The Responsible Tourism Institute (RTI) has been honored with the Los + Ecoístas Award at FITUR 2026 for its international contribution to sustainable tourism through the Biosphere certification and the creation of strategic alliances aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.
The award was presented during FITUR 2026 at an event that highlighted organizations that turn sustainability into real action within the tourism sector.
The Responsible Tourism Institute (RTI) has received the Los + Ecoístas Award, a distinction granted by Grupo Piñero within the framework of the International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR) 2026, in recognition of its international promotion of the Biosphere certification and its ability to generate strategic alliances in the field of sustainable tourism.
These awards, celebrating their fourth edition in 2026, stem from the Somos Ecoístas movement, an initiative that seeks to multiply good practices across the tourism value chain by recognizing organizations, companies, and individuals who lead with purpose in the face of climate change.
The Los + Ecoístas Awards recognize suppliers, collaborators, allies, and partners of Grupo Piñero who actively work toward responsible, sustainable tourism aligned with ESG criteria. In this edition, nine awards were presented, honoring six organizations and three outreach profiles with a positive impact on public dialogue around the environment and sustainability.
The awarded organizations, including the RTI, were selected by a multidisciplinary jury from Grupo Piñero, based on their ability to integrate sustainability into their processes, strategies, and innovation, with measurable and verifiable results.
During the event, Andrés Rosselló, Sustainability Director of Grupo Piñero, noted:
“Los + Ecoístas were created to recognize those who turn sustainability into real decisions, processes, and measurable innovation”
One of the distinguishing features of the Los + Ecoístas Awards is the design of the trophy itself. More than a trophy, it is a piece with soul, history, and purpose, made from recycled and sustainable materials.
In this edition, the award was created by the Assido Foundation, a nonprofit organization that since 1981 has supported people with Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities in the Region of Murcia, fostering their development, training, and social inclusion.
The award recognizes the work the Responsible Tourism Institute has been carrying out for more than 26 years to turn sustainability into a real management system aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Through the Biosphere certification, the RTI supports destinations, companies, and organizations in measuring, managing, verifying, and communicating their environmental, social, and governance impact, contributing to a more transparent, responsible, and regenerative tourism model.
During the ceremony, the award was presented by Encarna Piñero García, Global CEO of Grupo Piñero, and received by Patricio Azcárate Díaz de Losada, Secretary General of the RTI and CEO of Biosphere.
After the event, when asked about the award, Azcárate stated:
“This recognition represents very significant support for the work that we at the Responsible Tourism Institute and Biosphere have been carrying out to promote a truly sustainable, measurable, and verifiable tourism model. Receiving the ‘Los + Ecoístas’ Award reinforces our conviction that sustainability only generates real impact when it is integrated into management, governance, and decision-making across the sector”
Likewise, the RTI’s Secretary General wished to express his gratitude, stating:
“I would like to especially thank Grupo Piñero for this recognition and for its firm commitment to more responsible tourism. Initiatives such as ‘Los + Ecoístas’ demonstrate the importance of building alliances, sharing a vision, and turning commitments into concrete actions. Only through collaboration among companies, destinations, and organizations can we accelerate the transition toward a tourism model that, through sustainability, is capable of generating lasting positive impact for territories and people”
Looking ahead, Grupo Piñero reaffirmed during the event its commitment to more responsible tourism, strengthening the integration of sustainability into decision-making, collaboration with strategic partners, and the promotion of initiatives with positive impact in the destinations where it operates.
From Biosphere and the Responsible Tourism Institute, we celebrate this recognition as an incentive to continue working alongside companies, destinations, and institutions in the transition toward sustainable, measurable tourism aligned with ESG criteria and the United Nations SDGs.
This award reinforces the conviction that sustainability is not a statement of intent, but a shared path built through partnerships, data, commitment, and continuous improvement.
Photo: Grupo Piñero