The hosting of COP 17 / CMP 7 in Durban from 28 November to 9 December is expected to attract between 20 000 and 30 000 delegates and visitors. This is significant, and represents probably the largest conference-related gathering in the world. A conference of this size presents key opportunities for accommodation facilities to benefit from COP 17 / CMP7. The kinds of people and organisations travelling to Durban for the conference will generally be more environmentally-aware than is perhaps usually the case and it is important that facilities adopt environmentally sustainable practices within their operations. In addition to this, accommodation facilities will contribute towards the environmental footprint of the event through their increased resource consumption (energy and water) and waste production over the conference period. In order to minimise the environmental impact of hosting COP 17 / CMP 7, it is critical that relevant initiatives are put in place to achieve this. For COP 17 / CMP 7, these initiatives will be coordinated under the eThekwini Municipality’s COP 17 / CMP 7 Greening Programme. As part of the COP 17/CMP 7 Greening Programme, the City is taking the opportunity to develop and pilot a campaign encouraging Durban’s hospitality sector to engage around adopt “responsible tourism”, and this is being done through the COP 17 / CMP 7 Responsible Accommodation Campaign.

The campaign will focus on building awareness of climate change, its implications for businesses, the COP 17 / CMP 7 event, and responsible tourism. The campaign will provide practical support, knowledge, ideas and tools for hospitality business owners to start this process. The COP 17 / CMP 7 Responsible Accommodation Campaign comprises three parts: two campaign forums, a practical “Responsible Accommodation Toolkit” and “Responsible Visitors Charter”.

The purpose of the forums is to provide an opportunity for owners / managers of accommodation facilities in and around Durban to be exposed to new knowledge and ideas which are practical and important for their businesses, and to provide practical information on how to implement more sustainable practices within their operations. It is at these forums that accommodation facilities will join the campaign and receive a toolkit. Participants will also receive a certificate acknowledging their participation in this campaign. Two forums will held, with the first taking place on the 12 September at the Protea Edward Hotel and the second forum on the 12 October at the Southern Sun Elangeni Hotel.

The hotel and accommodation sector is the main target audience for these forums. It is anticipated that representatives from hotels, bed and breakfast establishments and self-catering facilities will attend the forums. The forums are free of charge.