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School of Environment and Natural Resources

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EPN Breakfast Event - Tuesday, February 11, 2025: Tourism for Tomorrow: Sustainable Solutions for Travel, Ecosystems, and Economy in Ohio and Beyond

Image of two suitcases in front of a hotel room, an airplane, two people hiking, and a city street.

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New for 2025!

Thanks to a generous sponsorship from ENGIE North America and the Ohio State Energy Partners, all students can attend 2025 EPN programs free of charge!


Program Overview

Hotels, restaurants, airlines, state parks – these are just a few examples of the many services and commercial enterprises that make up the vast and multi-faceted network of the tourism industry. Interconnected with the hospitality industry (which serves both tourists and full-time residents,) the tourism industry works to fulfill the varied lodging, transportation, dining, and entertainment needs of guests, resulting in major economic benefits, as well as positive social and cultural outcomes1. In 2019, the United States tourism industry accounted for 2.9% of the gross domestic product (GDP) and sustained 9.5 million jobs across the country2. Ohio’s tourism industry alone supported roughly 436,000 direct and indirect jobs in 2023, with visitation numbers around 238 million3.

Along with these economic benefits, however, come concerns about sustainability. Environmental impacts such as increased car traffic and subsequent pollution, waste generation and natural resource degradation can accompany a rise in visitorship. Full-time residents can also feel economic impacts associated with rising housing, land, and transportation costs4.

This program aims to address some of these questions, while providing insights from leaders in the field on the exciting advancements being made to improve sustainability within the industry and how to increase incentives for doing so. We’ll hear from Ohio State Alumna, Amy Wald, Founder and President, Greenluxe, Inc., Claudia Vecchio, President and CEO, Sonoma County Tourism, Dr. Willy Legrand, Professor, IU International University of Applied Sciences, and Karen Raymore, Executive Director, Hocking Hills Tourism Association.

Join this EPN event to learn more about this emerging and exciting field of sustainability and travel, and its implications for hospitality specialists, tourists, environmental professionals, community, and business leaders in Ohio and beyond!  

 

References

1 Journal of Business & Finance Librarianship, “The Best of the Web: Hospitality and Tourism Web Sites” (2008) link here.

2 International Trade Administration, “Travel and Tourism Industry” link here.

3 About TourismOhio (2023) link here.

National Library of Medicine, “Health outcomes of tourism development: A longitudinal study of the impact of tourism arrivals on residents’ health” (2020) link here.


Agenda

7:15 a.m. Doors open at Ohio State 4-H Center; Coffee served for in-person attendees.  

7:40 a.m. Breakfast buffet served for in-person attendees.  

8:00 a.m. Livestreaming service begins for virtual attendees.   

8:05 a.m. Tim Haab, PhD, director, Ohio State’s School of Environment and Natural Resources (SENR) provides welcome remarks.  

8:10 a.m. Hifsah Ayub, Ohio State student, SENR Ambassador, connects sustainable tourism to her experiences as a student in SENR's Environment, Economy, Development, and Sustainability major.

8:15 a.m. Amy Wald, Founder and President, Greenluxe, overviews the morning's key themes.  

8:30 a.m. Willy Legrand, PhD, Professor, IU International University of Applied Sciences, Bonn, Germany, discusses current trends in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) in the tourism and hospitality sectors.

8:40 a.m. Claudia Vecchio, President and CEO, Sonoma County Tourism, demonstrates how a community responds to and recovers from climate change-driven disasters to double down on destination stewardship. 

8:50 a.m. Karen Raymore, Executive Director, Hocking Hills Tourism Association (HHTA), describes the value of sustainability in tourism and shares the HHTA’s recent completion of their Destination Stewardship Plan.

9:00 a.m. Panel discussion with Dr. Legrand, Vecchio, and Raymore, moderated by Wald

9:15 a.m. Audience in-person and virtual question and answer session.  

9:30 a.m. Haab concludes the EPN Breakfast program component. Livestreaming service concludes for virtual attendees. Networking session for in-person guests. 

Extended educational sessions begin for in-person guests only. This program will include a one-hour workshop that provides skill sets and strategies to implement sustainable tourism concepts in your business, followed by a brief networking session to connect and share best practices.

9:45 a.m. Educational workshop on the opportunities and challenges associated with implementing sustainable practices in your organization or business led by Amy Wald and Claudia Vecchio.

10:30 a.m. Networking session - light food and beverage provided.

11:00 a.m. Program concludes.

 


Speakers

Ajay ShahAmy Wald, Founder and President, Greenluxe

Amy Wald founded Greenluxe Inc. after her experience in cruise ship operations revealed the pressing need for sustainable hospitality and tourism practices. Her professional foundation combines degrees in Sustainable Business and Wildlife Management from The Ohio State University, along with industry-recognized certifications from LEED, ISSP, GSTC, and WELL. Her research spans global markets, including focused study of successful ecotourism models in Southeast Asia. This hands-on experience, combined with her background in hospitality operations, sales, and marketing, provides practical insights into implementing sustainable practices that align with business objectives. As a sustainability advisor, industry speaker, and co-creator of the Sustainable Hospitality Podcast, Amy works with hotel properties to develop and implement certification-aligned environmental strategies that meet global standards. Her approach drives measurable outcomes: improved operational efficiency and cost reductions, increased asset values, enhanced guest satisfaction, and stronger team engagement. Through Greenluxe Inc., she guides hospitality businesses in creating authentic sustainability cultures that deliver immediate business results while building a legacy of positive environmental and social impact in order to meet the demands of the current traveler.

Willy LegrandWilly Legrand, PhD, Professor, IU International University of Applied Sciences, Bonn, Germany

Dr. Legrand is a Professor at the IU International University of Applied Sciences in Germany with a specialization in sustainable management. Over the past two decades, he has established over two dozen undergraduate and graduate courses on sustainable development in business and hospitality management in Europe, South and North America, the Middle East and Asia. Dr. Legrand is also Co-Chair of the HospitalityNet World Panel on Sustainability in Hospitality which tackles pressing sustainability issues and is supported by 100+ industry professionals, consultants and scientific experts in a multidisciplinary, cross-sectional effort to get sustainability anchored more than ever into the business conversation. He is an editorial board member and reviewer of over a dozen academic publications, and has published over 60 academic papers on tourism, hospitality and sustainable development. 

Claudia VecchioClaudia Vecchio, President and CEO, Sonoma County Tourism

Claudia Vecchio brings more than 25 years in the destination and consumer marketing arena to her post as President/CEO of Sonoma County Tourism. During the five years she’s led the organization, she’s managed significant crisis situations, launched the “Life Opens Up” brand and driven the organization’s sustainability and destination stewardship platform. During her career, Claudia also led the Ohio Division of Tourism where she introduced experiential marketing to the statewide industry and integrated an evidence-based environment. In 2015, Claudia was named among the Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Marketing by the Hospitality, Sales & Marketing Association International. Claudia has served on the Executive Committee of the U.S. Travel Association and on the national boards for the Public Relations Society of America and the Travel and Tourism Research Association. 

Karen RaymoreKaren Raymore, CDME, Executive Director, Hocking Hills Tourism Association

Karen Raymore, CDME (Certified Destination Management Executive), is an accomplished tourism executive with extensive experience in destination management. Over the course of her tenure at the helm of Hocking Hills Tourism Association, annual visitation to the Hocking Hills has grown from 1 million to more than 4 million. She and her team have implemented innovative programs such as the Hocking Hills Destination Stewardship Plan and Love Hocking Hills / Travel Responsibly program. Karen is a graduate of the Destinations International CDME program and George Washington University’s Sustainable Destination Management program.

SENR Ambassador Spotlight

Hifsah AyubHifsah Ayub, Ohio State student, SENR Ambassador

Hifsah Ayub is a senior at The Ohio State University, majoring in Environment, Economy, Development, and Sustainability (EEDS). To expand her knowledge further, Hifsah has pursued interdisciplinary learning, earning certifications in Wellness and Science and Environmental Communication. She also studied abroad in Cyprus through the "Sustainability in Cyprus: Health & Well-being, the Environment, and Society" program, where she explored global sustainability firsthand. Passionate about the intersection of sustainability, wellness, and innovation, she is dedicated to creating beautiful, functional spaces that inspire and educate others about environmental responsibility.

Her experience spans corporate, nonprofit, government and university settings, with roles at Smart Columbus, the Midwest Climate Collaborative, Honda, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, and the Sustainability Institute at Ohio State University. 

As she prepares for her next steps, Hifsah aims to pursue a career beyond traditional sustainability work—exploring how innovative design can bridge environmental stewardship and holistic well-being.

LinkedIn Profile

Study Abroad Website 

 


Additional Information 

We strive to host events that are inclusive and accessible to everyone. If you have a disability and require accommodations to fully participate in this activity, please reach out to Hallie Stelzle, EPN Program Assistant (stelzle.2@osu.edu). Requests made five business days in advance will generally allow us to provide seamless access. However, we will make every effort to meet requests made after this time frame. You will be contacted by someone from our staff to discuss your specific needs. 

Masks are optional for all event attendees at this event, in accordance with Ohio State’s Safe and Healthy Protocols as of this date. In-person attendees will be expected to follow Ohio State protocols regarding the prevention of COVID-19 transmission. More health and safety information available on this Personal Safety Practices page