Our Story

20 Years of Uniting Conservation, Communities and Sustainable Travel

1990

TIES launched by a team organized by Megan Epler Wood at a conference in Florida in 1989 as the world's first international non-profit dedicated to ecotourism as a tool for conservation and sustainable development.

Epler Wood recruits the first board of directors and Chairman, David Western in 1990. Western and Epler Wood raise the first grants for the Society.

Epler Wood named Executive Director in 1991, organizes first board meeting.  Publications, guidelines, and membership programs are launched.

1991

Opens offices in Alexandria, Virginia and North Bennington, Vermont. Board establishes TIES mission and the definition of ecotourism that is still mostly widely used around the world.

Works with Charles Darwin Foundation to find solutions to uncontrolled tourism growth in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.

Offers its first "Ecotourism Management Seminar" with the George Washington University in Washington, DC.

Advocates for sound ecotourism practices at World Parks and Protected Areas Congress in Caracas, Venezuela and First World Congress on Tourism and the Environment in Belize.

Produces first set of comprehensive guidelines for ecotourism operators based on international surveys and focus groups.

Publishes its first book, Ecotourism: A Guide for Planners and Manager and popular pamphlet Ecotourism Guidelines for Nature Tour Operators.

Working with member tour operators, helps win higher park entrance fees for foreign visitors to Costa Rica's National Parks.

Unifies head office in North Bennington, Vermont.

Sponsors first "International Ecolodge Forum and Field Seminar on Ecolodge Design" at Maho Bay Camps, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Holds the first "International Ecotourism Partners" meeting in Virgin Islands to foster national and regional ecotourism associations.

Launches Ecotourism News Service and Ecotourism Society Research Service; issues first fact sheets and information packets.

Publishes The Ecolodge Sourcebook for Planners and Developers.

Holds forum in Costa Rica with participants from over 30 countries to define international ecolodge standards.

Holds first "Marine Ecotourism Workshop" in Hawaii.

Co-publishes Tourism, Ecotourism and Protected Areas, with the World Conservation Union (IUCN).

Launches website.

Co-hosts first regional forum, "Ecotourism and Community Participation," in Quito, Ecuador.

Together with Kenya Wildlife Service and Ecotourism Society of Kenya, sponsors regional conference, "Ecotourism at the Crossroads: Charting the Way Forward," in Nairobi, Kenya.

Holds regional workshop, "Planning and Developing an Ecotourism Destination," in Quintana Roo, Mexico.

Co-hosts ecotourism training workshop for tour operators in Tahiti.

Conducts "Marine Ecotourism Stakeholder" meetings in the Caribbean and Mexico.

Publishes Marine Ecotourism Guidelines.

Holds ecotourism training workshop at the World Ecotourism Conference in Sabah, Malaysia.

Works with the Programme for Belize to analyze revenue generating strategies for conserving coral reefs.

Produces Cultural Survival Quarterly issue entitled "Protecting Indigenous Culture and Land through Ecotourism."

Kicks off first consumer education campaign, "Your Travel Choice Can Make a Difference."

Attends "Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Certification Workshop" at Mohonk Mountain House, New York and signs seminal "Mohonk Agreement."

Publishes The Business of Ecolodges, based on international survey of financial data from ecolodges.

Changes name to The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) in preparation for International Year of Ecotourism (IYE); moves its office from North Bennington to Burlington, Vermont. 

With the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), holds IYE regional meetings in Belize and the Seychelles.

Launches new online magazine, Ecotourism Observer. and publishes Ecotourism: Principles, Practices and Policies for Sustainability.

Joins Rainforest Alliance’s initiative to assess feasibility of creating accreditation system for sustainable tourism and ecotourism certification. 

Holds additional IYE regional meetings in India, Peru, Thailand, Kenya and Sweden.

Participates in World Ecotourism Summit in Quebec City, Canada, organizing NGOs and indigenous groups, and offering training workshops.

Publishes International Ecolodge Guidelines.

Martha Honey becomes new Executive Director.

Headquarters move to Washington, DC.

Conducts study on social and environmental footprint of nature-based lodges around the world.

Launches distance learning courses and Sustainable Tourism Certification with the George Washington University.

Co-hosts the first Traveler's Philanthropy conference at Stanford University in California.

Holds first Annual General Meeting open to all members and first "Celebration of Ecotourism and Eco-Holiday Auction," in Washington, DC.

Begins multi-year research on tourism certification as part of Rainforest Alliance-led project focusing on five Latin American countries.

Supports relief efforts and advocates for sustainable tourism in Indian Ocean countries devastated by tsunami.

Marks 15th anniversary with second "Celebration of Ecotourism" in Washington, DC.

Sponsors first conference on "Ecotourism in the U.S.," in Bar Harbor, Maine, together with local Chamber of Commerce.

Holds the third annual "Celebration of Ecotourism" in Washington, DC, highlighting best of the best eco-holiday packages from around the world.

Launches the Advocacy Campaign "Traveling with Climate in Mind" 

Holds the fourth annual "Celebration of Ecotourism" at the Organization of the American States (OAS) Building in Washington, DC. 

Organizes the Global Ecotourism Conference 2007 (Oslo, Norway), the first global gathering of ecotourism professionals after the IYE.

Organizess the North American Ecotourism Conference 2007 (Madison, Wisconsin), the first bi-national conference focused on ecotourism in North America. 

Organizes, in partnership with local NGOs, the first Washington DC Eco-Tour, highlighting eco-friendly initiatives and educational opportunities in the greater Washington, DC community.

Hosts a public forum "Indigenous Business Leaders in Ecotourism" in partnership with the Swedish Ecotourism Society.

Announces the Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference (ESTC) as TIES' annual conference focusing on greening the tourism industry in the US and Canada. 

Organizes the Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference 2008 (ESTC 2008) in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

2009

Launches the ecoDestinations program, with the goal of connecting travelers with inspiring ecotourism initiatives in various destinations around the world.

Launches renewed and upgraded website (Ecotourism.org), incorporating improved tools for members around the world.

Launches Your Travel Choice Blog (YourTravelChoice.org), TIES new interactive communication platform to engage, educate and inspire.

Announces partnership with Planeterra Foundation, TIES Voluntourism Partner.

Publishes the first edition of the Travel Green Guide, TIES new annual e-publication serving as a resource guide to responsible travel options.

Announces conference partnership with the Adventure Travel Trade Association.