News and Events

Virgin Holidays @RTAwards Winners 2011

I love the Wednesday of World Travel Market. It's a day focused on sustainable travel, but it's also the moment when the winners of the Virgin Holidays' Responsible Tourism Awards run by responsibletravel.com are announced. I'm one of several judges who agonise over the shortlisted finalists every year. Then, each year at the award ceremony, we're moved by meeting the people who have worked so tirelessly for change.

Travel companies can make a difference

If you're running a travel business, scarce water resources or declining fish stocks are something other people should be tackling, right? Well actually no; it's not that simple, and you can make a difference. I spent Monday this week at the Travel Foundation's AGM. Last year the subject at this charity's AGM was water shortages and I turned up thinking it would all be theoretical and too abstract to provide useful advice for clients. But I was wrong. It proved to be a powerful session on how travel organisations have a real role to play. thetravelfoundation.org

Predictions for 2010 from ITT

There was surprisingly little drama about economic gloom at this year's ITT conference. Instead, in measured and thoughtful debates, Kuoni's Peter Rothwell and other panellists predicted next year would be slightly better than this year. Tim Williamson of TUI thought trading conditions might be tougher next year but said there was a real sense of optimism in the business about how quickly Mexico is recovering in popularity after the swine flu issues of earlier this year. Mike Greenacre of the Co-Operative Travel Group said he expected further consolidation as small to medium sized businesses go out of business this autumn as they run out of cash. We heard Terry Fisher of Gold Medal encourage industry partners to "respect the supply chain" and work closely with agents and operators to drive volumes. Jumairah Beach supported Terry's comments saying in December they were looking at 50 per cent occupancy for the first quarter of 2009, but after working closely with trade partners to reach last minute decision-makers had finished Q1 with occupancy levels of 91, 93 and 96 per cent.

Enter the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards

There are just three weeks to go for nominations for the sixth annual Responsible Tourism Awards, sponsored by Virgin Holidays and with the support of The Daily Telegraph. I'm a judge and I'm constantly astounded at the ingenuity and creativity of travel organisations around the world to ensure that the work they do can have beneficial impacts on local people and places. These awards are really important for sharing that work, telling the world what you've done and for learning about what is happening elsewhere. So if you have a passion for travel and you've come across something really amazing that helps both the people and the place you've been to, do let us know.

Responsible Tourism Awards Open

The Daily Telegraph ran a feature this weekend announcing that nominations can now be made for the 2009 Responsible Tourism Awards, sponsored by Virgin Holidays and organised by responsibletravel.com. I've been a judge of these awards for several years and I'm always astounded at the ingenuity and creativity shown by the finalists to help travel contribute more to local communities as well as protecting the physicial and natural environment. It's a fantastic awards scheme for highlighting great new ideas and initiatives that we can all learn from.

bgb at Best of British & Ireland Show

Debbie Hindle, bgb managing director, will be one of the panelists on sustainability at this year's Best of Britain & Ireland Travel Trade Forum. She'll be joining a panel of prominent sustainable journalists on Friday 27 March at midday to discuss whether green issues are marginalised or considered mainstream by British media. To register for the event visit www.britainandirelandevent.co.uk/registration, email info@bobevents.co.uk or call +44 (0) 1883 333 195.

A wish for a sustainable new year

2009 dawns with the economy the biggest concern facing every business. We know media are going to want credit crunch stories and, as many are facing serious budget cuts and challenges themselves it's going to be top of many people's minds personally as well as professionally.