A World for Travel 2023 recognises six companies for its sustainability efforts

The awards saw micro and mega industry players acknowledged

The fourth edition of A World for Travel, which this year was hosted in Seville and focused on sustainability, wrapped with an awards ceremony recognising the micro and mega players of sustainability initiatives.

The event awarded six companies for its outstanding efforts in the pursuit of a more sustainable travel industry. 

The A World for Travel Sustainability Awards covered six areas including climate action, environmental impact, technological prowess, economic success, societal development and resilience.

The awards commenced with words from Professor Lee Miles of Bournemouth University who reminded the audience of the importance in recognizing effort and celebrating achievements. Submissions were from every continent, from micro-organizations to global multinationals.  

He praised the winners for “turning ideas into impactful actions” and reminded the audience that the industry must move from being purely transactional to transformational.  

Recipients were presented their awards by Rajan Datar of the BBC.

Global Business Travel Association was the first to receive an award. It picked up the Climate Change Award for its sustainability agenda that the association is putting in front of its global corporate membership. The award was accepted by Catherine Logan, regional SVP, EMEA and APAC.

Radisson Hotel Group won the Environmental Impact Award, for its decades of leadership undertaken in the industry. Sergio Puntivero, manager of F&B, accepted the award on stage.

The Accord Group received a special recognition for this award from the panel of judges for the important work it carried out throughout its chain.

Mabrian Technologies was next up to receive the Technical Prowess Award for its “brilliant tools, data and algorithms” for fact-based decision-making. This award was accepted by Alex Villeyra, COO of Mabrian. 

Trees4Travel won the Economic Advancement Award for its new ZEERO programme, which is a joint venture sustainability fund for its travel industry partners, that will allow ownership and voting for climate contribution projects such as salt water algae biofuel production and renewable energy destination projects. The award was accepted by co-founders Nico and Elkie Nicholas.

The penultimate award winner was Creative Tourism Network. It received the Societal Development Award for its “unique programmes” touching communities and its “expansive involvement in the transformation of destinations”.  

It was accepted by Caroline Couret, founder of Creative Tourism Network.

LATAM Airways received a special recognition for this award for the multiple initiatives they are running to support communities, from the recycling of uniforms reconstructed into cultural dress, to emergency flights offered at no cost to provide food, water, transportation relative to regional crises.

Intrepid received the Resilience Award for its industry leadership and “tireless efforts with communities around the world”. James Thornton, CEO of Intrepid accepted the award on stage.

USAID (United States Agency for International Development) won a special recognition for the breadth of activities from community and product development to diversity and infrastructure development.  

“We were particularly surprised by the dozens of quality nominations received. This proves concretely that many players in the industry are taking action through innovative measures that drive positive change,” said Christian Delom, secretary general of A World for Travel.

“It is essential for us, as organizers of the A World for Travel to herald such initiatives and amplify their efforts to influence others.”

A World for Travel hopes to shine a spotlight on sustainable activities others can replicate through its awards.  

Professor Miles said: “Although the industry has a long way to go, through these awards we can see, beacons of hope, where ideas can be actuated that have true impact and exemplify innovation.”