Five and Alive: In the spirit of corporate giving, Kate Roberts of Population Services International, the world's largest nonprofit social marketing organization, which distributes crucially needed supplies such as condoms, mosquito nets and water purification systems to needy communities in 67CHK countries, described the newly launched Condé Nast Traveler Five and Alive Fund. Roberts also elaborated on how cause marketing not only helps those in need, but how it can be good for the bottom line. She offered to help the travel industry to come up with creative marketing programs that will encourage their guests to support the Condé Nast Traveler Five and Alive Fund while boosting their company's image.

Saving the planet: The first panel, moderated by Condé Nast Traveler News Editor Kevin Doyle, tackled the question of how the travel industry, in an age of mass tourism, can effectively protect the environment. Panelists–Mark S. Conroy, presidents of Regent Seven Seas, Simon F. Cooper, president of Ritz-Carlton, ecotourism expert Jamie Sweeting, and Gus van Dyk, general manager of Tswalu Kalahari Reserve–discussed emerging environmental policies, technological innovations that help lighten the traveler's footprint, wildlife conservation, uncontrolled development, and poorly managed tourism sites ("Three bad tourists can do a lot more damage than 3,000 well-managed tourists," said Sweeting "We need to change this largely unregulated industry.")

Local benefits: Healthy debate marked the second panel discussion, when panelists were asked to consider the impact of luxury hotels on the lives of the locals. When moderator Dorinda Elliott, Condé Nast Traveler Deputy Editor, asked the panel to comment on the fact that a United Nations study reported that in many countries 70 percent to 80 percent of tourist dollars end up leaving the country, Jim FitzGibbon, president of Four Seasons, noted that opening one of his resorts in a country such as Thailand means employment for 600 to 700 locals. "The actual amount that's going back into the community is very direct," he said.

Patricia Barnett, director of the nonprofit Tourism Concern, pointed out that workers in hotels in developing countries are often paid about a $1 to €1 a day. "This is true in the Dominican Republic, in Cancun, on Nile cruises, and in various other countries," said Barnett. In the Maldives, she said, the malnutrition rate among locals is on par with sub-Sahara Africa. "Countries that promise paradise are often built on conditions that are really inequitable. The Maldives almost more than any other country in the world demonstrates this," she added. FitzGibbon responded that in the Maldives, where the Four Seasons has two properties, his company has launched a vocational program for young Maldivians and has recently started a similar training program in Mumbai. (For more on the Maldives, see "Low on the Water" (July 2007)

In concluding the conference, Glowczewska quoted sustainable architect William McDonough. "Just reflect on the fact that it took us 5,000 years to put wheels on our luggage....We have a big job ahead of us."