Banff & Lake Louise Tourism has taken a groundbreaking step this year by launching the Community Impact Program (CIP). What sets this program apart is its ability to create an impact in a destination where its existence is primarily attributed to the thriving tourism industry it has fostered. While many other mountain towns originated as mining settlements, Banff was purposefully established in the 1880s with tourism at the forefront of its development.
The Community Impact Program goes beyond the traditional approach to tourism, aiming to positively transform the environment, society, and economy of the region while driving sustainable economic growth. By incentivizing businesses to choose Banff and Lake Louise for their meetings and events, the program encourages investment in the local community and simultaneously enhances social and environmental outcomes.
The launch of the program closely follows the unveiling of the 10-Year Vision for Tourism in Banff National Park. CIP builds on the foundational pillars of environmental sustainability, community well-being, and economic prosperity.
Banff & Lake Louise Tourism is setting a powerful example for other destinations, highlighting the potential for tourism to be a force for good.
A collaboration between Banff & Lake Louise Tourism (BLLT) and the non-profit Banff Canmore Community Foundation, CIP provides delegates with a pre-paid credit card funded by the program itself, with additional funds from BLLT. The card gives users the freedom to experience the destination and take home a part of Banff and Lake Louise that is close to their heart. Moreover, when a group enrolls for the program, they have a valuable opportunity to align themselves with a local charity that reflects their values. BLLT makes an initial contribution to the chosen charity on their behalf, this enables the group to create a meaningful impact and leave a lasting legacy.
Other sustainability initiatives are widespread throughout Banff & Lake Louise. Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise has been purchasing green power since 1999 through an agreement with the Canadian Eco-Logo-certified Canadian Hydro Developers. Currently, 50 percent of the property’s electrical needs are met by a blend of wind and run-of-river electricity generation. The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity has been awarded a certification score of 4 Green Keys out of 5 from the Hotel Association of Canada. The Centre’s principal meeting facility is engineered to be one of the greenest meeting facilities in Canada attaining a LEED Gold designation.
For every room night at a Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts property, a $2 nightly contribution is made to the EcoStay Forestry Initiative. To date, Deer Lodge and Buffalo Mountain Lodge have offset the equivalent of 832 car trips across North America.