Vail, Colorado, announced last week it is the first destination in the world certified to the Mountain IDEAL standard. The certification recognizes the town as a destination that meets sustainability standards.

“Recognizing that mountain destinations are acutely threatened by climate change, waning freshwater resources, and seasonal tourism peaks, Vail has made important strides in balancing the needs of its delicate ecosystem with the wants of travelers and the local community,” said Geoff Bolan, CEO, Sustainable Travel International.

Vail has a population of 5,500 but welcomes more than 2 million guests annually. Recent achievements meant to balance the growth of tourism and support the town itself include restoring the water quality of Gore Creek and the resort’s goal of operating without a footprint by 2030.

The first step toward the certification occurred as a collaborative partnership between Sustainable Travel International and Walking Mountains Science Center with the launch of Actively Green, a sustainability training program. 

“We’ve recognized for a long time that Vail is a global leader in sustainable mountain tourism. This certification is a much-deserved testament to our community’s achievements. We hope it encourages other destinations to adopt the Mountain IDEAL standard and leads to increased collaboration around sustainability in mountain resort destinations,” said Kim Langmaid, founder and vice president, Walking Mountains Science Center and Vail Town Council Member.