Tourism Kingston: Sustainable Tourism Stakeholder Survey

Introduction

Tourism Kingston is seeking input from stakeholders about current sustainability practices, in order to assist us in making informed decisions for developing policies and practices in our destination. The results of this survey will be used to inform work that Tourism Kingston has engaged GreenStep Solutions to complete in assessing and offering recommendations on ways to improve the overall sustainability of Kingston.

This survey will take approximately 10 - 15 minutes to complete. Your personal information will be kept strictly confidential - any published results will be anonymously aggregated.

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* 1. Name of Business

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* 2. Type of business

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* 3. Do you think your business is doing enough when it comes to sustainability?

Yes

Unsure / Neutral

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* 4. On a scale of 1 - 5, how well do you think your business is doing when it comes to sustainability?

1 - Very Poor

2 - Below Average

3 - Average / Unsure

4 - Above average

5 - Excellent

1 - Very Poor

2 - Below Average

3 - Average / Unsure

4 - Above average

5 - Excellent

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* 5. Are there specific areas of business sustainability you would like to receive support with? (i.e. through training, access to tools and resources, assessments etc.) Select all that apply.

Creating a sustainability action plan

Carbon footprint calculation

Waste and recycling management

Energy/fuel reduction and conservation

Sustainable and local purchasing / procurement

Water management

Green building retrofits

Accessibility

Diversity, equity and inclusion

Truth & Reconciliation

Occupational health & safety

Other [please indicate]

None

Other (please specify)

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* 6. What barriers or obstacles have prevented your business from doing more when it comes to sustainability? Select all that apply.

Lack of expertise/knowledge

Budget constraints

Other priorities more important

Not enough time

Lack of interest from guests

Lack of interest from staff

Lack of policy and/or enforcement

Other (please specify)

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* 7. In order of importance, please rank the following reasons that would motivate you to integrate sustainability into your business practices.

Questions 8 to 19 are asking about specific aspects of your current operational and management practices in key areas related to sustainability.

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* 8. To what extent has your business integrated accessibility design into your physical buildings or experiences, so that all people may access your facility and/or services?

Resource: Accessible Tourism

Some aspects of our facility and/or services are accessible, but not all

We are compliant with provincial codes for accessibility in all essential areas of our facility and/or services

We are compliant with provincial codes for accessibility in all essential areas plus we have gone above and beyond with additional measures

I am unsure if we are compliant with provincial codes for accessibility

None, our building and/or experiences are not accessible to people with diverse abilities

Other (please specify)

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* 9. Does your business offer accessible marketing, communications, and interpretation materials? (i.e. materials are available in audio, visual, tactile, and other formats)

See linked resources for examples:
Accessible Website Design
Accessible Graphic Design

Yes

Some

Unsure

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* 10. Does your business provide information (i.e. on your website, or other marketing materials) on the level of accessibility provided (or not provided) for guests and staff with diverse abilities?

Example: 1000 Island Cruises

Yes

Other (please specify)

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* 11. What aspects of sustainable purchasing behaviours does your business engage in? Select all that apply.

Prioritization of locally grown food and locally produced products and services

Prioritization of Fair Trade, FSC, Organic, Oceanwise, or other third party certified products and service

Consideration of options for reducing, reusing, and repurposing of existing products to reduce the procurement of new goods

Consideration for method and origin of growing/production, and the type of packaging, in case of non-availability of certified products or suppliers

None, we do not yet do this

Other (please specify)

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* 12. Does your business hold a third-party sustainability label or certification? (i.e. GreenStep Sustainable Tourism, B Corp, LEED, Green Key, Living Wage Certified, Rainbow Registered, Feast On, City of Kingston initiatives.)

Yes

If yes, please indicate the name of your label or certification:

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* 13. In what ways does your business support and contribute to the conservation of biodiversity, ecosystems, and cultural heritage? Select all that apply.

Promoting or developing a visitor code of conduct / pledge

Working with local natural and cultural conservation NGOs (i.e. non-governmental organizations such as KAM, or Cataraqui Conservation)

Protection and/or enhancement of natural and cultural areas on business property (if applicable)

Providing monetary or in-kind support for conservation of wildlife, protected natural areas, and areas with high biodiversity value

Providing monetary or in-kind support to culturally significant sites, infrastructure, traditions and communities

Providing information about the local culture, history, and cultural events/festivals on our website, brochures, etc.

Providing information and interpretation for guests on the local environment

No, we do not do this

Other (please specify)

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* 14. What steps does your business take to conserve energy (electricity, natural gas, diesel, gasoline, heating oil, propane, etc.)? Select all that apply.

Creating an action plan to minimize energy/fuel consumption

Using energy/fuel efficient equipment and technologies (i.e. LED lighting, Energy Star Certified equipment, programmable thermostats, timers, motion sensors, etc.)

Have received an expert assessment and advice about energy efficiency (Kingston public transit, Energy Assistance Program)

Staff education about energy/fuel efficiency

Guest education about energy/fuel efficiency

None, we have not taken any measures to conserve energy

Other (please specify)

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* 15. What steps does your business take to conserve water? Select all that apply.

Stretch goals or action plan to minimize water consumption

Standard operating policies to conserve water

Investments in water conservation equipment/technology (i.e. low flow fixtures or aerators, low flow appliances, or low flow irrigation, WERIP, Sustainable ECO)

Guest education and incentives to conserve water

Rainwater or greywater harvesting

None, we have not taken any steps to conserve water

Other (please specify)

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* 16. Does your business have an established recycling system, if so, which items are separated from general waste before disposal?

Paper and cardboard

Plastic and Glass, Aluminum

Metal (Industrial)

Hazardous waste and electronics

Organic material (compost)

None, we do not have an established recycling system

Other (please specify)

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* 17. Does your business have a suitable wastewater treatment and/or wastewater recycling system?

Yes

I don't know

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* 18. What activities does your entity offer, promote, or incentivize related to climate friendly transportation for staff and guests? Check all that apply.

Bicycle rentals, parking, or repair stations

Group shuttle service, rideshare or carpooling program

Electric car charging stations

Public transportation

Active transport method (besides bicycle use)

None, we do not offer, promote, or incentivize climate friendly transportation

Other (please specify)

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* 19. Does your business measure and report on GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions?

Resource: SME Climate Hub, Carbon Zero, EcoBase, Offsetters

Yes

If yes, which reduction strategies and/or offsetting programs do you use?

Tourism Kingston: Sustainable Tourism Stakeholder Survey

Introduction

Question Title

* 1. Name of Business

Question Title

* 2. Type of business

Question Title

* 3. Do you think your business is doing enough when it comes to sustainability?

Question Title

* 4. On a scale of 1 - 5, how well do you think your business is doing when it comes to sustainability?

Question Title

* 5. Are there specific areas of business sustainability you would like to receive support with? (i.e. through training, access to tools and resources, assessments etc.) Select all that apply.

Question Title

* 6. What barriers or obstacles have prevented your business from doing more when it comes to sustainability? Select all that apply.

Question Title

* 7. In order of importance, please rank the following reasons that would motivate you to integrate sustainability into your business practices.

Question Title

* 8. To what extent has your business integrated accessibility design into your physical buildings or experiences, so that all people may access your facility and/or services?Resource: Accessible Tourism

Question Title

* 9. Does your business offer accessible marketing, communications, and interpretation materials? (i.e. materials are available in audio, visual, tactile, and other formats)See linked resources for examples:Accessible Website DesignAccessible Graphic Design

Question Title

* 10. Does your business provide information (i.e. on your website, or other marketing materials) on the level of accessibility provided (or not provided) for guests and staff with diverse abilities?Example: 1000 Island Cruises

Question Title

* 11. What aspects of sustainable purchasing behaviours does your business engage in? Select all that apply.

Question Title

* 12. Does your business hold a third-party sustainability label or certification? (i.e. GreenStep Sustainable Tourism, B Corp, LEED, Green Key, Living Wage Certified, Rainbow Registered, Feast On, City of Kingston initiatives.)

Question Title

* 13. In what ways does your business support and contribute to the conservation of biodiversity, ecosystems, and cultural heritage? Select all that apply.

Question Title

* 14. What steps does your business take to conserve energy (electricity, natural gas, diesel, gasoline, heating oil, propane, etc.)? Select all that apply.

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* 15. What steps does your business take to conserve water? Select all that apply.

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* 16. Does your business have an established recycling system, if so, which items are separated from general waste before disposal?

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* 17. Does your business have a suitable wastewater treatment and/or wastewater recycling system?

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* 18. What activities does your entity offer, promote, or incentivize related to climate friendly transportation for staff and guests? Check all that apply.

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* 19. Does your business measure and report on GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions? Resource: SME Climate Hub, Carbon Zero, EcoBase, Offsetters

* 8. To what extent has your business integrated accessibility design into your physical buildings or experiences, so that all people may access your facility and/or services?

Resource: Accessible Tourism

* 9. Does your business offer accessible marketing, communications, and interpretation materials? (i.e. materials are available in audio, visual, tactile, and other formats)

See linked resources for examples:
Accessible Website Design
Accessible Graphic Design

* 10. Does your business provide information (i.e. on your website, or other marketing materials) on the level of accessibility provided (or not provided) for guests and staff with diverse abilities?

Example: 1000 Island Cruises

* 19. Does your business measure and report on GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions?

Resource: SME Climate Hub, Carbon Zero, EcoBase, Offsetters