Climate change is real, and from 10-13 November 2019, Les Roches will be hosting the Environment Festival 2019 to highlight the existential challenge we face. The four-day event will see a range of Q&A sessions with eminent professionals, debates, workshops and a Climate Change Challenge all centred around sustainability in hospitality and beyond.
As governments start to catch up with widespread concerns on climate change and global warming, we bring together influential speakers and companies at the Les Roches Crans-Montana campus for a series of discussions and activities. This landmark Festival has been made possible through the collaboration with our event partners: SUNx Strong Universal Network, Earth Focus Foundation and Green Club.
The Festival is a platform for exchange, learning and raising awareness about climate change and sustainability. The event is open to not only Les Roches students, but to other hospitality and engineering schools as well as local primary schools. We are proud to be the first school in the region of Valais running an initiative of this kind. (www.stocktargetadvisor.com)
Accepting the climate challenge
Attendees over the four days can expect to take part in sustainability workshops, mindfulness sessions, networking opportunities and demonstrations from world-renowned brands. Students will also be able to take part in the inaugural Les Roches Climate Change Challenge – a new competition to develop innovative ideas to enhance the environmental sustainability of the hospitality industry.
Spread across the Festival timetable will be Q&A sessions, debates and speeches from seven eminent professionals with careers spanning a range of industries. All of our guest speakers will also be taking part in an industry panel debate on day two, on the ‘Impact of Travel and Tourism’.
Confirmed speakers
Oliver Rowe, The Urban Chef
– Oliver will be presenting the Festival’s keynote speech about his experience in the food industry and how the decisions we make as consumers are part of a bigger agroeconomic process.
“I’ll talk about how cooking and eating, indeed all endeavours with food, are all part of the agroeconomic process and that everything we do in our careers and lives as consumers and participants means making decisions based on more than just quality and flavour. I’ll also discuss how complicated these decisions may be.”
Professor Geoffrey Lipman, SUNx Co-founder
– Professor Lipman will be presenting the Swiss unveiling of his ‘Climate Friendly Travel Ambitions Report’ following the recent unveiling in New York in the context of the UN Secretary General’s Climate Action Summit.
“My sole focus is the existential impact of the Climate Crisis and responsive action by Travel and Tourism. Existential means just that …. everything else is rearranging deckchairs on the Titanic.”
Nicola Spafford-Furey, Vice-President Earth Focus Foundation
– Nicola will be hosting interactive sessions throughout the Festival.
“I’ll be covering the work of the Earth Focus Foundation, our projects to promote and share sustainable development. The Centre Objectif Terre building plans, the Sustinabus, the development of the series Dodo-Revival and stories of people who have individually acted for sustainability in interesting and admirable situations.”
Catherine Dolton, Vice President Global Corporate Responsibility InterContinentalHotels Group
– Catherine will be leading a problem-based learning workshop.
“The actions we take as a business increasingly shape how IHG is perceived by important stakeholders. I want the students to understand how crucial it is to operate with integrity and rigorous high standards, and to grow our business in a way that positively impacts on our environment and local communities.”
Davina Stanford, Course Director Responsible Tourism Management MSc at Leeds Beckett University
– Currently undertaking research exploring conflicting narratives of growth and sustainability in tourism, Davina will participate in the Festival panel discussion.
“If we are serious about sustainability, should we fly? And if so, under what circumstances?”
Caroline Ogi, Special Advisor at Matterhorn Relocation GmbH
– Caroline brings over 20 years of leadership experience to the Environment Festival panel discussion.
“I am encouraged by the current groundswell of environmental activism among young people. It is a very big topic that concerns not only our hotel business, but all economy. It is an important issue as well for the federal elections that just took place in our country a couple of weeks ago.”
Joceline Noel Favre – Les Roches Bulle Campus Facility Manager
– Joceline brings over 20 years’ experience in Operations and Hospitality. She is leading the organization of the Environment Festival.
Join us this 10-13 November 2019
This exciting, thought-provoking and highly interactive event is open to a specially-invited audience of local and international institutions and universities. Check with your school or institution for your invite details and join us in helping to transform the long-term sustainability of the hospitality industry.
