The Long Run has been connecting, supporting and inspiring nature-based tourism business since 2011. With every member that pledges to commit to implementing the 4C framework in their business and starting the journey to become a GER® recognised destination, there is an extraordinary story to be told. For press and media enquiries, please contact [email protected].
Discover how our members collectively have been working to protect people and nature around the world. Annual reports and other publications we create gives us the opportunity to report to you — the people who support us and make our work possible — on our recent achievements.
The Long Run members’ pioneering work in sustainability has given the media a lot to rave about. We’re proud of all the hard work and dedication our members place into implementing the 4C framework at their destinations and we are honoured by the accolades the global press continues to rain on their path to sustainable excellence.
The ethical framework of the 4Cs is such a powerful way forward and it can deliver assistance from places that we never suspected.
- John CraigTahi (GER®), New Zealand
The Long Run is not for those who want to greenwash their credentials. It is not for those who think that this is a one-off exercise. From being a Long Run Fellow Member to being in reach of GER® to going beyond the GER® standard – this process is a journey of continuous improvement on the path of excellence in sustainability.
- Louise CottarCottar’s 1920s Camp (GER®), Kenya
KEEP IN THE LOOP. Add your name to our mailing list and keep informed on The Long Run.
As we continue to develop resources to expand positive impact within the travel industry, we’ve created a new Resources page to pull reports and training together in one place.
Please take a look HERE, and feel free to share our new Breaking Down Barriers: Sustainability Accessible to All report HERE. Holly has social media assets so please contact her at [email protected] if you would like to share those.
We are delighted to announce that the dates for the 2022 Members Annual Meeting have been set and plans for the agenda are underway.
The meeting will take place at Borana Lodge and Lengishu in Kenya from the 22nd – 26th of October. We have received overwhelming responses from over 40 participants who are planning to attend the meeting.
For all those who have confirmed attendance, we have sent an email with all the details on the logistics and how to make your 20% deposit payment now to secure your spot. Please get in touch with Joy at [email protected] in case of any questions.
We’re looking forward to seeing you this week for The Long Run’s 11th Annual Meeting.
Please see the schedule with daily Zoom links HERE.
As you know, The Long Run would like to better capture our members’ impacts, particularly, members’ contribution to mitigating the climate and biodiversity crises.
In order to assist us with this process, we are appealing to all members to share any studies that you have been involved with/or know of that are looking at the environmental values (incl. carbon sequestration) or the ecosystem values/services of the area you are located in and are helping to protect.
This will allow us to better estimate how much carbon is sequestrated by your property, our membership in total, and provide an estimate of ecosystem values.
We look forward to receiving any study or information you may have access to! Please send to [email protected].
London, England (29th June 2017)
The only resort in the southern Maldives’ Laamu Atoll, a picture-postcard retreat in the Swiss Alps, and an Alaskan Glacier Lodge have all joined The Long Run, an organisation dedicated to supporting and nurturing excellence in sustainability.
The three destinations join over 40 more around the globe who are members of The Long Run, an initiative which inspires nature-based tourism businesses dedicated to the very highest standards of environmental and social responsibility. All three are on a journey to become Global Ecosphere Retreats® a standard which recognises centres of excellence in sustainability.
Six Senses Laamu is found on a lagoon the southern Maldives’ Laamu Atoll, which covers 350 squares miles deep within the Indian Ocean. Six Senses employs six marine biologists to research and protect the rich biodiversity. In 2014, the resort created the country’s first ever Dolphin Watching Code of Conduct, which is now nationally accepted, soon followed by a Turtle Interaction Code of Conduct. Six Senses embodies a “Waste to Wealth” philosophy, for example treating wastewater so it can be reused for landscaping, and the resort’s Sustainability Fund is spent on development projects in the island’s wider community.
Sustainability Officer at Six Senses Megan O’Beirne says: “We wish to be catalysts of positive change by being strong proponents of environmental conservation, and we know The Long Run will help us to do that. Through scientific research, education programs, community outreach, cross-sector collaboration, and innovative solutions, we hope to raise awareness and inspire others.”
In the Alpine village of Commeire lies Montagne Alternative, a resort devoted to preserving the unique identity of this beautiful region and encouraging all visitors to find a deeper connection with the natural world. A sanctuary from the modern world, Montagne Alternative offers a wealth of nature-based activities as well as creating new opportunities for new businesses, regenerating the local village.
Benoit Greindl, Montagne Alternative’s co-founder and CEO, says: “We joined The Long Run because we strongly believe in the power of networks. We hope to meet and get inspiration from other business which are fully aligned on the same values.firmly believe that businesses can be a force for good when driven by innovation and the desire to create value for society.”
Alaska’s Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge was built to the strictest eco-tourism guidelines to preserve a biological richness which includes harbour seals, sea otters, river otters, black bears, bald eagles and oystercatchers. The Lodge is committed to giving back the region’s traditional Alutiiq culture, as well as educating visitors about their way of life.
Kirk Hoessle is the President and Chief Exploration Officer of Alaska Wildland Adventures, who manage The Lodge, says: “The Long Run provides an opportunity for a small company like ours to participate in sustainability on a global level. We’re very excited to learn what we can from a worldwide community of businesses that have found success in pursuing sustainable principles. And, maybe we can share some lessons learned as well along the way.”
Dr Delphine Malleret-King, Director of The Long Run, says: “Our members manage unique places, in beautiful, often threatened wilderness areas. What sets them apart is the depth of experiences they provide because of the passion and purpose they share. Beyond financial profit, they strive to protect nature for the future and improve the lives of people, using their business to do so. firmly believe that business has the power to help solve some of the biggest environmental and social challenges the world faces today.”
www.thelongrun.org/montagne-alternative
www.thelongrun.org/kenai-fjords-glacier-lodge
For further press information or interview requests please contact:
Alicia Brett, Marketing & Communications, [email protected]
About The Long Run
Set up in 2009, The Long Run has quickly grown to become one of the world’s largest sustainable development initiatives. It works by championing any nature-based tourism business which is willing to commit to a journey of sustainable improvement through The Long Run’s ‘4C’ framework (encompassing Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce).
Members of The Long Run are at the forefront of conservation and responsible tourism, be that in Scotland or Sao Paulo, and prove that the planet and profit can co-exist and thrive together. Through their membership these pioneering businesses become connected to a global community of exceptional destinations and organisations who support and inspire each other to expand their positive impact even further, as well as collectively influencing others to take up best practices for a sustainable future. The Long Run provides ongoing support to members to drive sustainability, as well as helping inform travellers about making positive choices which support responsible destinations.
About Global Ecosphere Retreats (GER)®
All members of The Long Run strive to become recognised as Global Ecosphere Retreats (GER)®. The GER® standard is one of the most rigorous sustainability standards in the tourism industry. This standard was granted recognition by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council in 2015, and is only awarded to organisations that demonstrate a holistic balance of the ‘4C’s, excel in conserving nature and improve the wellbeing of the communities they belong to.
About Dr Delphine Malleret-King, Director of The Long Run
Delphine has more than 20 years experience as a Socio-Economist and professional Conservationist. She has worked as a Consultant all across Africa, specialising in Natural Resource Management, Marine And Terrestrial Conservation, Community Engagement And Socio-Economic Impact Monitoring For Local, National And International Organisations.
London, England (13th April 2017)
The theme of this year’s Earth Day (Saturday 22nd April) is Environmental & Climate Literacy, something Scotland’s green destination Comrie Croft excels at.
The award-winning eco project set on a 250-acre site on a hillside in Perthshire boasts over 85km of sublime walking and biking routes. Andrew Donaldson, Comrie Croft’s founder, is passionate about rural regeneration and has proved that an ‘average’ plot of land can be dynamic, profitable and can make a valuable contribution to environmental literacy.
Andrew says: “All of our efforts at Comrie Croft are focused on building awareness of our shared environment so that everyone who visits leaves feeling better empowered with the necessary knowledge to take action in defence of their environment.”
Comrie Croft is a model for rural regeneration in a rich natural environment that includes people, homes, recreation and businesses, in a land use design that ensures they are complimentary to each other. As well as creating green jobs and educating the local community on sustainability, through eco-tourism Comrie Croft welcomes over 35,000 visitors annually. Skills including bushcraft, survival, archery and backwoods cooking are taught, and their eco-camping project encourages people to ‘leave no trace’ and make zero negative impact on the environment.
“Our focus is on educating people about the entire ecosystem, and the positive role we can play in protecting it,” says Andrew. “In neighbouring Loch Lomond National Park the negative impact made by campers is a big issue. There’s rubbish left behind, trees are chopped down for firewood, and people pick up all the deadwood which is actually a vital habitat for insects”.
“The issue of waste is a pressing one. It’s not only trying to make sure everyone recycles and having compost toilets, it’s also creating an understanding about not wasting energy and using renewable sources wherever possible. At Comrie Croft we generate enough energy from solar to power the whole facility, and we have a wood-fired district heating system which heats all the buildings. To continue this theme, our on-site shop sells tools for campers such as solar-powered iPhone chargers and wind-up radios.”
The ethos underpinning Comrie Croft is that education is the foundation for progress, and that only by building a global citizenry fluent in the concepts of environmental protection can we hope to protect our Earth.
Comrie Croft is a proud member of The Long Run, a conservation organisation that unites businesses who strive for the highest standard of excellence in sustainable tourism. The Long Run uses its framework of ‘The 4Cs of biodiversity (conservation, community development, cultural stewardship and commerce) to assess candidates. Comrie Croft is currently working towards becoming the first UK destination to be awarded the Global Ecosphere Retreat® (GER®) standard by The Long Run. The GER® is one of the most rigorously assessed sustainability standards in the tourism industry.
For further press information or interview requests please contact:
Alicia Brett, Marketing & Communications, [email protected]
About Comrie Croft
Comrie Croft is Scotland’s award-winning green destination including a farmstead hostel, group accommodation, camping, kåtas (the Nordic equivalent of teepees), walking trails, wildlife viewing and some of the best compact mountain-biking in the country. From the experts in the bike hire shop to a grocer that stocks fruit and vegetables from the on-site garden, Comrie Croft offers a hub of complementary businesses all focused on preserving and enhancing the natural environment.
About The Long Run
Set up in 2009, The Long Run has quickly grown to become one of the world’s largest sustainable development initiatives. It works by championing any nature-based tourism business which is willing to commit to a journey of sustainable improvement through The Long Run’s ‘4C’ framework (encompassing Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce).
Members of The Long Run are at the forefront of conservation and responsible tourism, be that in Scotland or Sao Paulo, and prove that the planet and profit can co-exist and thrive together. Through their membership these pioneering businesses become connected to a global community of exceptional destinations and organisations who support and inspire each other to expand their positive impact even further, as well as collectively influencing others to take up best practices for a sustainable future. The Long Run provides ongoing support to members to drive sustainability, as well as helping inform travellers about making positive choices which support responsible destinations.
About Global Ecosphere Retreats (GER)®
All members of The Long Run strive to become recognised as Global Ecosphere Retreats (GER)®. The GER® standard is one of the most rigorous sustainability standards in the tourism industry. This standard was granted recognition by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council in 2015, and is only awarded to organisations that demonstrate a holistic balance of the ‘4C’s, excel in conserving nature and improve the wellbeing of the communities they belong to.
About Dr Delphine Malleret-King, Director of The Long Run
Delphine has more than 20 years experience as a Socio-Economist and professional Conservationist. She has worked as a Consultant all across Africa, specialising in Natural Resource Management, Marine And Terrestrial Conservation, Community Engagement And Socio-Economic Impact Monitoring For Local, National And International Organisations.
London, England (5th April 2017)
Sinal do Vale, an innovative sustainability space located 50 kilometres from Rio de Janeiro, has been named as a world-leading centre of excellence in environmental responsibility and awarded Global Ecosphere Retreat® (GER®) status by conservation organisation The Long Run.
Set in 120 acre of farmland, Sinal do Vale is a reforestation and community resilience project, offering educational programmes for all. It welcomes volunteers from around the world and acts as a hub for diverse sectors of society to collaborate and confront one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century: how to evolve towards a sustainable future.
Social innovator Thais Corral founded Sinal do Vale in 2012. With more than three decades of experience working with environmental and gender-related issues, Thais wanted to create a space where inspired change-makers could design, experiment, and implement concrete initiatives for the transition to sustainability.
Sinal do Vale joins nine other nature-based tourism businesses in becoming a GER® member of The Long Run. Each GER® member has undergone a rigorous assessment process, which demands that an holistic balance of The Long Run’s ‘4Cs’ (Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce) are met.
Dr Delphine Malleret-King, Director of The Long Run, says; “Through her passion and spirit, Thais has created an exceptional venue fusing sustainability and leadership to help protect one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet.
“Sinal do Vale has the power to transform visitors into actors for a more sustainable future. From a vision and experimental phase to Sinal do Vale fulfilling its promise in the 4Cs has required huge dedication and commitment from the whole team.
“The Long Run has been very privileged to be part of this journey and we are delighted to welcome Sinal do Vale as a GER® member and recognised leader in the highest standards in sustainable tourism. We are looking forward to continuing this journey together.”
In achieving GER® status Sinal do Vale has demonstrated its commitment as a leader in sustainable tourism and the extensive positive impacts their business has on both biodiversity and the wellbeing of people.
For further press information or interview requests please contact:
Alicia Brett, Marketing & Communications, [email protected]
About Sinal do Vale
Nestled in the tropical Atlantic Rainforest of Brazil (Mata Atlântica), one of the world´s most biodiverse and threatened biomes, Sinal do Vale is a living laboratory for the transition to sustainability.
Sinal do Vale’s vision is to be a catalyst for tangible social and environmental change both in our local and global community. It offers projects and services that respond to the challenges of social-environmental restoration and resilience, providing social entrepreneurs, students, and volunteers from all over the world a space for both dialogue and practical experimentation in the field of sustainability.
About The Long Run
Set up in 2009, The Long Run has quickly grown to become one of the world’s largest sustainable development initiatives. It works by championing any nature-based tourism business which is willing to commit to a journey of sustainable improvement through The Long Run’s ‘4C’ framework (encompassing Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce).
Members of The Long Run are at the forefront of conservation and responsible tourism, be that in Scotland or Sao Paulo, and prove that the planet and profit can co-exist and thrive together. Through their membership these pioneering businesses become connected to a global community of exceptional destinations and organisations who support and inspire each other to expand their positive impact even further, as well as collectively influencing others to take up best practices for a sustainable future. The Long Run provides ongoing support to members to drive sustainability, as well as helping inform travellers about making positive choices which support responsible destinations.
About Global Ecosphere Retreats (GER)®
All members of The Long Run strive to become recognised as Global Ecosphere Retreats (GER)®. The GER® standard is one of the most rigorous sustainability standards in the tourism industry. This standard was granted recognition by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council in 2015, and is only awarded to organisations that demonstrate a holistic balance of the ‘4C’s, excel in conserving nature and improve the wellbeing of the communities they belong to.
About Dr Delphine Malleret-King, Director of The Long Run
Delphine has more than 20 years experience as a Socio-Economist and professional Conservationist. She has worked as a Consultant all across Africa, specialising in Natural Resource Management, Marine And Terrestrial Conservation, Community Engagement And Socio-Economic Impact Monitoring For Local, National And International Organisations.
ALTOP stands for “All Love to our planet”. For 30 years, the publishing house has consistently been committed to the promotion of green solutions, products and services. Together with their partners, they give orientation to key decision-makers and help them to link economic success with social responsibility.
The publishing house began in 1984 with the alternatives Directory (now ECO-World life – the shopping guide for a healthy, enjoyable and sustainable lifestyle). The aim was to stimulate consumption in a targeted way and to ensure the urgently needed networking of companies and environmental activists.
In 2006, the publishing house responded to the increasing global discussion about responsible, sustainable business practices realising sustainability should no longer be seen as a future vision, but as an action taken in the daily business process. The response was to launch the magazine “Forum Sustainable Development”, the highest reach CSR magazine for politics, business, non-profit organisations and society in Germany. Forum Sustainability is published quarterly, brings daily online contributions and thus provides a cross-medial communication network.
www.forum-csr.net
