The initiators of the Sustainable Mountain Tourism Alliance (STMA) are international sustainability advocates, including the tourism Industry, NGOs, the private sector, and academia.
The 1st Symposium in January 2015 was the official SMTA founding event for a wide audience. The 2nd Symposium in January 2016 invites participants and eventually the broader public to form the SMTA together. The 3rd Symposium in January 2017 addressed the specific sustainability assessment tools and looked at best practice in implementing sustainability in mountain tourism, while the focus of this 3rd Symposium has been on tourism and a circular economy.
The initiators of the SMTA are:
Klaas van Hoek, Manager Zelena Consulting, Sustainable Projects, Sweden
Long distance cyclist and snowshoeing expert. More than 25 years experience in working with national and international energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainability projects in different European countries. Native Dutch and educated as mechanical engineer.
Laurent Burget, Co-President, Mountain Riders
Laurent Burget is an environmental engineer. He developed the Eco Guide to Mountain Resorts in 2006, measured the first Carbon Footprint in a ski resort in 2007, and launched the Flocon Vert label in 2012 together with many partners. He is a fan of snowboarding, split board touring, cross country skiing and yoga.
Stewart Sheppard
Stewart is a passionate skier and environmentalist; he is part of the fabrics sustainability team at WL Gore & associates and owner at S2 consulting.
Prof. Dr. Tobias Luthe is Professor for Sustainability Science at the Institute for Tourism and Leisure ITF at the University of Applied Sciences Chur, Switzerland. Tobias was the first full time head of environmental affairs of the German Ski Federation (DSV). He developed the most eco friendly skis on the market and is a professional ski instructor and ski mountaineering guide. More info: www.tobiasluthe.de