#EcoTourism #Kenya announces long list for #EcoWarriorAwards2018

ECOTOURISM KENYA SET TO ANNOUNCE 2018 ECO WARRIOR WINNERS ON WORLD TOURISM DAY

(Posted 08th August 2018)

Ecotourism Kenya has just announced the long list of applicants who will be contesting for the Eco Warrior Awards in 2018.

The theme for this year’s Award is – Tourism: Protecting Culture and Heritage.

The Eco Warrior Award will present an opportunity to showcase the role of tourism in creating awareness, offering necessary tools, enhancing public opinion and support in the conservation and preservation of natural and cultural heritage in Kenya.

Kenya Nite!

To recognize and award the finalists, an appropriately themed Gala Dinner will be held in Nairobi on Wednesday 26th September 2018 on the eve of the World Tourism Day. The event will provide a platform for showcasing our diversity as a destination; celebrating our unbeatable cuisine; and embracing a fusion of modern and vibrant traditional heritage through music and dance. Together with our branding sponsors Zuri Events and host Crown Plaza, Nairobi, we give a promise to the participants that each will get a chance to dress up in their favorite Kenyan cultural outfit and have a celebratory night of fun and great networking!

We have compiled a list of exciting raffle prizes that will be up for grabs during the Gala Dinner courtesy of the certified sustainable tourism accommodation facilities. To book your place at the dinner and for payment details, register at this link https://ecotourismkenya.org/ecowarrioraward/dinner-registration/

Charges: Kshs 6,500 for individual

Kshs. 60,000 for a table of 10

Ecotourism Kenya members get a 15% discount.

List of the 2018 nominees who have made it to the long list:

The application process closed on 14th July 2018. The following individuals and organizations made it to the long list under the 10 categories:

1) Best Accommodation Facility in Promoting Culture and Heritage

· Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge

· Cottars’ 1920s Camp

· Kicheche Mara Camp

· The Sands At Nomad

· Serena Beach Resort and Spa

2) Best Learning/Training Institution in Promoting Culture and Heritage

· Dedan Kimathi University of Technology

· Amboseli Institute of Hospitality and Technology

· Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University

· Kenya Utalii College

· Kenya Wildlife Service Training Institute

3) Best Tour Operator in Engaging People and Culture

· Uni Globe Lets Go Travel

· Gamewatchers Safaris Ltd

· Eco adventures Safaris

4) Best Community Based Tourism Organization in Promoting Cultural and Natural Heritage

· Kakapel Cultural Centre

· Mlilo Community Based Tourism Association

· Makueni Tourism & Cultural Centre

· Otenyo Cultural Group

· Awjama Cultural Center

· Jambo Africa Tourism Network

5) Best Conservancy in Promotion of Culture and Heritage

· Selenkay Conservancy Kajiado County

· Batian Conservation Kirinyaga County

· Orage K E Kisumu County

6) Best Blogger/Journalist in Promoting People, Culture and Heritage

· Abraham Chege

· Claire Nasike

· Kennedy Kimathi

· Mary Wangeci

· Thomas Mwiraria

· Wangeci Gitahi

7) Best Student in Engaging People, Culture and Heritage

· Jeremiah Njogu

· Anthony Ngao

· Kelvin Okumu

· Leila Yusuf

· Lenny Macharia

· Peter Muthanji

8) Best in Protecting Marine Heritage

· The Sands at Nomad Diani Beach

· Serena Beach Resort and Spa Shanzu Beach

· Local Ocean Conservation Watamu

9) Best Destination in Promoting Cultural Heritage

· Elgeyo Marakwet County

· Siaya County

· Uasin Gishu County

10) Best Heritage Attractions

· Lamu Museum Lamu County

· Kitale Museum Trans-Nzoia County

· Karen Blixen Museum Nairobi County

A shortlist of the finalist will be announce a week before the Award ceremony.

About the Eco Warrior Award:

Eco-warrior Award is a Kenyan Tourism Award that recognises and celebrates outstanding contribution to ecotourism practice in Kenya. It is aimed at motivating winning ventures/ operations and industry at large to embrace practices that are ecologically and ethically sustainable in order to compete with the best in the world. The overall goal is to transform Kenya to a sustainable tourism destination.

About Ecotourism Kenya:

Ecotourism Kenya is a civil society organization directly serving more than 450 members, and reaching out to hundreds more in Kenya. Since its inception in 1996 Ecotourism Kenya has been involved in a wide range of activities to promote and broaden the industry understanding of sustainable tourism, and attract membership beyond the mainstream tourism industry. These include organizing conferences and training workshops to developing guidelines such as the Green Destination Guidelines, codes of conduct, best practices and a Green Eco-rating Certification Scheme. Ecotourism Kenya has had many firsts: it was the first Ecotourism Society in Africa; the first to develop a voluntary eco-certification scheme for hotels/lodges in Africa, the first to publish a Green Directory of producers of green products and services, the first to develop a Sustainability Standard for Tour Operators in E. Africa and the first to develop Green Destination Guidelines in Africa.

For more information about EcoTourism Kenya simply click on the link below:

www.ecotourismkenya.org