Nominations Sought for Ecotour Guide of the Year

The Hawaii Ecotourism Association board of directors is seeking nominees for a recently created award called “Ecotour Guide of the Year.”

HEA member operators can nominate their employees for this newly created award.

Hawai‘i Ecotourism Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to protect Hawai‘i’s unique environment and culture through the promotion of responsible travel and educational programs aimed at the public and visitor industry relating to ecotourism issues.

Three finalists will be chosen and the voting process will be opened to the general public. The winner will be announced at the HEA annual awards luncheon in May.

Nominees should embody the core assets of quality ecotourism: effective interpretation, conservation of natural resources and authentic cultural experiences.

Nominees must also have good communication skills, exhibit understanding and implementation of traditional Hawaiian hospitality, and set a good example for promoting sustainable tourism in Hawaii.

Nominations will be accepted now through April 5.

To submit a nomination, email HEA at admin@hawaiiecotourism.org. Include “Ecotour Guide of the Year Nomination” in the subject line of the email. The body of the email must include:

1) HEA member organization/employer.

2) Guide name (nominee).

3) Ecotourism credentials (trainings, certifications, etc.).

4) A description of 250 words or less explaining why the nominee is worthy of the honor.

5) Contact information for person or persons submitting nomination.

Finalists will be announced on the HEA Facebook page on April 12, at which time voting will commence.

For more information go to www.hawaiiecotourism.org.