Marriott Chief Warns WTM Delegates

Top hotelier, Ed Fuller, President and Managing Director of Marriott International Lodging, will be making a stark warning at this year's WTM World Responsible Tourism Day. Fuller is in the 'Hot Seat' with Stephen Sackur, BBC World's leading news presenter of award-winning global TV programme 'Hard Talk'.

The interview - one of the hard hitting highlights of WTM's World Responsible Tourism Day on Wednesday 12 November at ExCeL London at 12 noon - is encouraging companies and destinations to undertake responsible tourism. In association with the UNWTO and backed by leading industry associations worldwide, the day is the most ambitious global initiative of its kind in the world. Fiona Jeffery, chairman of World Travel Market said they were delighted that Ed Fuller had accepted their invitation to discuss its environmental approach. "We hope he will inspire more multi-national companies to seriously consider a responsible tourism strategy."

Fuller has promised not to soften his words.

"I believe we are standing at a crossroads", he said. "While the science behind climate change may still be debated, few argue that temperatures are rising globally and that this change will potentially have a devastating effect on destinations and populations.

"As an industry, it is too risky to sit back and watch. We need to take an active part in understanding the change and doing our part to mitigate this trend." He said that Marriott is being proactive. The company is working with Conservation International to fully understand and accurately measure its global carbon footprint. "We have project teams focused on ways to integrate better environmental approaches throughout our business including procurement, architecture and construction, engineering. "Our industry is the biggest in the world and promises to grow exponentially over the next 50 years. We cannot ignore the realities. "We have a role to play now in reducing our industry's impact on the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the destinations where we do business." Fuller said that being a hotelier is not as simple as it was when he started 35 years ago. In addition to revenue, profit and growth, he said there was also a need to focus on destination stewardship. "We are not just selling hotels, but the destination as well", he added. "When travelers make their buying decision, they generally do not select a destination because they want to stay in one of our hotels � especially when making leisure travel choices. They pick a destination because they want to experience its cultural or culinary attractions, environmental areas or places of historical significance. "I consider it a privilege to operate hotels on pristine beaches, near nature and wildlife reserves and in historic cultural cities - I consider it our duty to protect and preserve these destinations. While we focus on our short-term goals and annual profits, let us not lose sight of the long-term responsibility we have to the places where we call home. "I challenge our industry to take ownership for finding viable and creative responses to the causes of climate change and be better stewards of the environment. "We can make a difference... we must make a difference."

'Hot Seat' with Ed Fuller and Stephen Sackur will be at 12 noon on Wednesday 12 November at WTM's Conference Set, Platinum Suite 4, Level 3, ExCeL London. Log on to www.wtmwrtd.co.uk for the WTM World Responsible Tourism Day programme

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NOTES TO EDITORS World Travel Market - New Admission Policy World Travel Market (WTM), the global trade event for the travel industry announces a new admission policy, designed to benefit both exhibitors and visitors alike. The new WTM policy includes changes to the structure of the daily format, with WTM Opening Day on Monday 10 November, open to Exhibitors, Exhibitor Invitees, Ministers, and press. The following three days, Tuesday 11 November - Thursday 13 November, will be accessible to all Meridian Club members, Travel Trade professionals, Ministers and press, giving participants more flexibility to choose the days they wish to visit the exhibition. Students will be invited to attend WTM on Wednesday 12 November and Thursday 13 November, where they will participate in a structured education programme. Individuals from the retail arm of the travel industry including travel agents, homeworkers and call centre staff will be invited to attend WTM on Thursday 13 November.

WTM remains a trade only exhibition. A full programme of conferences, seminars, B2B meetings, and industry initiatives will run across three days, Tuesday 11 November - Thursday 13 November and includes the UNWTO Minister's Summit, WTM World Responsible Tourism Day (WTM WRTD), along with a number of new initiatives on Thursday 13 November, such as an extended Responsible Tourism programme and exhibitor to exhibitor networking initiatives. For further details visit www.wtmlondon.com. Reed Exhibitions Reed Exhibitions is the world's leading events organiser. In 2007 Reed brought together over six million industry professionals from around the world generating billions of dollars in business. Today Reed events are held in 38 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, and organised by 39 fully staffed offices. Reed organises a wide range of events, including exhibitions, conferences, congresses and meetings. Its portfolio of over 500 events serves 47 industry sectors, including: Aerospace & aviation, automobiles, building & construction, electronics, energy, engineering, entertainment, environment, food & hospitality, gifts, healthcare, IT, jewellery, life sciences & pharmaceuticals, property, manufacturing, medical education, packaging & converting, printing & visual communication, security, sports & recreation, travel. Working closely with professional bodies, trade associations and government departments Reed ensures that each and every event is targeted and relevant to industry needs. As a result, many Reed events are market leaders in their field. Reed Exhibitions is part of Reed Elsevier Group plc, a FTSE-100 company and world-leading publisher and information provider. The group employs more than 32,000 people, including approximately 20,000 in North America. In February 2008, Reed Elsevier reported revenues for 2007 of �4,584m/�6,693m.

For further WTM WRTD information contact Jane Larcombe on +44 (0) 1892 785071 email jane@janelarcombecommunications.com.

For further WTM press information please contact Arleigh Galant Vasconcellos on +44(0)20 8910 7038 email: arleigh.galantvasconcellos@reedexpo.co.uk.