Industry Spotlights/Customer Stories | Impact

Brisbane visitor economy businesses can cut emissions through Carbon Kickstart, a program launched by Carbonhalo and the Brisbane Economic Development Agency. It offers a discounted emissions reduction tool, help desk support and webinar training, giving tourism and hospitality operators a simple, structured framework to take climate action without needing specialist expertise, as shown by participant Scene Change.

Measuring emissions helped Mandalay Holiday Resort turn power and gas bills into real savings and environmental gains. Through Carbonhalo’s program, the Busselton family business added solar panels, switched to LEDs and organic fertilisers, protecting endangered Westernringtail possums, while working towards carbon neutrality by 2035 through local offset partnerships such as tree planting.

31 The Rocks, a five villa resort near Stanthorpe, Queensland, used the Tourism Emissions Reduction Program to build a structured sustainability approach after a February 2024 ownership change, completing stages 1 to 4 in about three hours. The user friendly platform helped reduce waste, optimise supply chains and explore renewable energy, turning emissions tracking into practical, guest facing action.

GOR Woollen Mill, an off-grid yarn maker in Ballarat, Victoria, used the Carbonhalo Program to verify its low carbon footprint and stand out against industry greenwashing. The program’s initial audit revealed gaps in packaging and transportation, guiding strategic changes. With a verified carbon audit underway, the business aims to strengthen its credibility in international markets as a genuinely sustainable manufacturer.

Karijini Eco Retreat chose the Tourism Emissions Reduction Program because it was easy to use and navigate, helping the Aboriginal-owned retreat accurately record emissions for the first time despite prior struggles with what to measure. The program supported an Environmental Management Plan and set targets of 30% emissions reduction within one to two years and 50% by 2030.

GlamXperience improved its sustainability practices by adopting the ERC Protocol through Carbonhalo, which revealed existing good practices and gaps such as plastic wrapping and supply chain management. Resulting actions include sourcing materials locally, cutting business travel by 80%, staff carpooling, installing solar panels and partnering with Who Gives a Crap, strengthening its market position as a sustainable glamping supplier.

Double Black Alpine tackled its sustainability challenge by adopting the Tourism Emissions Reduction Program, based on the ERC Protocol, which gave the Victorian tourism operator a structured platform to measure and manage its carbon footprint. Stage 1 identified and calculated current emissions, revealing improvement areas, while ongoing public reporting keeps the business accountable and progressing year on year.

The Maria Island Walk overcame the challenge of quantifying its carbon footprint by adopting the Tourism Emissions Reduction Program, based on the ERC Protocol, discovered via the Tourism Industry Council Tasmania. Stage 2 set realistic emission reduction goals, while Stage 4 enabled immediate offsetting through the New Leaf Project, producing a 10 year action plan shared with guests and suppliers.

Salamanca Wharf Hotel overcame its lack of a clear sustainability pathway by adopting the Tourism Emissions Reduction Program, built on the ERC Protocol platform, starting with its emissions calculator to assess its environmental footprint. The Tasmanian boutique hotel now uses the platform as an ongoing guide to track emissions, stay accountable and progress its sustainability journey, regardless of pace.

The Tourism Emissions Reduction Program helped Silent Tours move from informal eco-friendly gestures to a formal sustainability strategy with clear carbon reduction goals. Discovered via the WA Tourism Council, the program addressed the tour operator’s reliance on fossil-fuelled vehicles and provided a commitment logo, positioning the business favourably despite fuel costs remaining a challenge.