The Green Tourism Conference at Villa Roma in April will be a first-of-its-kind opportunity to unite food service and lodging facilities, tourism agencies, “eco” product suppliers and recreational activity businesses from the Catskills to the Poconos around the common cause of promoting eco-tourism.

The region’s proximity to two major metropolitan areas positions it as a top up-and-coming destination for tourists seeking green travel and outdoor recreational opportunities. The main goal of the conference is to increase tourism revenue by facilitating collaboration and fostering sustainable tourism initiatives throughout the region, spanning Delaware, Greene, Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster counties of New York; and Wayne, Monroe, Pike and Carbon counties of Pennsylvania.

The conference will kick off April 7 with a “Taste of the Region” reception showcasing regionally produced foods and beverages, coupled with a silent auction of local artworks. Tuesday, April 8 will be packed with presentations of green initiatives from throughout the region, expert advice on activity packaging and marketing, various green training programs, networking opportunities in the vendor exhibition area and a luncheon sourced from local ingredients during which businesses demonstrating exceptional sustainable practices will be honored.

Attendees will be able to choose from multiple educational forums designed for tourism agencies, lodging and food service facilities and recreational activity businesses, including a newly developed Green Ambassador Certification. A Green Ambassador is an existing employee of a lodging, food service or retail facility trained in customer service, to locate events and activities in the region, and convey this information to guests. HospitalityGreen’s Green Lodger’s Training, which provides the necessary staff training requirement for TripAdvisor GreenLeaders Certification, will be offered.

Travelling to and from the conference will provide another avenue to showcase the region. Each attendee will be given a custom coupon package for regional products and services, plus an information packet of events, sites, tours and fun stops to explore en route to or from the Villa Roma.