RTO3 has been named Tourism Leadership & Development Organization of the Year 2025 by International Explorer, an international publication focused on destination innovation and tourism leadership.
This recognition validates the organization’s strategic evolution over recent years from a primarily destination marketing function toward an integrated destination stewardship and development mandate. The award recognizes demonstrated impact in industry capacity-building, sustainability leadership, experience development innovation, and partnership-driven investment.
International Explorer is a global travel and tourism media platform that provides destination content, industry insights, and analysis for both travellers and tourism professionals. Through its magazine, news website, and digital channels, it covers a broad range of topics including destination trends, sustainable tourism practices, and emerging market opportunities. The publication also delivers the International Explorer Awards, which recognize innovation, leadership, and excellence across the travel and tourism sector, highlighting organizations and initiatives shaping the future of tourism.
RTO3’s leadership in product development has been reflected through initiatives including the Transformational Travel Design Program; participation in Destination Sustainability Certification with GreenStep, which elevated the region to Bronze level. Each initiative continues to provide a structured governance and measurement framework; and a sustained, multi-year approach to building industry capacity through sustainable and regenerative tourism development.
This also includes delivery of the region’s Travel Responsible consumer-facing video; the Sustainable and Regenerative Tourism Masterclass Program in partnership with RTO9; the formation of the region’s Destination Sustainability Stakeholder Committee; the Building Champions Through Sustainable Tourism initiative in engaging industry to survey their needs and identify opportunities for sustainable advancement; and the Sustainable Tourism Learning Series delivered through the Industry Exchanges, in 2024 and 2025; as well as industry-focused engagements through sustainable tourism, and transformative and regenerative tourism development.
The recognition was informed through International Explorer’s independent review of RTO3’s publicly available initiatives, programming, and published materials. The visibility and clarity of this work were supported by the leadership of Bev Scott, Manager, Business and Visitor Experience Development, whose responsibilities include the development, documentation, and communication of RTO3’s destination stewardship initiatives.
Importantly, this recognition reflects leadership effectiveness rather than organizational scale. It affirms RTO3’s ability to align sub-regional priorities, support industry transition, and deliver long-term value to communities and partners.
RTO3 will leverage this recognition to strengthen organizational credibility, support industry engagement in global markets, and reinforce the case for sustained, multi-year investment in destination regenerative and sustainable goals.
https://www.international-explorer.com/awards/
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