Elevate Symposium Looks At Barriers to Sustainable Development: Opportunities are Lost as Policy Makers Hesitate

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Downtown Vail, CO

While some inroads have been made in sustainable development in special places there is a major lag between intent, policy and action.

Vail, Colorado (PRWEB) June 21, 2012

The Elevate Symposium looks at barriers to sustainable development as opportunities are lost as policy makers hesitate. With more than 980 million international travellers worldwide in 2011 (a 6% increase over 2012) according to the UNWTO, and ten years after the UN’s 2002 International Year of Ecotourism, how are place makers coping with sustainable tourism and sustainable development particularly in special places such as the mountain
communities of Colorado?

The need for cooperation and partnerships between policy makers, planners and architects and the building industry will be a key topic of the Elevate. Vail 2012, Creating and Sustaining Special Places Symposium this September 25th to 27th in Vail, Colorado. “Elevate will particularly focus on the interconnection of the built and natural environments in special places and the issues of sustainable development and how they relate to sustainable tourism and special place communities. “ said Mark Woodberry, one of the Elevate organizers from Regional Breakthroughs Australia. “ While some inroads have been made in sustainable development in special places there is a major lag between intent, policy and action, we are hoping the Elevate Symposium will go some way in breaking through these barriers.”

Will Marcus, Managing Director of Argo Architects and Master Planners, and a key note speaker at Elevate, concurs when he recently spoke from Australia, “Planners, architects and designers, along with a few inspired builders and organizations, are really leading the way in sustainable development and building. While there are some outstanding examples of successful sustainable initiatives, to be wholly successful the policies of government and the practices of manufacturers and construction companies need to catch up with imagination and understanding of the place making professionals.” Mr. Marcus added, “The Elevate Symposium will be an excellent venue for the very necessary discussions about how all of the people involved in making decisions about special places can work together to ensure special places are sustainable environmentally, as well as sustainable in the sense that communities can be made viable and vigorous.”

Details on the Elevate. Vail 2012, Creating and Sustaining Special Places Symposium, taking place on the 25th to the 27th of September 2012 in Vail Colorado, are available from Constance Woodberry. Places are limited and early bookings receive a lodging discount.

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