The Brando is a Finalist in the National Geographic World Legacy Awards

The World Legacy Awards, a partnership between National Geographic Society and ITB Berlin, showcase the leading travel and tourism companies, organizations and destinations–ranging from historic monuments to ecolodges and from small islands to entire countries–that are driving the sustainable tourism transformation of the travel industry based on National Geographic's work of inspiring people to care about the planet.

The Brando is a finalist in the Earth Changers category which recognizes cutting-edge leadership in environmentally friendly business practices and green technology, from renewable energy and water conservation to zero-waste systems and carbon-emission reduction.

"We are honored to be a finalist in the National Geographic World Legacy Awards," said Richard Bailey, Chairman and CEO of Pacific Beachcomber, owner of The Brando. "Sustainable development and tourism is core to our mission and guides everything we do. The Brando provides a luxurious, authentic, and enriching travel experience, in an environmentally sensitive, sustainable and culturally rich manner."

More than 150 World Legacy Awards entries were received, representing 56 countries and six continents. Finalists in five award categories were selected by an international team of 18 judges who are experts in sustainable travel and who are now conducting on-site inspections of the finalists. Winners will be announced at a gala at the World Legacy Awards Ceremony in March 2015 at ITB Berlin.

Costas Christ, Chairman of National Geographic World Legacy Awards, said, "Sustainable tourism is evolving from a niche trend to a true global transformation of how the travel and tourism industry operates and what impacts it has on the people and places that travelers visit. The World Legacy Awards are about celebrating that transformation, pushing it to the cutting edge of leadership today, as represented by these 15 finalists and others around the world who share their passion for doing well by doing good."

The Brando is a pioneering model of sustainable technology utilizing seawater air-conditioning, green technology and renewable energies, without any sacrifice to luxury or comfort. Designed to reflect Polynesian lifestyles and culture, the all-inclusive resort was inspired by Marlon Brando's original vision to create a venture of sustainable development that resonates with visitors and fosters opportunities to get to know both the place and people of French Polynesia. He was passionate about preserving Tetiaroa's natural beauty, biodiversity and cultural richness and was determined to find a way in which it could be a center for research and education and a model of sustainability.

In 1999, Brando asked Bailey, a long-time resident of Tahiti who shared his passion for the environment and who had created some of the region's finest resorts, to help him conceive a plan that would help him achieve his dream. Together, Brando and Bailey pursued a vision of creating the world's first and foremost post-carbon resort–an island where innovative new technologies would enable a self-sustaining luxury environment for resort guests, residents and scientific research. The Brando is the legacy of that shared vision and the resort is committed to protecting the precious biodiversity of Tetiaroa.

For additional information on The Brando, please visit www.thebrando.com.