ECO TOURISM KENYA REVEALS NOMINEES FOR THE 2013 ECO WARRIOR AWARDS
(Posted 09th August 2013)
It was learned overnight through a media release from EcoTourism Kenya, that they have completed the nomination list for the 2013 Eco Warrior Awards. The winners will be announced during the EcoTourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference, which will take place at Nairobi’s Safari Park Hotel between September 24th to 27th.
The Award Gala Night is due to be held as part of the conference’s social event programme and will take place on the 24th of September. Some of Kenya’s biggest names are on the list of nominees and I am particularly pleased to see several properties listed I have in the past visited and then rated 5 star on TripAdvisor, such as Hemingways’ Ol Seki, the Ol Kinyei Conservancy of Porini / Gamewatchers, Ol Pejeta – a place I continue to describe as the arguably most complete safari experience in Kenya all in one place – the Porini camps in the Mara and Amboseli and Safarilink, THE safari airline operating out of Wilson airport and the first to be carbon neutral through their acclaimed tree planting campaign on Mt. Kenya.
To them, and all the others I periodically write about, like Cheli & Peacock, Sarova, Serena and many more, the best wishes for success in this year’s award season.
2013 Eco-Warriors Awards Gala Dinner and Nominees Announcement
Ecotourism Kenya will hold its 7th Edition of the Eco-Warriors Award Ceremony Gala Night on 24th September 2013.
The Award ceremony is held annually to recognize exceptional achievers in ecotourism best practices in Kenya. Over 77 applications were received for this year’s awards, the nominees are as follows:
1. Conservancy of the Year 2013 – Private
a) Ol Pejeta
b) Borana Conservancy
2. Conservancy of the Year 2013 – Community
a) Ol Kinyei Conservancy
b) Ilngwesi Conservancy
c) Naboisho Conservancy
d) Mara North Conservancy
3. Ecotourism Enterprise of the Year 2013 – Lodge
a) Severin Sea Lodge
b) Serena Mountain Lodge
c) Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge
d) Sirikoi Lodge
e) Tawi Lodge
f) Keekorok Lodge
g) Olarro Lodge
h) Sarova Shaba Game Lodge
4. Ecotourism Enterprise of the Year 2013 – Tented Camp
a) Ol Seki Hemingways Mara
b) Lake Elementaita Serena Camp
c) Porini Mara Camp
d) Kilima Camp
e) Basecamp Masai Mara
f) Kiboko Luxury Camp
g) Elephant Pepper Camp
h) Sanctuary Olonana
i) Sarova Mara
j) Governors camp
5. Ecotourism Enterprise of the Year 2013 – Villas/ Holiday homes
a) Forest Dream Resort
b) Medina Palms
6. Ecotourism Enterprise of the Year 2013 – Community Based (Supported by Kenya Wildlife Trust)
a) Porini Amboseli Camp
b) Camp Kenya
c) Kobo Safaris Ltd
d) Statunga Ecotours
7. Ecotourism Enterprise of the Year 2013 – Tours and Travel
a) Gamewatchers Safaris Ltd
b) Kobo Safaris Ltd
c) Exclusive Eco Travels Ltd
d) Cheli & Peacock Safaris
8. Ecotourism Enterprise of the Year 2013 – Airline
a) Air Kenya
b) Safarilink
9. Eco-Rated Facility of the Year 2013
a) Basecamp Masai Mara
b) Ol Seki Hemingways Mara
c) Sasaab Lodge
d) Kicheche Valley Camp
e) Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge
f) Lake Elementaita Serena Camp
g) Serena Mountain Lodge
h) Serena Beach Hotel & Spa
i) Porini Amboseli Camp
j) Turtle Bay Beach Club
k) Kichwa Tembo
l) Joy’s Camp
m) Sanctuary Olonana
n) Baobab Beach Resort
o) Kicheche Camp Ltd
10. Ecotourism Partnership of the Year 2013
a) Ol Seki Hemingways Mara
b) Sasaab Samburu
c) Porini Amboseli Camp
d) Kobo Safaris Ltd
e) Cheli & Peacock Community Trust
f) Basecamp Maasai Brand
11. Ecotourism Guide of the Year 2013 (Supported by Kenya Wildlife Trust)
a) Christopher Letur- Saruni Samburu
b) Deric Nabaala- Basecamp EagleView
c) Nelson Ole Reyia- Sanctuary Olonana
d) Andrew Odhiambo- Kicheche camps
e) Onesmus Irungu- Rekero Camp
f) David Ng’ang’a- Mara Rianta
12. Ecotourism Journalist of the Year 2013
a) Kimathi Mutegi- People Daily
b) Aby Agina- Nation Media Group
c) Rupi Mangat – Saturday Magazine
d) Carol Gatura – CCTV
13. Ecotourism Student Innovation Award 2013
a) Anthony Muinde
b) Mwania Stephen
c) David Mwabili & Billy Oyaro
d) Musau Makau
14. Ecotourism Training Program of the Year 2013
a) Strathmore University
b) Kenyatta University
c) Amboseli Institute
d) International Hospitality & Tourism Institute
15. Ecotourism Student Host Organization of the Year 2013
a) Mlilo Community Tours & Safaris
b) Statunga Ecotours
Eco-Warrior Awards recognize efforts, innovations and exceptional achievements for promoting responsible tourism and enhancing tourism sustainability which directly conserves the natural environment linked to local communities (either credible individuals or groups) through mutually beneficial and equitable partnerships. Therefore, the awards aim to celebrate ecotourism best practices in different tourism sectors and tourism set ups in Kenya. Eco-Warriors Awards truly recognize many otherwise unsung heroes and heroines for their effort to promote responsible and sustainable tourism in Kenya.
The unique characteristic of ecotourism is its cardinal principle of linking tourism to nature conservation and community development, especially for local people who have conserved the environment since time immemorial through their traditional customs and cultural practices. It was in Kenya that The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), the world’s first organization to dedicate all of its resources to tourism as a sustainable development mechanism, was born. The International Ecotourism Society now has over 1,000 members from over 120 countries, who represent a strong voice for tourism as a positive force for change.
The 2013 Eco-Warriors Award cereomony will be held during the Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference (ESTC13) Kenya Night Event. This year’s ESTC will bring together an estimated 500 professionals from around the world. For further details please visit http://www.ecotourismconference.org
