Manage and certify your organization’s sustainability initiatives within the Thompson Okanagan
The Biosphere Commitment Program
The Biosphere Commitment Program equips tourism businesses in the Thompson Okanagan with the necessary tools and resources to measure, manage, and report sustainability management efforts that align with the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Thompson Okanagan Destination Certification to prepare businesses for a globally recognized certification.
The program is an extension of the region's Biosphere Destination Certification. This collaborative industry initiative supports tourism organizations while they engage in sustainable management practices.
The Biosphere Commitment program is open to businesses, non-profit organizations, and communities.
"Obtaining an eco-certification is crucial for every hotel, and the Biosphere program has been an excellent avenue for us to achieve it. Thanks to our certification, we've seen a remarkable 20% boost in revenue on booking.com compared to our competitors. Furthermore, our certification allows us to command premium rates, setting us apart in the market."
Quality Inn and Suites Vernon
Program Testimonials
“My experience with the Biosphere program has been very positive. Their online platform is intuitive and user friendly, as I was able to navigate easily through the actions catalogue to complete my sustainability assessment. When I needed help, the knowledgeable team at TOTA was there to answer all my questions. I would recommend the Biosphere program to all businesses and destinations as it really helped me up my game in terms of sustainability.”
Noble Ridge Vineyard & Winery
“Using the online portal has been incredibly easy to identify areas that we have already succeeded in and where we can improve upon our sustainability practices at Dirty Laundry.”
Dirty Laundry Vineyard
Biosphere Program Sustainability Services
Biosphere is the international sustainability management and certification system of the Responsible Tourism Institute (RTI), based on the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets. With indicators developed in collaboration with the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, this is the worldwide methodology for connecting DMOs, organizations, and tourists, enabling different entities to define and make their sustainable strategies and objectives visible. The system of continuous improvement in sustainability includes all the international know-how and 100% online tools to evaluate, recognize, and communicate the sustainable practices of any entity in real time.
