The association Acteurs du Tourisme Durable (ATD) has rewarded the most innovative and inspiring initiatives in sustainable tourism. Discover the winners in each category of the Horizons 2022 Awards.
With over 2 billion international tourists expected by 2030, the tourism industry needs to move towards a more ecological and sustainable policy. It’s with this in mind that the association Acteurs du Tourisme Durable (ATD) is working, bringing together over two hundred structures committed to responsible tourism. This year, the association launched the first Trophées Horizons, a series of awards recognizing innovative initiatives and inspiring actions in the field of sustainable tourism.
Supported by the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs and ADEME (Agence De l’Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l’Énergie), the event aims to encourage the tourism industry to commit to a responsible cause. Held last June, the first awards ceremony presented no fewer than 12 prizes.
Nomade Aventure – Mobility
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Petru Stan
Nomade Aventure won the mobility award for its range of round-trip train trips in Europe. Indeed, the agency was able to duplicate its best-selling European trips, previously available only by air, with train travel.
Nomade Aventure, the first of the winners of the Horizons 2022 Trophies, has worked hard to reduce its customers’ carbon consumption, while continuing to offer a range of travel options that are as attractive as ever. It is now possible to discover the whole of Europe on a low-carbon trip. ATD coordinator Anne-Lise Olivier emphasized the inspiring nature of this initiative.
Syndicat mixte Canigó Grand Site – Responsible management of tourist flows
Photo credit: Shutterstock – CRISTIAN IONUT ZAHARIA
The Syndicat mixte Canigó Grand Site came out on top in this category, which rewards those who promote a balanced distribution of visitors over time and space. The Syndicat has worked to limit motorized traffic on the northern slopes of the Canigou massif all year round.
The syndicate, a new winner of the Trophées Horizons, has thus contributed to the protection of a large part of the Pyrenees and the enhancement of its heritage.
Vaolo – Young shoots
Photo credit: Explora Project
Vaolo, the online tourism platform, has won the Trophées Horizons in the Young Start-up category for its Académie Expérience Vaolo France. Its aim? To train tomorrow’s travelers to become true explorers and committed players in environmental protection.
Vaolo’s mission is to inspire change through travel and encounters. By training new explorers who are curious and eager to create a better world, we hope to act on the collective unconscious, by changing travel habits in general.
Comité Régional du Tourisme et des Loisirs d’Occitanie – Local tourism
Photo credit: Shutterstock – FredP
In June, the Comité Régional du Tourisme et des Loisirs d’Occitanie (Occitania Regional Tourism and Leisure Committee ) became the winner of the Horizons 2022 Trophies’ category of the year, thanks to an ambitious project that was successfully completed. In fact, since 2020, the Occitane region has been running the Occ’ygène scheme, a card enabling local residents to discover the region more effectively.
This card offers a wide range of discounts on several hundred leisure activities, stays and accommodations in the region. The committee’s stated aim is to help as many Occitanie residents as possible, and in particular families on modest incomes, to take full advantage of their region’s riches. All this, while supporting Occitanie’s tourism professionals, who have been severely weakened by the health crisis.
Bruche Valley Tourist Office – Local roots
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Gherzak
At the heart of this category highlighting the involvement of local people in the development of tourism in their region, theBruche Valley Tourist Office came out on top to become one of the winners of the Horizons 2022 Trophies.
Thanks to its « Les Sentiers Plaisir » initiative, the inhabitants of the Vallée de la Bruche will be revealing the wonders and secrets of their region to tourists on over 109 outings this year. These 60 volunteers will accompany holidaymakers as they discover the region’s heritage, while telling them tales of local legends.
FALEPA – Circular economy and waste management
Photo credit: Shutterstock – petrmalinak
Every year in Corsica, over 14,000 tonnes of plastic waste are generated, and no less than 50% of this comes from tourism. With this in mind, FALEPA, an association committed to recycling, has rallied the various groups in Corsica’s tourism sector to work together to collect plastic waste, particularly corks.
FALEPA won the Horizons 2022 award in this ecological category, while promoting the social and professional integration of the most disadvantaged members of society.
Provence Tourisme – Responsible organization
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Semen Kuzmin
The Provence Tourisme association won the trophy in the « Responsible Organization » category, thanks to its Journées Jeunesse Emploi Tourisme (JET). Created in 2017, these days aim to raise awareness among the younger generation of jobs in the tourism sector, particularly in catering.
For three days, around 200 schoolchildren from a dozen establishments in the département can take it in turns to become receptionists, room service staff or chefs. The aim? To discover the hotel complex and help some young people discover their potential vocation.
Ligue de la Protection des Oiseaux – Preserving biodiversity and natural resources
Photo credit: Facebook – Maio Plongée Cap-Vert
Among the 12 winners of the Horizons 2022 Trophies is the Ligue de la Protection des Oiseaux (League for the Protection of Birds). In this category, which focuses on the preservation of biodiversity, LPO France was rewarded for its « Biodiv’Sports » project.
The latter aims to raise awareness of wildlife conservation issues among sports enthusiasts and « socio-professionals » in the sector, while developing an online database incorporating environmentally sensitive areas. This database is ultimately shared with applications in the sports and tourism sector (VisoRando, Geotrek, AllTrails…), enabling nature sports enthusiasts to take action at their own level.
Relais Thalasso Ile-de-Ré – Responsible nutrition
Photo credit: Shutterstock – almaje
The Relais Thalasso Ile-de-Ré is the winner of the Horizons 2022 Awards in the « Responsible Food » category! Under the impetus of its manager, Sylvain Morin, the resort has been committed to an eco-responsible approach since 2020.
His restaurant, l’Atalante, has just been awarded the Greenfood label. This label enables customers to identify and find the addresses of restaurants and chefs committed to sustainable development. Young Chef Christophe Tremine, at the helm of a fifteen-strong brigade, is committed to offering creative cuisine from the sea, while respecting 3 key aspects: using fresh, local and seasonal produce.
Union Nationale des Associations de Tourisme du Pays de la Loire – Tourism for all
Photo credit: Shutterstock – bodnar.photo
TheUnion National des Associations de Tourisme du Pays de la Loire was honored at the latest Trophées Horizons awards ceremony, in the Tourism for All category. The association’s initiative, called « Group’AVelo », won the award.
Group’AVelo is a network of accommodation associations in the Pays de la Loire region, offering multi-room stays in vacation villages, holiday centers, youth hostels… each with its own special features (castle life, sea view, sports center).
As well as providing many groups with easy access to accommodation during their travels, this initiative also has other benefits. In fact, the profits from these accommodations also go back into their associative project, and can be used to organize vacations for families who would otherwise be unable to afford them.
Gîtes Bon Air – Energy management
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Kirk Fisher
The Gîtes Bon Air group won the Trophées Horizons award in the « Energy management » category. Thanks to a tourist complex featuring entirely eco-designed and eco-built accommodation. All the chalets on the site are bioclimatic, and welcome tourists with the utmost respect for the environment and accessibility for all disabilities.
What’s more, the site’s electricity comes 100% from renewable sources, and the chalets are equipped with charging points for electric cars. In this way, the entire complex is in full control of its energy consumption, which is greatly reduced.
Special Jury Prize
Photo credit: Shutterstock – IM_photo
For this first edition of the Trophées Horizons, the jury’s prize went to a bold, ambitious but successful initiative: that of a 100% electric diving catamaran. Named e-Sperança, the boat takes divers from Le Paradis des bulles out to sea every day, sailing in total silence and respecting the ocean.
Although it took three years to build such a boat, it is proof that « green » navigation is possible, and could revolutionize the marine world.
Prize not awarded
While the « Jury’s Special Prize » category was created at the last minute to reward an inspiring initiative, another category did not see a winner crowned. Indeed, the « Adaptation to climate change and resilience » category, lacking sufficiently relevant initiatives, did not find a winner this year.
According to Caroline Mignon, President of ATD, it was important to the association that the projects be easily replicable by other players in the tourism industry. As a result, the association preferred not to award the prize, rather than award it by default.
With a total of 140 entries received for this first edition of the Trophées Horizons, the association’s president is delighted with the interest in sustainable tourism. A second edition in 2023 could soon become official.