Climate Friendly Travel
By SunX Programme
When it comes to Climate Friendly Travel, every small step forward, is giant stride when we all step together…
If you’d like to learn more about how you can get involved in Climate Friendly Travel sign up to join The SunX Programme free at climatefriendly.travel or email us at info@thesunprogram.com
Climate Friendly Travel Mar 26, 2023
Balancing Marine Biology & Tourism
Balancing Tourism with Marine Environmental Protection: Conversation with Patrizia Patti, Founder of Ecomarine Malta
In this episode of the Climate Friendly Travel Podcast, host Ged Brown discusses with marine biologist, Patrizia Patti, the balance between marine conservancy and tourism. Patti is the founder of Ecomarine Malta, an organization aiming to increase awareness about marine ecosystems through tourism. Besides offering tours for educational purposes, Ecomarine Malta actively collects scientific data for use in marine biology research. Patrizia emphasizes the potential of tourism to work for conservation and discusses the significance of shared knowledge for increased awareness and purposeful travel. She believes that education and collaboration can make a significant impact on environmental conservation.
00:16 Meet Patrizia Patti: Marine Biologist and Founder of Ecomarine Malta
00:54 The Intersection of Marine Biology and Tourism
01:32 Patrizia's Journey and the Birth of Ecomarine Malta
02:24 The Importance of Marine Education and Awareness
04:05 Ecomarine Malta's Sustainable Marine Tours
06:41 The Role of Ecomarine Malta in Conservation and Tourism
09:55 The Impact of Ecomarine Malta's Tours
16:39 The State of Malta's Marine Environment
19:06 The Role of Tourism in Marine Conservation
20:39 Patrizia's Optimism for the Future of the Environment
22:32 The Power of Meaningful Travel
24:00 Conclusion and Invitation to Join Ecomarine Malta
Eco Tourism Bali - Climate Neutrality in Travel and Tourism
Today I’m joined by Suzy Hutomo who is the Chair of Body Shop Indonesia and co-founder of Eco Tourism Bali.
With a vision to ensure Bali is viewed as a Preferred Sustainable Tourism Destination, Eco Tourism Bali aims to put Bali as a sustainable tourism destination in the world by 2030 and to contribute on Achieving Climate Neutrality in Travel and Tourism by 2050.
After meeting up with Suzy recently in Bali, I was keen to learn more about the work of Eco Tourism Bali to learn how they were progressing towards their goals.
And if you’d like to learn more about Eco Tourism Bali then please do visit: https://www.ecotourismbali.com
And you can join Suzy, Eco Tourism Bali and hundreds more like-minded people and organisations by joining Climate Friendly Travel and indeed become an ambassador by signing up to join The SunX Registry at , climatefriendly.travel or email us at info@thesunprogram.com
That’s our show for this week. Thanks so much for your company and remember, when it comes to Climate Friendly Travel, every small step forward, is giant stride when we all step together…
Five Pillars - Celebrating Rural Communities in Bali
In today’s episode, I’m joined by Wira who is the Founder and Director of Five Pillars Experiences in Bali.
Wira founded Five Pillars in 2015 with the mission to curate inspiring and responsible travel experiences that celebrate the allure of rural communities, diverse cultures, and pristine natural environments in Bali and beyond.
I was keen to learn more about the work of Five Pillars from Wira and took the opportunity when we met up in Bali recently to record this podcast live and in person.
So there you have it. Huge thanks again to Wira for sharing his insights with us today and if you’d like to learn more about Five Pillars Experiences and see the wonderful work they are doing in local communities, then please do visit: https://fivepillarsexperiences.com/.
And you can join Wira, Five Pillars Experiences and hundreds more like-minded people and organisations by joining Climate Friendly Travel and indeed become an ambassador by signing up to join The SunX Registry at , climatefriendly.travel or email us at info@thesunprogram.com
That’s our show for this week. Thanks so much for your company and remember, when it comes to Climate Friendly Travel, every small step forward, is giant stride when we all step together…
Why Climate Friendly Travel?
Welcome to the Climate Friendly Travel Podcast, where each episode, we speak to the great and the good of the global travel and tourism industry to learn more about what they are doing to ensure that the principles of climate friendly travel are being advanced.
I’m Ged Brown, your host for this week’s episode and for this first episode I’m delighted to be joined by the President and Founder of the Sunx Malta Programme, Professor Geoffrey Lipman.
Professor Lipman has operated in the highest capacity at global travel organisations such as IATA, WTTC and the UNWTO. In addition to his position at SunX Malta, he is currently the President of the ICTP and the Green Growth Travelism Institute (GGTI), as well as a Visiting Professor at Hasselt University, Belgium & the Victoria University Australia
I caught up with Geoffrey on World Tourism Day this year to learn why Climate Friendly Travel is so vital right now and also to discuss some of the key challenges the movement is facing right now.
If you’d like to find out more about how you can get involved in Climate Friendly Travel and indeed become an ambassador by signing up to join The SunX Programme, then please visit climatefriendly.travel or email us at info@thesunprogram.com
When it comes to Climate Friendly Travel, every small step forward is giant stride, when we all step together…
Nepal's Leading Eco Lodge
today I’m delighted to be joined by Marcus from Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge in Nepal.
Perched 1,000 feet above the Pokhara Valley with a spectacular Himalayan backdrop, Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge provides the essence of tranquillity. Ideal for guests pre- and post-trek, or for those wishing to take day walks exploring local communities, bird-watching, gentle exercise, or just to relax in a typical Nepalese rural setting.
Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge is a member of some select groups of the world’s most special regenerative tourism experiences including; Secret Retreats, Rare, Earthchangers and Kiwano.
The owners and staff believe in tourism with a conscience and are pioneers of regenerative tourism in Nepal’s hills and to validate their claims, they are independently verified by Yardstick UK. Additionally, they are certified by GSTC affiliate Travellife with Gold Standard Audits in 2017 and 2019.
In this episode, Marcus shares their vision, journey and future direction for the Lodge.
If you’d like to learn more about Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge then please do visit: https://tigermountainpokhara.com.
And you can join Marcus, Tiger Mountain Lodge and hundreds more like-minded people and organisations by joining Climate Friendly Travel and indeed become an ambassador by signing up to join The SunX Registry at , climatefriendly.travel or email us at info@thesunprogram.com
Una Bambu - Pioneering Bamboo Construction in Sri Lanka
Today I’m delighted to be joined by Aoife O’Sullivan from Una Bambu in Sri Lanka.
Una Bambu was established by Aoife and her partner Julien in 2019 following an intensive bamboo training with world-renowned developers IBUKU & Bamboo U in Bali, Indonesia, where they trained in receiving the hands-on knowledge required in working with bamboo as a construction material.
Eager to bring that know-how to Sri Lanka, and addressing the rapidly growing market demands for ethical travel destinations, the company developed their UNA concept, a bamboo eco-hotel, designed in collaboration with award-winning design firm Atelier Nomadic.
The mission for UNA is that it will act as a turning point for bamboo construction in Sri Lanka, showcasing the value of locally grown bamboos, and igniting the bamboo movement on the island.
In this episode Aoife talks to me about the origins of Una, the plans for growth and why bamboo is one of the most ecological and wonderful materials which nature has bestowed on us.
If you’d like to learn more about Una Bambu, and perhaps even get involved, then please do visit: https://unabambu.com.
And you can join Aoife, Una Bambu and hundreds more like-minded people and organisations by joining Climate Friendly Travel and indeed become an ambassador by signing up to join The SunX Registry at , climatefriendly.travel or email us at info@thesunprogram.com
That’s our show for this week. Thanks so much for your company and remember, when it comes to Climate Friendly Travel, every small step forward, is giant stride when we all step together…
Natural Selection - Engaging With Local Communities
Today we're joined by Murray McCallum from Natural Selection in Southern Africa.
Natural Selection offers remarkable experiences in wild, untouched places and they’re not your typical safari company. They are all about conservation first, proudly protecting Africa’s wild spaces for the future and care deeply about the communities which are the heart and soul of this wonderful continent.
In this episode I wanted to learn more from Murray about how Natural Selection foster multiple partnerships with other local organisations to be a force for good in the communities they operate in.
And if you’d like to learn more about Natural Selection, their ethos and indeed see the experiences they provide for yourself, then please do visit https://naturalselection.travel and also https://www.naturalselectionfoundation.org
You can join Murray, Natural Selection and hundreds more like-minded people and organisations by joining Climate Friendly Travel and indeed become an ambassador by signing up to join The SunX Registry at , climatefriendly.travel or email us at info@thesunprogram.com
Distant Relatives - Your Eco Home Away From Home
Today’s episode was recorded live at the fabulous Distant Relatives Ecolodge & Backpackers in Kilifi, Kenya.
With numerous awards and accolades to it’s name, I was keen to visit Distant Relatives after meeting up with today’s guest at the Sustainable Africa Tourism Summit recently.
We hear so many examples of high end luxury properties being super sustainable and regenerative and I’m mindful that there are far more travellers and indeed properties without high end budgets yet dedicated to more eco options.
After a full tour of the property and a wonderful 2 night stay, I sat down with Distant Relatives’ CEO, Mwanase, to learn more about the property, their ethos and their journey.
As you can probably tell, I was absolutely in love with what they have created here in this beautiful part of Kenya and I will absolutely return one day.
If you’d like to learn more about Distant Relatives, then I would encourage you to visithttps://www.kilifibackpackers.com
And you can join Mwanase, Distant Relatives and hundreds more like-minded people and organisations by joining Climate Friendly Travel and indeed become an ambassador by signing up to join The SunX Registry at , climatefriendly.travel or email us at info@thesunprogram.com
That’s our show for this week. Thanks so much for your company and remember, when it comes to Climate Friendly Travel, every small step forward, is giant stride when we all step together…
Emboo River - Truly Sustainable Safari's
Today we're joined by Mary Njoroge from Emboo Camps.
Emboo River is positioned in the heart of Kenya's Maasai Mara and is the perfect spot to explore this spectacular ecosystem and spot all its wildlife.
At Emboo River guests can enjoy unique experiences, including silent safaris in solar powered vehicles, dinner under the stars, delicious meals with organic ingredients from their hydroponic farm prepared on biogas, rain showers overlooking nature and so much more.
In this episode recorded recently in Kenya, I speak to Mary about how Emboo River Camp came to be one of the most respected and lauded sustainability projects in Kenya and more specifically, how they have achieved so much in such a relatively short space of time.
And if you’d like to learn more about Emboo River, then please do visit https://www.emboo.camp
You can join Mary, Emboo River and hundreds more like-minded people and organisations by joining Climate Friendly Travel and indeed become an ambassador by signing up to join The SunX Registry at , climatefriendly.travel or email us at info@thesunprogram.com
That’s our show for this week. Thanks so much for your company and remember, when it comes to Climate Friendly Travel, every small step forward, is giant stride when we all step together…
Red Rocks Rwanda - Tourism, Conservation & Community
Red Rocks Rwanda is an Ecotourism company and a social enterprise that is all about promoting sustainable tourism through community and conservation programs. They bring under-served communities into the tourism supply chain and support community development projects that help people to help themselves through various initiatives.
With a variety of accommodation offered, Red Rocks cultural tourism scheme involves developing the community and promoting their nature preserve through tourism and enhancing intercultural exchange programs, between the host local community and visitors.
In this episode I speak to Greg about how he believes tourism, conservation, and community development can co-exist to make a truly responsible tourism offering.
And if you’d like to learn more about Red Rocks Rwanda, then please do visit www.redrocksrwanda.com
You can join Greg, Red Rocks Rwanda and hundreds more like-minded people and organisations by joining Climate Friendly Travel and indeed become an ambassador by signing up to join The SunX Registry at , climatefriendly.travel or email us at info@thesunprogram.com
That’s our show for this week. Thanks so much for your company and remember, when it comes to Climate Friendly Travel, every small step forward, is giant stride when we all step together…
The Weeva Story - Managing Sustainability
Today we're delighted to be joined by Julie Cheetham who is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Weeva in South Africa.
Julie is one of tourism’s leading sustainability consultants with over 20 years of experience in sustainable development and business transformation. Having worked for a range of clients across the hospitality and corporate sectors, in 2021 Julie drew from her diverse insights and together with an initial group of thought leaders, established Weeva – a SaaS platform that enables the travel industry to adopt a measurable and holistic sustainability practice.
In this episode we speak to Julie about the origin story of Weeva, the challenges faced by her clients and the steps she recommends that every travel and tourism organisation can take to get started on their own sustainability pathway.
And you can join Julie, Weeva and hundreds more like-minded people and organisations by joining Climate Friendly Travel and indeed become an ambassador by signing up to join The SunX Registry at , climatefriendly.travel or email us at info@thesunprogram.com
That’s our show for this week. Thanks so much for your company and remember, when it comes to Climate Friendly Travel, every small step forward, is giant stride when we all step together…
Regenerating Tourism In Sri Lanka - Part 2
Today I’m delighted to be joined once more by Chalana Perera who is the Founder of RETRACE Hospitality in Sri Lanka.
In this second episode, I talk to Chalana about the concept of capacity in tourism destinations. Do we know how many tourists we can safely welcome before there is a negative impact on the host community, the environment and the traveller experience. We also discuss poverty, it’s role in climate resilience and how this links with the wider climate change crisis.
Big issues and thought provoking discussions…
My thanks again to Chalana for sharing his insights with us today and if you’d like to learn more about RETRACE Hospitality and the work they are doing in Sri Lanka then please do visit https://www.retracehospitality.com
And you can join Chalana, RETRACE Hospitality and hundreds more like-minded people and organisations by joining Climate Friendly Travel and indeed become an ambassador by signing up to join The SUNx Program at climatefriendly.travel or email us at info@thesunprogram.com
That’s our show for this week. Thanks so much for your company and remember, when it comes to Climate Friendly Travel, every small step forward, is giant stride when we all step together…
Regenerating Tourism in Sri Lanka - Part 1
Today I’m delighted to be joined by Chalana Perera who is the Founder of RETRACE Hospitality in Sri Lanka.
RETRACE Hospitality is an advisory practice which works together with investors, developers and operators in the hospitality tourism space to bring more regenerative practices into the sector.
In this first episode of two, I talk to Chalana about what it means when we talk about regenerative tourism, how is it conceptualised in Sri Lanka today, have things changed since the onset of the financial crisis in Sri Lanka last year and is slow travel replacing mass tourism in Sri Lanka?
You can hear the second episode with Chalana next time where we delve into capacity studies as we try to establish just how many tourists can a destination safely accommodate before the experience becomes a negative one for the host community, the environment, and the travellers.
For now, my thanks again to Chalana for sharing his insights with us today and if you’d like to learn more about RETRACE Hospitality and the work they are doing in Sri Lanka then please do visit https://www.retracehospitality.com
And you can join Chalana, RETRACE Hospitality and hundreds more like-minded people and organisations by joining Climate Friendly Travel and indeed become an ambassador by signing up to join The SUNx Program at climatefriendly.travel or email us at info@thesunprogram.com
That’s our show for this week. Thanks so much for your company and remember, when it comes to Climate Friendly Travel, every small step forward, is giant stride when we all step together…
Ecoplore - Building Sustainability Naturally
Today I’m delighted to be joined by Prerna Pasad who is the Founder of Ecoplore in India.
Ecoplore is an aggregator of hotels in India which all have one thing in common. They are all built from natural materials such as mud, wood, stone, bamboo or any other natural and locally sourced materials. And they are all wonderfully charming.
In this episode I spoke with Prerna about how she transitioned her desire to change the world from being a journalist to becoming India’s champion of sustainable accommodation. It’s a wonderful and inspiring story.
And if you’d like to learn more about Ecoplore and indeed see "Van Bhoj" for yourself, then please do visit https://www.ecoplore.com
You can join Prerna, Ecoplore and hundreds more like-minded people and organisations by joining Climate Friendly Travel and indeed become an ambassador by signing up to join The SUNx Program at , climatefriendly.travel or email us at info@thesunprogram.com
That’s our show for this week. Thanks so much for your company and remember, when it comes to Climate Friendly Travel, every small step forward, is giant stride when we all step together…
Special Episode: Tourism & Sustainability in Kenya with Najib Balala
Today we have a special episode for you after my visit last week to Kenya where I met up with Kenya’s former Minister for Tourism and Wildlife, Najib Balala.
Najib has served as Kenya’s Minister for Tourism and Wildlife since 2008 and is credited to having led the development and implementation of Wildlife policy in 2020, the National Wildlife Strategy 2030 and the National Tourism Blueprint 2030, as well as the conducting of the first National Wildlife Census in Kenya in 2021.
In this episode I speak to Najib about the state of sustainable tourism in Kenya, what has been achieved so far and what more there is yet to do.
Huge thanks to Najib for taking the time from his busy schedule to share his insights with us today. We’ll share some more podcasts from our Kenyan travels in the coming weeks so do look out for those.
And you can join hundreds more like-minded people and organisations by joining Climate Friendly Travel and indeed become an ambassador by signing up to join The SunX Registry at , climatefriendly.travel or email us at info@thesunprogram.com
Remember, when it comes to Climate Friendly Travel, every small step forward, is giant stride when we all step together…
Relentless - The Glen Mhor Story
Today I’m joined by Victoria Erasmus who is the Owner Director of Glen Mhor Hotel & Apartments located in the heart of Inverness.
Victoria is relentless. We have been privileged to speak to many industry experts, hotel owners and managers over the years but Victoria is something else.
In this episode Victoria tells us how they are not yet a finished product but instead working on changing the mindsets of all their staff as they figure out the best way forward and how they can address the climate emergency in a meaningful way.
Last year Victoria and the team opened Scotland's First Water Source Energy Centre which extracts the heat from shallow wells on their site allowing them to have their own water source along with providing all heating and will remove all gas from their site over the next year. This £8 million pound project is located at the back of their new brewery and distillery Uile-Bheist (pronounced Ewl-Uh-Vhest and means monster in Gaelic). Uile-Bheist was built with sustainability at its core. Heated by their own energy, using water from their own source and solar PV for energy - making it one of the lowest carbon footprint brewstillerys in the country.
With a robust green policy, green team and climate action plan, Victoria and the team are clearly determined to do things the right way.
And if you’d like to learn more about Glen Mhor and their ethos and indeed see the property for yourself, then please do visit www.glen-mhor.com
You can join Victoria, Glen Mhor and hundreds more like-minded people and organisations by joining Climate Friendly Travel and indeed become an ambassador by signing up to join The SunX Program at , climatefriendly.travel or email us at info@thesunprogram.com
That’s our show for this week. Thanks so much for your company and remember, when it comes to Climate Friendly Travel, every small step forward, is giant stride when we all step together…
Happy Valley - Alba Wellness Valley
Today I’m delighted to be joined by Hylton Lipkin who is the General Manager of Alba Wellness Valley in Vietnam.
Set at the foot of the Truong Son Mountains, spanning over 50 hectares of lush gardens and pristine lakes, is Alba Wellness Resort by Fusion. The nature-inspired destination which combines rest, relaxation and the healing qualities of Thanh Tan hot springs to form a quiet respite just 30 kilometres north from Hue.
The wellness resort features 30 Deluxe Rooms and 20 Bungalows. Surrounded by manicured gardens with calming waters and tranquil bamboo paths, guests can embrace a holistic lifestyle while lounging by the pool bar, enjoying massage and spa services and rejuvenating in the onsite Japanese onsen baths.
With a long and illustrious career in the global hospitality industry, Hylton who is from South Africa, eventually settled in Vietnam at the Alba Wellness Resort where he clearly takes immense pride in the holistic wellness and sustainable approach which they have become renowned for in recent years.
In this episode I speak to Hylton about the essence of what makes Alba Wellness Valley so special.
And if you’d like to learn more about Alba Wellness Valley and their ethos and indeed see the property for yourself, then please do visit fusionhotelgroup.com/albawellnessvalley
And you can join Hylton, Alba Wellness Valley and hundreds more like-minded people and organisations by joining Climate Friendly Travel and indeed become an ambassador by signing up to join The SunX Registry at , climatefriendly.travel or email us at info@thesunprogram.com
Thanks so much for your company and remember, when it comes to Climate Friendly Travel, every small step forward, is giant stride when we all step together…
Eco Lifestyle Lodge - Barbados Premier Eco Resort
Today I’m joined by Kyle Taylor from Eco Lifestyle Lodge in Barbados.
Tucked away on the hills overlooking the dramatic seascape of the Bajan east coast, ECO Lifestyle + Lodge is the realized dream of New York native Kyle & his partner Maryam, who traded the hustle of city life for a slower, more meaningful pace when they moved to Barbados several years ago. With their young family in tow, they’ve firmly established themselves in the local community.
With numerous awards already won for their eco endeavours, Kyle tells me how they established themselves as the number 1 eco resort on Barbados.
And if you want to be truly inspired, I highly urge you to check out their Eco Sky Water project which just might be the solution to water shortages around the world very soon – it’s truly incredible.
If you’d like to learn more about the Eco Lifestyle Lodge and their ethos and indeed see the property for yourself, then please do visit ecolifestylelodge.com
And you can join Kyle, Eco Lifestyle Lodge and hundreds more like-minded people and organisations by joining Climate Friendly Travel and indeed become an ambassador by signing up to join The SunX Registry at , climatefriendly.travel or email us at info@thesunprogram.com
That’s our show for this week. Thanks so much for your company and remember, when it comes to Climate Friendly Travel, every small step forward, is giant stride when we all step together…
Welchman Hall Gully - Pristine Jewel of Barbados
Today I’m delighted to be joined by Debra Branker from Welchman Hall Gully in Barbados.
Welchman Hall Gully is a glittering jewel set in the heart of Barbados. One and a half kilometres long and 20 metres deep, this is a mature tropical forest located in a collapsed cave which is now defined as a gully.
This pristine, tropical hideaway is the home to wild monkeys, majestic rainforest trees and delicate native plants and it is truly a place where visitors come to be at one with nature and the earth.
I caught up with Debra to learn more about the Gully and find out what makes it so special.
And if you’d like to learn more about Welchman Hall Gully, then please do visit welchmanhallgullybarbados.com
And you can join Debra, Welchman Hall Gully and hundreds more like-minded individuals and organisations like by joining the Climate Friendly Travel movement and indeed become an ambassador by signing up to join The SunX Registry at , climatefriendly.travel or email us at info@thesunprogram.com
That’s our show for this week. Thanks so much for your company and remember, when it comes to Climate Friendly Travel, every small step forward, is giant stride when we all step together…
Bambu Bicycles
Today I’m delighted to be joined by Joana Saavedra who is the Co-Founder of BamBu Bicycles.
Joana and her brother Tiago had always dreamed of working together on an inspiring project. But it never crossed their minds that this opportunity would happen while living and working in China in 2018.
There, they became dazzled with bamboo, its astonishing benefits and all the possibilities to build anything with this beautiful and sustainable material. When they first discovered bamboo bicycles, they became amazed by their unique appearance, beautiful design, light weight and comfort to ride. Instantly, they fell in love with the idea of crafting their own bamboo bikes and being the first bike builders of these wonderful bikes in their home country of Portugal.
Inspired by the initiatives of INBAR to promote the economic, social and environmental benefits of these power plants, they decided to put their hands to work and bring to life their own bamboo bike company.
Since then, they’ve been crafting and refining their products with heart and soul to bring out the best bamboo bicycles nature can give.
I caught up with Joana to learn more about these amazing bicycles and just how and why they came up with such an incredible and novel concept.
Huge thanks again to Joana for sharing her insights with us today, and if you’d like to learn more about BamBu Bicycles, then please do visit bambu-bicycles.com
And you can join Joana, Bambu Bicycles and hundreds more like-minded individuals and organisations like by joining the Climate Friendly Travel movement and indeed become an ambassador by signing up to join The SunX Registry at , climatefriendly.travel or email us at info@thesunprogram.com
That’s our show for this week. Thanks so much for your company and remember, when it comes to Climate Friendly Travel, every small step forward, is giant stride when we all step together…
Shinta Mani - Small Footprint, Big Sense of Community
Today we're delighted to be joined by Anthony Lark who is the Executive Director of Shinta Mani Hotels.
Shinta Mani Hotels aim to deliver holidays that change lives for their guests and in the surrounding communities alike. Each of the hotels are designed by co-owner Bill Bensley whom Architectural Digest calls “a pioneer in sustainable hotel design” and each of their small properties reflects its natural and cultural environment, providing heartfelt hospitality that supports the people, animals and ecosystems of Cambodia through the Shinta Mani Foundation.
With an illustrious career which includes becoming the general manager for Adrian Zecha’s first Aman resort, Amanpuri, in Phuket, Anthony Lark is more than a hotelier. He has vast and impressive experience throughout Asia and today also oversees the Shinta Mani Foundation, which aids the less fortunate in Cambodian communities where the eco-conscious Shinta Mani Hotels are located. As Anthony pointed out to me, “Our footprint should be small; our sense of community should be huge”.
In this episode I speak to Anthony about the essence of what makes Shinta Mani so special and it soon became clear that I was learning from one of the very best.
If you’d like to learn more about Shinta Mani Hotels and their ethos and indeed see the properties for yourself, then please do visit shintamani.com
And you can join Anthony, Shinta Mani and hundreds more like-minded people and organisations by joining Climate Friendly Travel and indeed become an ambassador by signing up to join The SunX Registry at , climatefriendly.travel or email us at info@thesunprogram.com
YAANA Ventures - Exploration & Sustainability in SE Asia
Today we're delighted to be joined by Willem Niemeijer who is the Founder of Yaana Ventures.
YAANA Ventures’ story began in the early 90s, which was a pivotal time for Southeast Asia as geopolitical shifts saw the opening of tourism in Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam after decades of war and isolation. Willem started Khiri Travel offering travel services for Thailand and Indochina, with the four countries as one destination.
Over the next decades, the rapidly growing destination management company broke ground in Myanmar, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. Today Khiri still continues to carry its founder’s DNA of a passion for exploration and sustainability.
Willem expanded his vision further by including the building of eco-lodges in some of the region’s most stunning locations.
YAANA Ventures was formed at the start of 2016 to provide a home to Willem’s next ventures. It creates a platform for new tourism, travel tech, and hospitality companies, united under the same vision and values, yet different in ambition and audacity.
We caught up with Willem to learn more about the ethos and spirit which Yaana has embraced as we discuss the motivations for sustainability and why it is encapsulated in all they do.
And if you’d like to learn more about Yaana, Khiri Travel and all of Willem’s ventures, then please do visit yaana-ventures.com
And you can join Willem, Yaana Ventures and hundreds more like-minded individuals and organisations like by joining the Climate Friendly Travel movement and indeed become an ambassador by signing up to join The SunX Registry at , climatefriendly.travel or email us at info@thesunprogram.com
Fivelements Retreat Bali - Love All, Serve All
Welcome to the Climate Friendly Travel Podcast! Where each episode, we speak to the great and the good of the global travel and tourism industry to learn more about what they are doing to ensure that the principles of climate friendly travel are being advanced. Today I’m delighted to be joined by John Nielsen who is the General Manager of the stunningly beautiful, Fivelements Retreat in Bali. Nestled on the banks of the Ayung River, Fivelements Retreat Bali is an award-winning eco-conscious wellness retreat deeply rooted in the ancient traditions of Bali, making it a peaceful sanctuary to embrace authentic Balinese Healing, Plant-based Cuisine and Sacred Arts. The most awarded wellness property on the island of Bali, Fivelements creates healing and wellness concepts and destinations that share: A vision for love and its power to transform An aspiration for bridging the wisdom, philosophies and healing practices of traditional cultures with innovative wellness services In this episode I speak to John about his own personal sustainability journey and we get under the skin of the challenges which sustainable tourism can present. If you’d like to learn more about the Fivelements approach and indeed see the amazing property for yourself, then please do visit fiveelementsbali.com And you can join John and hundreds like him by joining Climate Friendly Travel and indeed become an ambassador by signing up to join The SunX Registry at , climatefriendly.travel or email us at info@thesunprogram.com That’s our show for this week. Thanks so much for your company and remember, when it comes to Climate Friendly Travel, every small step forward, is giant stride when we all step together…
EnviroRental - Sustainable Holiday Rentals
Welcome to the Climate Friendly Travel Podcast! Where each episode, we speak to the great and the good of the global travel and tourism industry to learn more about what they are doing to ensure that the principles of climate friendly travel are being advanced.
Today I’m delighted to be joined by Bob Garner who is the owner of a holiday rental in Italy called Casa Dei Fichi which has sustainable practices running through its core. Bob is a vociferous advocate of sustainable practices in hospitality and uses his voice and expertise to help and encourage others to make a start on their own sustainable journeys. He has recently launched an new initiative for small holiday rentals called EnviroRental which provides resources and help for holiday rental owners to start their path to a more sustainable offering
In this episode I speak to Bob about his approach to sustainability in holiday rentals, what they are doing at Casa Dei Fichi and how EnviroRental is helping small businesses on their climate friendly travel journey.
If you’d like to learn more about EnviroRental, I highly recommend you visit their website at EnviroRental.earth and check out the casadeifichi.com website to see what Bob is doing for his holiday rental.
And you can join Bob and hundreds more like-minded travel businesses and individuals by joining Climate Friendly Travel and indeed becoming an ambassador by signing up free of charge to join The SunX Registry at , climatefriendly.travel or email us at info@thesunprogram.com
Remember, when it comes to Climate Friendly Travel, every small step forward, is giant stride when we all step together…
The World's First Net Zero Ho(me)tel
Today I’m delighted to be joined by Melissa Gooding who is the Sustainability & Communications Specialist at the Lamington Group which operates the world’s first fully net zero ho(me)tel.
Sustainability has been included throughout room2 Chiswick to enhance and protect the environment we operate in. They have done the hard work with no compromises on quality or comfort, so that the guests which stay can be proud to be supporting the shift to a greener future.
Taking care of local communities extends to the global communities, by tackling the world’s biggest threat, climate change. Room2 Chiswick has set a new industry standard, to be 100% net zero carbon from the construction, operation and eventual deconstruction of the entire building and operation.
In this episode I speak to Melissa about the philosophy behind Room2, what the quick wins were, what’s next on their journey and we even spoke about climate change anxiety – something which is increasingly affecting us all.
And if you’d like to learn more about Room2 Chiswick, I highly recommend you visit their website at room2.com where you can also find the link to the video of Robert at the bamboo carbon off-setting project – it’s well worth a watch.
And you can join Melissa, Room2 Chiswick and hundreds more like-minded travel businesses and individuals by joining Climate Friendly Travel and indeed becoming an ambassador by signing up free of charge to join The SunX Registry at , climatefriendly.travel or email us at info@thesunprogram.com
That’s our show for this week. Thanks so much for your company and remember, when it comes to Climate Friendly Travel, every small step forward, is giant stride when we all step together…
Villa In The Vineyard
I’m Ged Brown, your host for this week’s episode and today I’m delighted to be joined by Nikki Mattei who owns and runs a private eco escape in central Italy.
Nikki has been a supporter of a more natural and sustainable approach to life for over 20 years. For the past 10 years, she has run her own ethical marketing consultancy and worked with campaigning organisations such as Fashion Revolution and Breast Cancer UK.
At the end of 2021 she set up as a sustainability strategist to increase her impact by working with businesses who want to become more purpose driven and be part of saving the planet.
She is delighted to be part of the growing green tourism movement and has become an advocate for sustainable tourism, often taking part in webinars and podcasts.
In this episode I speak to Nikki about her personal sustainability journey and we get under the skin of the sustainable practices in place at her property, Villa In The Vineyard.
And if you’d like to learn more about Nikki’s work and indeed see the fabulous Villa In the Vineyard for yourself, then please do visit villa-in-the-vineyard.com.
And you can join Nikki and hundreds like her by joining Climate Friendly Travel and indeed become an ambassador by signing up to join The SunX Registry at , climatefriendly.travel or email us at info@thesunprogram.com
That’s our show for this week. Thanks so much for your company and remember, when it comes to Climate Friendly Travel, every small step forward, is giant stride when we all step together…
A Lifetime Of Environmental Changes
Hello and welcome to the Climate Friendly Travel Podcast! Where each episode, we speak to the great and the good of the global travel and tourism industry to learn more about what they are doing to ensure that the principles of climate friendly travel are being advanced.
I’m Ged Brown, your host for this week’s episode and today I’m delighted to be joined by Dr. Hans Friederich who manages the climate friendly travel registry for SunX Malta.
Hans is a Dutch geographer with a PhD from the University of Bristol, UK. He is global Ambassador of the World Bamboo Organisation and Senior Advisor to the European Bamboo Programme which is managed by Bamboologic in the Netherlands.
He is working with the SUNx Programme in Brussels and the Malta Tourism Authority as the Registrar of the global register of climate friendly travel and tourism ambitions. Hans is also a guest lecturer in the diploma course on climate friendly tourism that is organized by SUNx Malta and the Malta Institute for Tourism Studies.
In this episode I speak to Hans about his career in sustainability, his thoughts on the climate challenge and the advantages of signing up to the Climate Friendly Travel Registry.
And if you’d like to learn more about how you can get involved in Climate Friendly Travel and indeed become an ambassador by signing up to join The SunX Programme, then please visit climatefriendly.travel or email us at info@thesunprogram.com
That’s our show for this week. Thanks so much for your company and remember, when it comes to Climate Friendly Travel, every small step forward, is giant stride when we all step together…
European Travel Commission: We MUST Do More..
Established in 1948, The European Travel Commission (ETC) represents the national tourism organisations of Europe and it’s mission is to strengthen the sustainable development of Europe as a tourist destination and to promote Europe in third markets.
It’s 35-member tourism boards work together to build the value of tourism for all the diverse European destinations through cooperation in sharing best practice, market intelligence and promotion.
In this refreshingly frank conversation, I speak to Eduardo about how the ETC supports the sustainable development of tourism in Europe and what are some of the key challenges along the way. And whilst he speaks of some of the positive work being done, Eduardo pulls no punches as he tells me that it’s imperative that we do more…
And if you’d like to find out more about the work the European Travel Commission are doing in relation to climate friendly travel, you can visit their website at: etc-corporate.org
And if you’d like to learn more about how you can get involved in Climate Friendly Travel and indeed become an ambassador by signing up to join The SunX Programme, then please visit climatefriendly.travel or email us at info@thesunprogram.com
Going Plastic Free at Jaya House Hotels
Welcome to the Climate Friendly Travel Podcast! Where each episode, we speak to the great and the good of the global travel and tourism industry to learn more about what they are doing to ensure that the principles of climate friendly travel are being advanced.
Today I’m delighted to be joined by Christian de Boer who is the Managing Director of The Jaya House Hotels.
Established in 2016, The Jaya House River Park Hotel is a superb boutique property located in the peaceful area alongside Cambodia’s Siem Reap River, surrounded by fully grown trees, and is truly a hidden gem. It was also the first hotel in the region to become completely plastic free; it engages on a deep level with the local community and has been recognised by the likes of Conde Nast Traveller, TripAdvisor, The Independent, Forbes and many more as being one of the best hotels in the world.
In this episode I speak to Christian about the simplicity of becoming a plastic free property, how to engage local communities in your sustainability journey and why indeed, baby steps are not only good enough, but they are in fact vital for us all, as we get to grips with the climate challenge facing us.
If you’d like to find out more about the wonderful work they do at The Jaya House River Park Hotel, then please do visit jayahousehotels.com
And if you’d like to learn more about how you can get involved in Climate Friendly Travel and indeed become an ambassador by signing up to join The SunX Programme, then please visit climatefriendly.travel or email us at info@thesunprogram.com
Climate Friendly Travel Services
Welcome to the Climate Friendly Travel Podcast! Where each episode, we speak to the great and the good of the global travel and tourism industry to learn more about what they are doing to ensure that the principles of climate friendly travel are being advanced.
Today I’m joined by Mark Bibby Jackson who is the Founder of Travel Begins at 40 and is the lead on SunX Malta’s Climate Friendly Travel Services.
After more than a decade in Southeast Asia, Mark returned to his native UK, to continue his career as a travel journalist. In 2017, he launched and edited the travel website Travel Begins at 40 and in the following years he has travelled extensively around the UK, Europe and Central / North America writing in-depth articles for the website.
Responsible travel has always been a subject close to Mark’s heart, so, in 2020, he enrolled on the Climate Friendly Travel diploma course with SUNx Malta, and has published a series of articles on sustainable tourism on Travel Begins at 40.
In this episode I speak to Mark about the origins of Travel Begins at 40, the challenges and opportunities of climate friendly travel and why he believes that the positive effects of travel can sometimes be lost when we talk about climate friendly travel.
If you’d like to find out more about Travel Begins at 40, you can visit travelbeginjsat40.com where you’ll find a wide range of wonderful travel articles and features. And you can visit climatefriendlytravelservices.com to learn more about Mark’s work there.
Finally, if you’d like to learn more about how you can get involved in Climate Friendly Travel and indeed become an ambassador by signing up to join The SunX Programme, then please visit climatefriendly.travel or email us at info@thesunprogram.com
Remember, when it comes to Climate Friendly Travel, every small step forward, is giant stride when we all step together…
Spa & Wellness Sustainability
Today I’m joined by the wonderfully inspiring, Lucy Brialey, who is the Founder and Director of The Sustainable Spa Association.
This global network of leading spas, spa and wellness suppliers and sustainability leaders, is dedicated to making positive change within the spa industry; through education, support and accreditation.
A member based organisation, The Sustainable Spa Association assists spa and wellbeing businesses around the world in working towards a structured and sustainable business model incorporating the 3 pillars of sustainability; People, Planet and Profit.
I caught up with Lucy to learn more and to find out about the most significant challenges facing the organisation today.
If you’d like to find out more about The Sustainable Spa Association and how you can get involved, then please do visit sustainablespas.org.