London – September 17, 2004 - Today the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) announced that the judging panel for the newly relaunched Tourism for Tomorrow Awards will be chaired by Costas Christ, CEO of the Bar Harbor Maine Chamber of Commerce, USA.

Mr Christ is an expert on sustainable tourism and his professional career spans both the public and private sectors. He was previously Senior Director for Ecotourism at Conservation International where he launched the World Legacy Awards in sustainable tourism with National Geographic Traveler Magazine in 2002. He is a founding member and former Chairman of the Board of The International Ecotourism Society and currently serves on the Board of the Adventures in Travel Expo USA, as well as the New York City and Chicago Luxury Travel Shows.

Mr. Christ said, “I am delighted to be working with WTTC on the relaunch of the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. The Awards are a powerful vehicle to promote best practices across the industry and build broader awareness of sustainable tourism among governments, the private sector, and the travelling public.”

WTTC President, Jean-Claude Baumgarten, said “We are honoured that Costas has accepted to be Chair of the Judging Panel. He brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience in both the Travel & Tourism sector and awards administration and will be invaluable as we aim to raise the profile and broaden the reach of Tourism for Tomorrow.”

Mr Baumgarten continued, “Travel & Tourism is one of the largest, and fastest growing, industries in the world. It has enormous potential not only to create wealth but also to nurture the world’s natural, social and cultural environments. The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, reflecting the policies laid out in WTTC’s Blueprint for New Tourism, will recognise initiatives which, through a commitment to best practice, ensure that this potential is tapped and developed.”

The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards will be presented at the 5th Global Travel & Tourism Summit, New Delhi, India in early 2005.

For further information please contact Olivia Ruggles-Brise, Project Co-ordinator, WTTC on +44 (0) 20 7481 8007 or olivia@wttc.org.

About WTTC
The World Travel & Tourism Council is the global business leaders’ forum for Travel & Tourism. Its Members are Chairmen, Chief Executives and Presidents of the world’s most prominent Travel & Tourism organizations. It is the only body, representing the private sector in all parts of the Travel & Tourism industry worldwide. For more information please visit www.wttc.org.