Enhancing Sustainability in Tourism

Updated Regulations and Evaluation Criteria for the Skal Europe Sustainable Tourism Awards

In the pursuit of fostering sustainable tourism practices in Europe, Skal Europe has continually evolved its regulations and evaluation criteria for the Skal Europe Sustainable Tourism Awards. The latest updates, implemented in 2024, reflect a heightened emphasis on aligning projects with the United Nations Agenda 2030 and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while also emphasizing the importance of stakeholder engagement and voluntary sustainability certifications.

Eligibility and Participation:

• Projects must demonstrate a clear sustainability setup aligned with the UN Agenda 2030 and the 17 SDGs.
• Participation is open to all Skal members within the Skal Europe Area Committee, with non-members requiring enrollment in a Skal Club.
• Projects must be endorsed by at least one Skal Club, with additional endorsements from higher entities earning extra points.
• Previous awards received by the project will automatically grant extra points.
• Projects must be related to existing activities, either operational or officially at the startup level, and must be submitted within the published deadline.

The subject of the Project:

• Projects must address one or more topics: Economy, Society, or Environment, reflecting the interconnectedness of economic prosperity, social development, and environmental preservation in sustainable tourism.

Structure of the Project:

• Projects must be submitted using the SI sustainability awards format, ensuring comprehensive coverage of sustainability initiatives.
• Each project will be evaluated based on specific criteria related to environmental, social, and economic aspects, with points assigned for various sustainability fields.
• Additionally, participants are required to provide a video link showcasing their sustainable initiatives, enhancing transparency and accountability.

Details of the project structure

1. Every project must be submitted using the format of SI sustainability awards. The model is published on the Skal Europe website at this link: https://www.skaleurope.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SI-sustainable-development-form.pdf
2. Every field should be filled in to demonstrate the proper sustainable approach of the participating project.
3. The final evaluation will assign points for each of the following fields of the form:
   1. ENVIRONMENT
      1. Nature preservation * (Maximum 700 words)
      2. Animal welfare and preservation (When applicable) (Maximum 700 words)
      3. Carbon offsetting and climate change mitigation * (Maximum 700 words)
      4. Energy, water saving, renewable energy, waste management * (Maximum 700 words)
   2. SOCIAL
      1. Culture preservation * (Maximum 700 words)
      2. Local community involvement * (Maximum 700 words)
      3. Human rights protection * (Maximum 700 words)
      4. Health and safety for employees and guests * (Maximum 700 words)
   3. ECONOMIC
      1. Local employment * (Maximum 700 words)
      2. Employee participation and training * (Maximum 700 words)
      3. The economic viability of the business * (Maximum 700 words)
      4. Marketing and brand enhancement * (Maximum 700 words)
   4. VIDEO
      Please provide a video link (preferably on Youtube) showing the sustainable initiatives.

Evaluation Points and Award Assignment:

• Evaluation points are assigned based on the completeness and alignment of project submissions with specific SDGs, with bonus points awarded for endorsements and voluntary sustainability certifications.
• Awards will be officially announced at the Skal Europe General Assembly, with winners receiving dedicated recognition on the Skal Europe website and additional coverage across Skal Europe communication channels.

Detail of evaluation

The evaluation fields can obtain the following points:

• 0: field not filled in
• 1: field filled in but not relating directly to any SDG
• 2: field filled in, relating to a specific SDG, but the company must abide due to local laws, rules, and regulations
• 3: field filled in, relating to a specific SDG, the company applies the initiative without any legal obligation
• 4: field filled in, relating to a specific SDG, the company applies the initiative without any legal obligation and with an outstanding result

The bonus points include:

• 1 point for each Club endorsement
• 1 point for each National or Area Committee endorsement
• 2 points for an official endorsement from an official National Tourism entity
• 3 points if the initiative, voluntarily, has an official sustainability certification (i.e.: EU EcoLabel, EU Flower, ISO 14001, ISO 50001, GSTC, Cornell ESG)
• 1 point for each previous Skal award to the project (Club, National, Continental)

The updated regulations and evaluation criteria for the Skal Europe Sustainable Tourism Awards underscore the organization’s commitment to promoting sustainability in tourism, encouraging stakeholders to embrace sustainable practices aligned with global sustainability goals. Through collective efforts and recognition of exemplary initiatives, Skal Europe aims to drive positive change and contribute to a more sustainable future for the tourism industry.