Global Ambassadors of Peace Awards 2017

World Travel Market, London, 6 November 2017

IIPT Global Awards · WTM London 2017

Seven Global Ambassadors of Peace through Tourism

On 6 November 2017, at World Travel Market in London, IIPT honoured seven leaders of the movement for sustainable tourism as Global Ambassadors of Peace through Tourism, and conferred its lifetime award as “Global Man of Peace” on Dr. Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General of UNWTO.

Before a distinguished international audience, the awards were preceded by short talks on “Tourism – A Catalyst for Peace”. The evening was hosted by Anita Mendiratta, Managing Director of CACHET Consulting and Special Advisor to the Secretary-General of UNWTO, and the awards were sponsored by Cox & Kings.

Date6 November 2017
VenueWorld Travel Market, London
HostAnita Mendiratta, CACHET Consulting
SponsorCox & Kings

The 2017 IIPT Global Ambassadors of Peace on stage at WTM London — The IIPT Global Ambassadors of Peace 2017 at World Travel Market, London.

Dr. Taleb Rifai holding his award between Louis D'Amore and Peter Kerkar — Global Man of Peace Dr. Taleb Rifai with Louis D’Amore and Peter Kerkar.

Lifetime award

Dr. Taleb Rifai, “Global Man of Peace”

The lifetime award as “Global Man of Peace” was conferred on Dr. Taleb Rifai, then Secretary-General of the UN World Tourism Organization, by Louis D’Amore, Founder President of IIPT, and Peter Kerkar, CEO of Cox & Kings.

In his keynote address, Dr. Rifai noted that for the seventh year in a row tourism had grown faster than other sectors, but said tourism is far more than numbers: to travel is a basic human right. The 1.8 billion tourists expected by 2030 could be 1.8 billion opportunities or 1.8 billion disasters, and the choice is ours. Sustainability, he said, goes beyond “going green”: it is about sustaining life on Earth.

“Whatever you do, do it to make the world a better place.”

Dr. Taleb RifaiSecretary-General, UNWTO, 2017

The honourees

Global Ambassadors of Peace through Tourism 2017

Louis D’Amore recalled each winner’s long association with IIPT and called every one of them an exceptional person.

HRH Princess Dana Firas receiving her award

HRH Princess Dana Firas of Jordan

Chairperson, Petra National Trust, and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador

With Peter Kerkar and Ajay Prakash.

David Scowsill

CEO, EON Reality; Immediate Past President and CEO, World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)

With Ajay Prakash.

Mario Hardy

CEO, Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA)

With Peter Kerkar.

Fiona Jeffery OBE

Founder, Just a Drop

With Minister Jaykumar Rawal and Kiran Yadav.

Costas Christ

CEO, Beyond Green Travel; Senior Advisor for Sustainable Tourism, National Geographic and Virtuoso

With Carl Dantas.

Geoffrey Lipman

Director, Green Growth & Travelism Institute; Co-Founder, SUNx Foundation

With Minister Jaykumar Rawal and Sheldon Santwan.

Anita Mendiratta

Managing Director, CACHET Consulting; tourism author and thought leader

With the IIPT India Board.

Voices from the evening

Tourism – a catalyst for peace

Ajay Prakash

President, IIPT India

Opening the awards as the UN International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development drew to a close, he said tourism can be a vital force for peace only if Peace Through Tourism becomes part of the industry’s core business philosophy. “Because tourism is so people centric it is important to recognize and honour exceptional persons in the field who can serve as role models and inspire others to carry the baton.”

Louis D’Amore

Founder President, IIPT

He set out IIPT’s focus for the year ahead, leading up to the IIPT Global Summit the following summer: the IIPT Peace Parks project, work with Flanders to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War under the banner “No More War”, and the “Travel for Peace” campaign.

Peter Kerkar

CEO, Cox & Kings, principal sponsor

He paid tribute to Dr. Taleb Rifai’s leadership of UNWTO, said each winner had changed the world for the better, and quoted Dr. Rifai’s simple formula for peace: “What’s good for my neighbour is good for me.”

Helen Marano

Director, Government & Industry Affairs, WTTC

She described WTTC’s study of tourism as a driver of peace which, using eight years of data, established the first empirical relationship between tourism and peace by comparing the Global Peace Index with a tourism index.

Jaykumar Rawal

Minister of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra

He commended IIPT for recognising global icons of tourism for peace and sustainability, explained the Indian idea of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”, “the world is one family”, and described India’s “Paryatan Parv”, a 20-day celebration of tourism held that October.

Gallery

Scenes from WTM London 2017

Ajay Prakash speaking at a lectern — Ajay Prakash gives the opening address.

Louis D'Amore speaking at a lectern — Louis D’Amore, Founder President of IIPT, welcomes guests.

Anita Mendiratta speaking at a lectern — Anita Mendiratta, master of ceremonies.

Dr. Taleb Rifai speaking at a lectern — Dr. Taleb Rifai gives the keynote address.

Helen Marano speaking at a lectern — Helen Marano, Director, WTTC.

Jaykumar Rawal speaking at a lectern — Jaykumar Rawal, Minister of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra.

Peter Kerkar speaking at a lectern — Peter Kerkar, CEO, Cox & Kings.

HRH Princess Dana Firas speaking — HRH Princess Dana Firas of Jordan.

Kiran Yadav, Ajay Prakash and Louis D'Amore together — IIPT India Vice President Kiran Yadav and President Ajay Prakash with Louis D’Amore.

IIPT members with the Maharashtra Tourism team — IIPT with Minister Rawal and the Maharashtra Tourism team.

Guests at the awards — Guests at the Ambassadors of Peace awards.

Audience seated at the awards — The audience at the IIPT awards at WTM 2017.

Read the November 2017 Special Edition newsletter

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Last updated: January 20, 2026

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