The Conscious Travel Foundation maps growth for 2024

Responsible travel network The Conscious Travel Foundation has shared its actions for growth in its third annual impact report.

The report hailed 2023 as a “year of change and evolution” amid a 20% increase in membership and successful events including several thought leadership discussions and workshops for agents, and raising £57,000 at its first fundraising auction.

This year, the organisation plans to grow its community from 70 to 100 members.

It will also introduce a corporate membership tier for larger travel businesses, namely tour operators and agents.

In May, the foundation launched a new collaborative Climate Fund in partnership with environmental services company Pinwheel, which enables members to contribute to projects that support the removal of emissions and the restoration of nature.

The Climate Fund currently supports six projects operating in different areas of the world such as greenhouse gas destruction in Costa Rica and harvesting rainwater in Kenya.

The Conscious Travel Foundation has also formed a Community Impact Fund that supports grassroots initiatives with grants of £24,000 spanning three years. The recipients of the fund are chosen by a Philanthropy Committee made up of 10 volunteers from the foundation’s member base, mentors and external experts.

The organisation hopes to support up to two new projects across 2024 and 2025 with the goal to eventually have six projects running simultaneously.

For members who want to educate themselves about the climate crisis and actions their businesses can take, the foundation has introduced a certified Carbon Literacy course specifically for the travel industry in partnership with carbon training company Ecollective.

The course requires members to complete eight hours of training and submit evidence of significant individual and company actions to reduce their carbon footprint.

In addition, based on feedback from members, The Conscious Travel Foundation plans to launch a guide for agents and tour operators to utilise at trade shows, on fam trips and during meetings on “the questions they should be asking when seeking sustainability in travel”.

After the success of its first fundraising auction held in London - attended by 100 members, industry friends and guests - the foundation has set an annual fundraising goal of £50,000 to sustain and grow its operations.

The fundraiser will now be an annual occurrence, with the next event set for this November.

The Conscious Travel Foundation was set up in 2020 by travel agents Katie Terrington and Amy Welfare alongside industry friends Georgina Coke of By Georgie, Joro Experience’s Henry Comyn and Olivia Cryer of Olivia Cryer Communications

Members span all sectors of the industry, from hotels, lodges and DMCs to agents, guides and operators, PR and marketing businesses, and journalists.