Trout Point Lodge of Nova Scotia is pleased to announce its participation as a delegate to the 2010 Geotourism Summit hosted by the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C. The Summit will take place February 2, 2010 at the Society’s headquarters.
This past July, Trout Point Lodge was among 10 finalists in the 2009 Geotourism Challenge selected from more than 600 entries from 81 countries. It was the sole accommodation chosen. A distinguished panel of judges — Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Wangari Maathai, founder of the Green Belt Movement; Keith Bellows, editor of National Geographic Traveler magazine; Erika Harms, executive director of Sustainable Development, United Nations Foundation; Tony Wheeler, founder of Lonely Planet; Ben Keene, founder of Tribewanted; and Dr. Yang Yuming, vice president of Southwest Forestry University, China —reviewed the entries and selected Trout Point Lodge for revitalizing backwoods area of Acadian Forest through place-based immersion experiences and the Nova Scotia Seafood Cooking School.
In a press release, the National Geographic Society called the finalists “ten of the most innovative, sustainable travel programs around the world.”
Geotourism is defined as tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place—its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents. Geotourism incorporates the concept of sustainable tourism—that destinations should remain unspoiled for future generations—while allowing for ways to protect a place’s character. Geotourism also takes a principle from its ecotourism cousin,—that tourism revenue should promote conservation—and extends it to culture and history as well, that is, all distinctive assets of a place.
Highlights of the summit include sessions on finding project funding and gaining government support as well as a presentation of the Geotourism Challenge Competition 2010. The keynote speaker is James H. Gilmore, co-author of The Experience Economy and Authenticity.
The Lodge’s Managing Directors Vaughn Perret and Charles Leary will be attending the summit as guests of the Society, and will also make a brief presentation about their innovations.
Trout Point Lodge of Nova Scotia is the only member of the Relais & Chateaux in the province. National Geographic Traveler put the Lodge on its inaugural Stay List, and Trout Point has also won the Parks Canada Sustainable Tourism Award and more recently the Green Restaurant Award.
