The 2nd Annual

The Regenerative Travel Impact Awards 2023

The Regenerative Travel Impact Awards are back and we’re on the hunt for inspiring individuals and initiatives that are tackling some of our planet’s biggest challenges.

 

The Impact Awards celebrate people and projects that embody the spirit of regeneration—improving people’s lives, our communities, and the world around us. We are searching the globe for inspiring changemakers working to solve our biggest challenges and inspiring positive action, both inside and outside of travel.

 

Our judging panel was handpicked based on their exceptional expertise, achievements, and diverse backgrounds. With their collective knowledge in marine ecology, social entrepreneurship, travel journalism, sustainability, visual storytelling, tourism policy, hospitality, and impact investing, the judging panel is well equipped to identify innovative ideas that have the potential to advance regenerative travel. 

 

Do you know someone making a positive impact in the world through travel and tourism? Or are you a changemaker yourself, working on projects that regenerate communities and ecosystems? Whether it’s sustainable tourism, social justice, or environmental conservation, we want to celebrate those who are making a difference. Submit your nomination today — the nomination period closes on July 14, 2023.

Impact Award Categories

Regenerative
Hotel of the Year

A hotel that is a catalyst for change and innovating hospitality to promote positive social and environmental impact 

Regenerative
Agency of the Year

A travel agency, DMC or tour operator catalyzing positive change in travel through regenerative practices and initiatives

Regenerative
Travel Initiative of the Year

An impactful initiative driving regenerative practices and inspiring positive change in travel

Regenerative
Storyteller of the Year

A passionate storyteller recognized for their contributions that bring about social and environmental change

Regenerative
Change Maker of the Year

A visionary individual driving systemic change for regenerative travel

People's Choice

Recognizing the public’s favorite regenerative travel project through collective voting on our short list

Regenerative Design

Celebrating the most innovative and impactful regenerative hotel design

Regenerative Travel Experience

A travel experience launched this past year that is creating regenerative impact 

Health and Wellness

Initiatives featuring holistic and restorative approaches that promote well-being

Community

Initiatives that promote equity and honour culture for vibrant, resilient communities

Conservation

Initiatives to restore and regenerate ecosystems, biodiversity, or critical species

Food and Agriculture

Initiatives that revolutionize our eating habits, and transform the way we source and cultivate our food

Education

Projects that deepen or broaden education’s impact, promoting equity and understanding 

Climate Innovation

Innovative ideas that bring greenhouse gas emissions to zero or uplift nature’s carbon cycle

Health and Wellness

Initiatives featuring holistic and restorative approaches that promote well-being

Community

Initiatives that promote equity and honour culture for vibrant, resilient communities

Community

Initiatives that promote equity and honour culture for vibrant, resilient communities

People’s Choice

We opened up the People’s Choice to vote and our Regenerative Travel community were invited to choose their favorite initiative or individual from all of the Impact Award’s finalists. The vote attracted over 3,400+ submissions with Fogo Island Inn winning in the People’s Choice category. 

Our Judges

Angelique Brathwaite

Angelique is a Marine Ecologist who manages conservation and science programmes for Blue Finance’s MPAs. With 25 years of experience, she is an expert in coral reef science and integrated coastal management. Angelique led Barbados’ Marine Research Section for over a decade, developing coral reef research and managing reef systems within an ICZM framework. She has a PhD in Marine Biology from PSL Research University and is a PADI Instructor.

Bruce Poon Tip

Bruce is a social entrepreneur and global leader in immersive travel, innovation, and leadership. He founded G Adventures, the world’s largest small group adventure travel company and a pioneer in community tourism. Bruce’s book, Looptail: How One Company Changed the World by Reinventing Business, was a New York Times Best Seller. In 2018, he was named one of Canada’s Most Admired CEOs for social entrepreneurship and made his debut on Glassdoor’s Top CEOs in Canada list in 2019. 

Kathleen Rellihan

Kathleen is a freelance journalist and editor focused on travel, climate, and sustainability. For the last 17 years, Kathleen has worked in travel media across print, TV, and digital focusing on the positive impact travel can make. Formerly Newsweek’s travel editor she spearheaded the Future of Travel Awards, and she contributes to outlets such as AFAR, National Geographic, Outside, Time, CNN Travel, Hemispheres, Condé Nast Traveler, Scuba Diving, Travel + Leisure, and more.

Kelley Louise

Kelley is a travel entrepreneur and storyteller with a strong passion for sustainability. As the Head of Marketing at Fora, she leads a company that is transforming the travel advisor industry through modern, inclusive, and trendy practices. Kelley is also the founder of Impact Travel Alliance, the largest community worldwide for socially and environmentally aware travelers. She previously headed Elsewhere Agency, a creative agency catering to travel brands, and served as the Head of Marketing at ViaHero.

Sophia Li

Sophia is a Chinese-American multimedia journalist, film director, and environmental advocate. She is a multi-hyphenate creative with a passion for storytelling. Her life’s work is to make talking about issues such as the climate and racial justice more accessible, more digestible, and more human. Harvard named Sophia one of the top climate communicators of 2022. Her journalistic reporting has appeared in CNN, Vice and the United Nations.

Mukul Bhatia

Mukul is an internationally published and exhibited photographer whose work lies in between documentary and fine art. Born of a migrant mother from Pakistan, Bhatia is the youngest of 7 children, born in 1989, just before India globalized itself. Bhatia graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Delhi University, and further studied Photo Journalism and Visual Studies at the Mass Communication Research Centre at the Jamia Milia Islamia.

Paul Rodgers

With a PhD that focused on tourism, conservation, and development issues in Nepal’s Sagarmatha National Park, Paul has been a tourism advisor to national and local governments and organizations for over 20 years. He has worked in more than 12 countries in South and Southeast Asia, Africa, and Australia, with a focus on policy and planning, and using tourism as a vehicle for development. As one of the largest and fastest-growing industries that provides 1 in every 10 jobs globally, Paul is dedicated to using tourism for positive change.

Harsha L’Acqua

Harsha L’Acqua, Founder & CEO of Saira Hospitality, was inspired by her father’s philanthropic work with Mother Teresa from a young age. With years of experience working for top international hotel brands, Harsha developed the concept for Saira Hospitality while studying in Cornell University’s MMH graduate program. She realized the strong connection between hospitality and philanthropy, both driven by the gene of service: service to the guest and service to humanity. Saira Hospitality aims to provide high-quality hospitality training and job opportunities to underserved communities around the world.

Veronica Chou

Veronica is a sustainable fashion entrepreneur and impact investor, known for her contributions to the industry. She focuses on creating a circular economy by using upcycled and recycled fabrics, efficient production methods, and designing garments with versatility and longevity. Veronica is also committed to exploring new technologies and innovative materials, such as lab-grown leather, to reduce fashion’s environmental footprint. Her sustainable fashion efforts have been recognized by the industry, and she continues to drive positive change through her work. 

the award

The Regenerative Travel Summit presents a distinctive networking opportunity for our Impact Awards winners and judges. Our esteemed winners will have the privilege to connect with industry experts and receive expert guidance and strategic advice to further their mission of driving positive impact in the travel industry and beyond.

This exclusive gathering provides a platform for winners to share their remarkable stories, insightful perspectives, and exemplary best practices, while also gaining knowledge from regenerative tourism's leading voices and strategic feedback.

Winners will be announced at the

Join us in Brooklyn, New York for the celebration of our Impact Award 2023 winners on September 20, 2023 at the Wythe Hotel.

Submit your nomination

We are now accepting nominations through July 14, 2023

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