A selection of travel agents, destination management companies and representation companies have become the first members of The Conscious Travel Foundation (TCTF).

The organisation, which aims to mentor its members on sustainable travel and raise money for grass-roots charities, now has 32 members.

Travel agents make up a large majority of the new cohort, including UK agents Beth Severino of BGS Travel Design, Edward Burke of Seventy Ten Travel, Julia Townsend of Goodacre & Townsend, Justin Huxter of Cartology Travel, Kirsty Williams of Humboldt Travel, Lucy Slater of Antilophia, Rebecca Puttock of Wanderlux, Roz Webster of Cream Travel, Sarah Mason of Mason Rose Private Travel and Vanessa Boz of Boz Around.

Nine privately-owned DMCs have also joined the organisation, including Banyan Tours, EXP Journeys and Plan It Morocco, as well as five owner-operated representation companies from around the world. These include By Georgie, Orcidea Collection, Four Corners Marketing and Sarah Falconer.

The Datai Langkawi in Malaysia, Safari Series in Kenya and Crees Manu in Peru are TCTF’s first property members.

TCTF said its mentorship programme had been designed to support its members on their individual sustainability journeys by connecting them with a global network of leading sustainability advocates. 

The organisation currently has five mentors, including Charlie Carlow, owner of safari lodge specialist Wild Bush Luxury; Petit Miribel of Peru’s Sol y Luna Foundation and sustainable Sol y Luna hotel; Ang Tshering, founder of Nepalese operator Beyul Experiences; Portia Hart of Colombia’s Blue Apple hotel and beach club; and Suzanne Bayly-Coupe, owner of African property company, Classic Portfolio.

Across the year, members receive one group Zoom seminar with their allocated mentor per quarter; access to a mentorship Whatsapp group, private Facebook group and additional ‘pay as you go’ video seminars with leading industry experts; as well as invitations to events (Covid-permitting).

TCTF will also be running an auction in April or May this year to raise funds for grass-roots charities and high-impact projects around the world.