrating excellence in sustainable tourism across both Canada and Spain.

The award categories and winners included:

● The MEDIA AWARD, recognizing the best coverage of Spain’s commitment to sustainable, responsible practices: presented to Canadian Geographic Magazine

● The AMBASSADOR AWARD, recognizing the writer or content creator who best harnesses the power of their profile to support international sustainability: presented to freelance travel writer, Jennifer Bain

● The EXPERIENCE AWARD, recognizing Spain’s most sustainable tourism product or experience, with emphasis on authenticity: presented to Kensington Travel

● The BUSINESS AWARD, recognizing the company with the strongest ESG credentials, with outstanding commitment to programs such as inclusion, recycling, and accessibility: presented to Le Germain Hotels

“Spain Talks Toronto marks a new beginning of a deeper Spain-Canada collaboration in sustainable tourism,” said Consul Martín Benítez. “Spain has become one of the top destinations for Canadians and the two countries are experiencing even greater connectivity. Together, we can set an inspiring example of successful sustainable tourism policies and cultivate an even stronger relationship in the future.”

Learn more about Spain, the Tourist Office, and the destination’s sustainability programs here. 

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