Travelife sustainability awards handed out to 32 tour operators from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe November 9, 2017, London. During WTM 2017, Nikki White, Director of Destinations & Sustainability at ABTA, and Jeannette Scherpenzeel of CBI, the Netherlands Centre for the Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries, handed out the Travelife Partner and Travelife Certified awards to 32 tour operators from 4 different continents. The awards are a recognition of the frontrunner position of these companies in sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility. The awarded companies comply with more than 150 criteria, related to an operators office management, product range, international business partners and customer information. The Travelife standard is covering the ISO 26000 Corporate Social Responsibility themes, including environment, biodiversity, human rights and labour relations; and is formally recognised as being in full compliance with the UN supported Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria. Mr Naut Kusters, manager of Travelife for tour operators, I am delighted to see that sustainability in the tour operators sector is obtaining momentum. The award of the frontrunner companies will inspire other companies to follow the same path. Travelife, which has been established with the support of international travel associations, is the leading international sustainability certification for the travel sector. More than 35 national travel associations are promoting the scheme to their members including ABTA (the leading UK travel association) and PATA (Pacific Asian Travel Association). Since 2012, more than 600 companies have been trained in CSR with the support of CBI. They are now, with the support of local coaches, working step by-step towards more sustainable operations and compliance with the Travelife criteria. Editor notes Travelife for Tour operators en Travel agents Naut Kusters, phone +31 6 48805 475 n.kusters@travelife.info www.travelife.info About Travelife (www.travelife.org) Travelife is a certification system, dedicated to achieving sustainable practices within the tourism industry. It provides companies with realistic sustainability goals, tools and solutions to implement positive change within their businesses and supply chains. Travelife is managed by ABTA The Travel Association in the UK - and by ECEAT Projects - a not-for-profit organisation based in The Netherlands. Travelife has two key focuses: Travelife for Tour operators and Travel agents: the system provides online training and practical tools for sustainability management and certification. The training and online tools are suitable for tour operators and travel agencies of any size and cover all management aspects of the travel company business including office operations, the supply chain, destinations and consumers. Upon submitting a report in compliance with the Travelife standard the company can obtain the Travelife 1
Partner of Travelife Certified status (based on an independent onsite audit). The Travelife standard for Tour operators and Travel agencies is based upon the full Corporate Social Responsibility themes, including labour conditions, human rights, environment, biodiversity and fair business practices. The management requirements are compatible with EMAS and ISO 14001. The system is supported by more than 35 national travel associations to further its implementation among members. Travelife for Hotels and Accommodations: the certification system helps hotels and accommodations manage their social and environmental impacts and communicate their achievements to customers. The system provides an online sustainability checklist, based on European and International standards, to enable property managers to check their performance, gain advice and monitor progress. Once subscribed, properties undergo a third party audit to conduct a full environmental and social audit of their property and if they fulfil the criteria, properties may achieve Travelife Gold or Platinum awards, which can be displayed in brochures and on websites. To date nearly 17,000 properties have registered with the Travelife for Hotel, 1.500 have completed a full third party audit and more than 900 properties have achieved a Travelife award. Travelife is the only certification scheme that works in partnership with some of the largest tour operators in the world as well as smaller independents, who all use Travelife to motivate their contracted hotels and accommodations towards more sustainability. Nepal, Indonesia & Morocco Travelife Certified award for Thamserku Trekking (Nepal) and Orion Travel (Morocco) Travelfe Partner recognition for Panorama Destination (Indonesia) 2
Thailand Travelife Partner for Destination Asia Thailand (Thailand) South Africa and Indonesia Travelife Certified for Africa Ample Assistance (South Africa). Travelife Partner for Panorama Destination (Indonesia) 3
Tanzania Travelife Certified for Colors of Zanzibar (Tanzania) Nepal Travelife Certified award for Aarya VillageTravel (Nepal) Nepal Travelife Partner recognition for Basanta Adventure Treks & Expeditions, Himaland Adventure 4
Treks, Himalayan Trails. Mongolia Travelife Partner recognition for Discover Mongolia & Development and Zendmen Travel. Sri Lanka Travelife Partner recognition for Paradise Holidays, River garden nature and Adventure Activity Centre. Zambia Travelife Partner recognition for Going Places, Savannah Tours & Safaris, Sigo Adventures, 5
Bantu Pathfinders. Tanzania Travelife Partner recognition for Coco Beach, KiliGATE, African Scenic. Kenya & Madagascar Travelife Partner recognition for Kisima Tours (Kenya), African Quest Safaris (Kenya), IC Tours (Madagascar), Kijana Tours (Madagascar). 6
Mexico Travelife Certified award for Totonal Viajes (Mexico) Lithuania Travelife Partner recognition for Amber Tours (Lithuania) 7
Nicaragua Travelife Partner recognition for Detour, MP Travel, Segovias Tours, Horizontes, Vapues Tours Morocco Travelife Certified award for Orion Travel (Morocco) ///////////// 8