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Sustainable trips will be consumer-led, says Audley Travel CMO

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Consumers’ holiday choices are likely to force travel firms to become more sustainable in future, according to Audley Travel chief marketing officer Dan Robb.

He was speaking at the launch of the  operator’s The Premium Travel Report , in which 57% of 2,000 consumers surveyed said they wanted more sustainable travel options.

He said “now was not the time to take such a big leap forward” but noted: “It’s coming. I think it will be led by client choice. They will demand the ability to lower their imprint.”

He admitted the industry could have “embraced these challenges” earlier but stressed the last three years had been “just appalling” for the sector.

Audley Travel became a B Corp business earlier this year and is adding more sustainable and responsible tourism options to its portfolio for 2024.

Robb stressed it was not be up to one firm to lead the way, but insisted: “I think there is a growing realisation globally that air travel has to be addressed for its carbon footprint. We would be at the forefront of that.”

He added: “We have asked people if they would pay a surcharge for long-haul travel and the honest answer is low single digits are in favour. It will be led by client choice; they will demand the ability to lower their imprint.”

He said clients were already choosing responsible travel projects for parts of their stays, two or three days out of an 18 day itinerary for example. “I think it will build up,” he said.

Chief executive Nick Longman said there was also growing evidence of clients choosing alternatives to air travel, such as rail.

“Lots more people are asking for rail alternatives. There are definitely people asking if they can avoid taking an international flight,” he added.

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Posted by Samantha Mayling on Feb 23rd, 2022 at 09:37

Audley Travel reports it is making strides on responsible goals

The online tailor-made operator achieved 27 of 36 Environmental Social Governance targets last year

Audley Travel said it made “strong progress” with its environmental and social goals in 2021 despite the impact of the pandemic.

The tailor-made operator said it achieved 27 of its 36 Environmental Social Governance (ESG) targets last year.

Two targets had to be amended because of Covid and seven targets will continue to be worked on in 2022.

According to Audley’s 2021 Responsible Travel and Sustainability Report (pictured), highlights included a review of its products in five countries to identify sustainable experiences for clients; renewable energy contracts for its offices in London and Witney in the UK, and Boston in the US; and the launch of a long-term carbon strategy.

Employees dedicated more than 650 hours to volunteering with 27% of staff donating at least half a day. In 2022 the business aims to reach 40%.

Audley also designed an initiative to use the knowledge of employees and suppliers to support young people exploring career opportunities in the travel industry.

Working closely with the Charity Aid Foundation, Audley has created a community engagement fund called the Audley Travel for Good Fund.

The Audley website now promotes a link for each charity partner, allowing clients and employees to make donations.

Heather Magnussen, responsible travel and sustainability manager at Audley Travel, said: “Responsible travel has always been part of Audley’s DNA.

“We were granted the Travelife Partner award in January 2020 in recognition of our long-term efforts and commitment and we look forward to constantly improving as we continue to learn from the people we work closely with across the world, and with leaders in the sustainability community.”

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Shopping cart items, audley travel publishes its annual sustainability report.

Custom travel specialist   Audley Travel   has shared its latest achievements in its   long-term commitment to ensuring the entire business operates ethically and responsibly. The annual report details the progress Audley has made against its Environmental Social Governance (ESG) Framework (now entering its fourth year).

Audley’s ESG Framework

The ESG Framework identifies five key areas (the environment, workplace, communities, marketplace and governance) in which the business has set 36 annual targets which are either aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals or with Audley’s internal priorities. The targets form a long-term journey where small sustainable steps over extended periods of time continue to deliver change to benefit the communities in Audley’s destinations.

Achievements During 2023

Audley made strong progress against the 36 ESG targets set for 2023, with 33 met and the remaining three being a continued focus for 2024. Highlights of the achievements include:

Responsible product   – Audley formally launched its   Responsible Choice   criteria to clients to enable them to make sustainable choices, clearly marking the product that goes above and beyond to give back to local communities and the environment. 137 stays and experiences were added to the collection in 2023, taking the total to 279. Audley plans to add a further 200 during 2024. 

Employee volunteering – Audley exceeded its goal of 50% of employees using at least half a day to volunteer, with the team dedicating a total of 4,475 hours to helping out in their local communities.

Insight   – As part of its commitment to a goal to support education for all, Audley’s Insight initiative uses the knowledge of employees and suppliers to support young people exploring career opportunities in the travel industry. In 2023, 37 of Audley’s employees delivered the initiative to 121 students in nine schools and community hubs (four more than last year, and a 22% increase in the number of students reached).

Long term carbon strategy   – Audley’s long term carbon reduction work continues, with a focus on working with suppliers to reduce the carbon emissions from clients’ trips. This will support Audley's target to reduce its scope 3 emissions (excluding the aviation emissions from client trips) by 55% by 2030. Examples of Audley’s engagement with suppliers includes helping reduce emissions by moving to electric car transfers and replacing internal flights with alternative options, such as train travel. Audley also continues to enhance the detail of the data it holds, surveying the top 550 hotels it works with (accounting for 80% of client stays) to gain a more accurate understanding of each hotel’s footprint. In November, Audley held a Carbon Webinar to give suppliers a forum to share ideas and best practice on how to reduce their footprint.

Audley Travel Becomes B Corp Certified

Heather Magnussen, Responsible Travel & Sustainability Manager at Audley Travel, says:“Responsible travel has always been part of Audley’s DNA and we are really proud of the progress we made in our 2023 ESG targets. The past year has also seen us celebrate our certification as a BCorporation – an achievement that the entire business is incredibly proud of as it acknowledges our focus on operating for purpose as well as profit. “There are always more improvements that we can make, so 36 new targets have been set for this year, and we are confident that these will enable us to continue to build on this year’s success.”

Audley’s Sustainability Report can be downloaded here . 

About Audley Travel

Audley Travel is a B Corp certified custom tour operator, providing trips to over 75 destinations worldwide designed based on clients' tastes, budgets, and wish lists. Itineraries are designed by country specialists who are experts in the destination they sell, having traveled extensively or lived there themselves. Audley's US office is in Boston and celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

Contributing members are responsible for the accuracy of content contributed to the Member News section of AdventureTravelNews.

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Travel Trends for 2022 from Audley Travel

• October 27, 2021

Bespoke travel specialist Audley Travel regularly conducts extensive research to ensure it is offering its clients exactly the range of options they desire for their tailor-made trips, which are designed for each client based on their budget, travel wish list and tastes. This is even more important as the world reopens, with travelers eager to make up for missed trips. From its research, Audley’s specialists have identified several trends in travel for 2022. Audley surveyed 1,446 people in April 2021. The respondents included people who have traveled, booked or inquired about trips as well as those who had expressed an interest in information from Audley.

Most popular destinations

The top destinations Audley’s clients will be visiting in 2022 are Italy, domestic US (with a majority of trips booked to Hawaii), Japan, Thailand and New Zealand.

Private lodging and facilities

As clients look to make-up for missed trips, Audley has seen a shift in the accommodation types that they request. From rooms and suites with private pools in Greece to exclusive use of safari properties in Africa, clients are asking for more space and private facilities as they book multigeneration family reunions or small group trips. The same trend is seen in Sri Lanka, with Audley responding to the increased demand for private accommodation with the launch of a portfolio of private villas on the southwest coast. In the Caribbean, private islands such as Jumby Bay, Petit St Vincent and Palm Island as well as hotels that offer separate villas, for example Bequia Beach Hotel, are proving popular.

A 10-day Private stay on Sri Lanka’s south coast costs from $3,995 per person (based on eight sharing) and includes transfers, accommodation and excursions. www.audleytravel.com/us/sri-lanka / 1-866-458-8170.

A seven-night stay in Palm Villa with a private pool at Bequia Beach Hotel , St Vincent and the Grenadines costs from $2,100 per person (based on four sharing) and includes transfers, accommodation and excursions. www.audleytravel.com/us/st-vincent-and-the-grenadines / 1-866-569-4753.

‘Beach plus’ itineraries – relaxation with exploration

As clients began to travel again last Autumn, Audley saw a steep increase in bookings for beach-only and single-center trips. These allowed clients to take a much-needed getaway, while keeping logistics as simple as possible. While these single destination trips remain popular with some groups (families, honeymooners and clients looking for a relaxing luxury break away in the sunshine), Audley’s specialists report an increase in requests for ‘beach plus’ and a return to more intricately designed itineraries for 2022.

While a typical Audley experience sees clients explore multiple destinations in one trip, a ‘beach plus’ itinerary is a first step back to this with clients enjoying a beach stay coupled with cultural touring experiences. It allows them to pack all their expectations for travel into one big trip without multiple border crossings. Many clients are choosing itineraries with a strong element of relaxation in nature away from the crowds, but teaming this with some immersive experiences that allow them to get to know the destination, and in turn take the first steps to the type of travel they love.

Popular destinations include Phuket, Krabi and Koh Samui in Thailand, with touring options including a treetop elephant experience, Phuket food tour, cooking classes or a community cultural experience. The same growing trend has been seen in Kenya, where it is possible to fly direct from New York and experience both safari and beach within the country’s borders and avoid the associated Covid-testing complexities of flying to a second destination, such as Zanzibar, for the beach stay.

Audley’s Europe specialists have seen the same, with clients booking itineraries that give them time on a beach as well as some cultural experiences in the Algarve and the Greek islands.

A 15-day Luxury Kenya safari and beach trip costs from $14,275 per person (based on two sharing) and includes accommodation, transfers and safari activities. www.audleytravel.com/us/kenya / 1-866-424-1995

Luxury rail

Interest in travel by rail is growing, with 84 percent* of people surveyed by Audley earlier this year saying that they were ‘very’ or ‘somewhat likely’ to consider rail travel for their next trip. This has risen from 74 percent in July 2020. More specifically, the number of people who are ‘very likely’ to consider rail travel rose 53 percent from 15 to 23 percent during the same period.

Audley’s specialists in its programmes from Europe and Africa to Southeast and Central Asia and the US all report increased interest in luxury rail trips – both from existing product and new offerings. New opportunities to travel by luxury rail include Vietnam’s Vietage train between Danang and Quy Nhon, with semi-private seating areas for clients, three course gourmet meals, WiFi and a head and neck massage included. In Europe, the routing of Belmond’s Orient Express now includes Florence, Rome and Amsterdam, giving more options for clients. Canada’s famous Rocky Mountaineer now offer a two-day domestic route from Denver to Moab allowing clients to enjoy the views through oversized glass-dome windows, with breakfast, lunch and complimentary drinks served at their seats, with overnight hotel accommodation also included. In Russia, Audley’s specialists noted bookings on the luxury Golden Eagle train , traveling along the Trans-Siberian Railway, increased four-fold before the pandemic. This is set to continue as travel re-starts with strong interest for 2022 thanks to the train’s off-the-beaten-track routing and luxury experience.

An 18-day Luxury rail trip across Russia costs from $24,995 per person (based on two sharing) and includes transfers, hotel accommodation, 12 nights on the Golden Eagle and excursions. www.audleytravel.com/us/russia / 1-866-584-4337.

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Train lines blocked and services disrupted near Stansted airport after person hit

Train lines in Essex have been blocked after a person has been hit by a train.

Greater Anglia has confirmed an incident this morning, after which all lines between Bishop Stortford and Stansted Airport have been blocked.

A spokesman said: "Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until further notice.

"Network Rail and police are on route to site.

"We are currently trying to resource rail replacement vehicles to operate between Bishops Stortford and Stansted Airport / Audley End."

Train services from Cambridge will terminate at Audley End and at present there is no onward travel from Audley End to Bishop Stortford and Liverpool Street.

The railway company confirmed that GA ticket holders will be passed between Liverpool Street and Kings Cross while Great Northern will pass GA ticket holders between Kins Cross and Cambridge.

Crash of an Antonov AN-24 in Moscow

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The Morning

When travel plans go awry.

There are ways of keeping ourselves anchored, even when we enter a parallel universe disconnected from time.

By Melissa Kirsch

The weekend trip is, in theory, the perfect break. Two nights someplace else, just a small duffel bag and limited logistics standing between you and a reset. Leave on Friday, come back Sunday, fill the hours in between with enough that’s novel and return refreshed, or at least with a slightly altered perspective. You might take a weekend trip for vacation or work or to see family, but the effect is the same. You’re a little changed on return. You see your regular life a little bit differently.

I took what was meant to be a quick trip last weekend to attend a college graduation, and it was, strictly speaking, quick: I was scarcely away for 48 hours, but extreme weather marooned me for most of those hours in the liminal spaces of transit — airports, grounded planes, traffic jams — where time loses legibility. An old friend used to call these neither-here-nor-there realms the “zero world” for the way they feel unfastened from reality, parallel to daily life but separate. The flight cabin after an announcement of a fourth lightning delay is a world detached from the one you know, a temporary society populated by temporary citizens with perhaps not much in common save one deeply held belief: We need to get out of here.

I was as cranky and impatient as the rest of my fellow travelers at each complication in our journeys, but also fascinated by the communities and customs and Cibo Express markets of the zero world. Each of us was, at any given time, one captain’s announcement away from a temper tantrum, but we were also competitively careful to be polite to one another and to the airline staff, as if determined to demonstrate that those wild videos of short-tempered passengers being duct-taped to their seats did not represent us, the makeshift civilization of this departure lounge.

Graduation, when I finally arrived, was a joyous affair despite the glitches. The speaker, an astronaut, showed a photo of the farm where she grew up, the place she thought of as home for much of her life. Then she showed a photo of the limb of the Earth, the glowing edge of the atmosphere, and described how, when she went to space, home was no longer a town on a map but this planet, a shift in perspective so massive I felt a little queasy contemplating it.

On Hour 3 in the airport bar on Sunday morning, beside two German travelers practicing Spanish, I ordered an omelet and imagined my own home, which felt very far away and lit by its own otherworldly halo. What would I be doing if I were there? Reading, texting, catching up on emails — the same things I was doing here. What was so bad about this? Was it the lack of choice? The lack of fresh air?

It was all those things, and also the feeling of being trapped in a warp between origin and destination. My emotions felt out of proportion to the situation: I hadn’t traveled very far for very long, was in no peril and would still arrive in New York with enough day left to do whatever needed to be done, but I felt on the verge of tears, loosed from my moorings, floating between fixed points, dislocated. I put on my headphones, put on a favorite band whose songs are so familiar they provide a home base no matter where I am. I listened to the same album on repeat for the duration of the flight, in the car on the way home, even at home once I finally made it there.

There’s a story in The Times today about how A.S.M.R., the pleasant, brain-tingling feeling we get when hearing certain sounds or watching certain comforting scenes, has become a feature of all viral internet content, not just specialized videos devoted to inducing the sensation. You can still put on a very specific video of someone whispering into a microphone or crinkling paper, but you’re just as likely to find the stimuli in videos of people cooking or cleaning their pools. This seems like a logical extension. We’re restless beasts in need of soothing. Sometimes we’re dramatically homesick, sometimes it’s just a bad day. Why not imbue the mundane with the choreography of comfort? Why not add pleasure whenever and wherever we can?

For weekend travel inspiration: The Times’s 36 Hours series.

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THE WEEK IN CULTURE

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THE LATEST NEWS

Israel-Hamas War

A Biden administration report said that Israel may have broken international law in Gaza, but that Israel’s “credible and reliable” assurances mean the U.S. can keep sending weapons.

The Biden administration is still waiting for Israel to show how it plans to evacuate and protect civilians in Rafah ahead of a possible invasion.

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Michael Cohen, who paid Stormy Daniels hush money and whom prosecutors say Donald Trump reimbursed, is expected to testify Monday in Trump’s Manhattan criminal trial. The judge asked prosecutors to stop Cohen from criticizing Trump .

Russia tried to break through Ukrainian lines in the country’s north using shelling and armored columns. Ukraine said it had repelled the attacks.

Russia is upgrading a munitions depot in Belarus, possibly to house nuclear weapons , a Times analysis of satellite imagery found.

The Biden administration plans to raise tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles to protect U.S. auto manufacturers.

Apple is revamping Siri to offer more advanced A.I. responses , akin to ChatGPT.

An appeals court upheld Steve Bannon’s conviction for defying a subpoena from the House Jan. 6 committee. He could soon have to serve prison time.

A Virginia school board voted to restore the names of Confederate leaders — including Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson — to two schools, reversing its 2020 decision to rename them .

CULTURE CALENDAR

By Desiree Ibekwe

🎥 Back to Black (Friday): You may well have seen the online discussion about this movie, an Amy Winehouse biopic directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson. The movie — which focuses on Winehouse’s relationship with Blake Fielder-Civil — was No. 1 at the British box office but divided viewers and critics, some of whom found fault with the appearance of its star, Marisa Abela. “I don’t need to convince people that they’re actually watching Amy,” Abela told The Times . “I need to remind people of her soul.”

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

By Melissa Clark

Strawberry Shortcake

It’s Mother’s Day tomorrow, and if your mom has a sweet tooth (and if so, I can relate), Jane Grigson’s strawberry shortcake as adapted by Nancy Harmon Jenkins might be just the thing for a celebratory brunch. Make the biscuit dough and cut out the rounds the day before (just keep them in the fridge until baking time). Then, while they’re in the oven, you can macerate the berries (any kind you like) with sugar and prep the whipped cream. Be sure to save any leftover biscuits. They’re excellent toasted for breakfast the next day.

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ADVICE FROM WIRECUTTER

Food processors, blenders and choppers.

Countertop appliances can help you get a meal on the table faster, often with less work and a quicker cleanup. But deciding which gizmo is best for you can be a challenge. It depends on what kinds of foods you most frequently prepare, Wirecutter’s kitchen experts say. For example, if your main goal is to reduce the time you spend prepping ingredients, a food processor is likely your best bet. If you demand the smoothest, silkiest textures from your soups, sauces and smoothies (and have ample storage space), consider a full-size blender. Oh, and those TikTok-famous manual vegetable choppers ? No one needs those. — Rose Lorre

GAMES OF THE WEEK

W.N.B.A. season openers: A once-in-a-generation group enters the W.N.B.A. next week. You may already know their names: Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Cameron Brink, Kamilla Cardoso. Their college matchups shattered viewership records, and their pro draft last month did the same. The W.N.B.A. is trying to seize the moment: Nearly all of Clark’s games with the Indiana Fever will be national broadcasts , and some of her games are moving to bigger arenas to meet fan demand.

The season begins Tuesday, as Clark and the Fever face the Connecticut Sun and M.V.P. contender Alyssa Thomas. After that, the two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces play Brittney Griner and the Phoenix Mercury. 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2

More coverage

Clark and Cardoso are featured in a documentary series , “Full Court Press,” airing on ABC this weekend, which follows them through their final season of college.

The W.N.B.A. is expanding : The league plans to add a 13th team, in the San Francisco area, next season, and a 14th, in Toronto, the year after.

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Thanks for spending part of your weekend with The Times. — Melissa

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Melissa Kirsch is the deputy editor of Culture and Lifestyle at The Times and writes The Morning newsletter on Saturdays. More about Melissa Kirsch