Beads Safaris Collection achieves Travelife Partner Level
MEDIA RELEASE
July 19, 2019.
The Travelife Partner level award was received today by Beads Safaris Collection. The award recognizes the long-term efforts of Beads Safaris Collection regarding sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility.
Beads Safaris Collection complies with more than 100 criteria, related to an operator’s office management, product range, international business partners and customer information. The Travelife Partner level standard is covering the ISO 26000 Corporate Social Responsibility themes, including environment, biodiversity, human rights and labour relation.
Mr Naut Kusters, manager of Travelife for tour operators, “I am delighted to see that sustainability in the tour operator sector is obtaining momentum. The Partner award of Beads Safaris Collection will inspire other companies in Kenya to follow the same path’.
Travelife is the leading international sustainability certification for the travel sector. More than 35 national travel associations are promoting the scheme to their members including, KATO (Kenyan Association of Tour operators), TATO (Tanzanian Association of Tour Operators), ABTA, The British Travel Association and PATA, the Pacific Asian Travel Association.
In Kenya, Travelife works in close partnership with Ecotourism Kenya, who is managing the customized scheme. Jointly, Travelife, Ecotourism Kenya and KATO are presently implementing an EU funded initiative (Green Tour Kenya) to work towards a sustainable travel sector in Kenya. The project aims to support more than 100 KATO members in the adaptation of common sustainability standards.
Mrs. Grace Nderitu, Ecotourism Kenya CEO, “The Partner award of sustainable tourism to Beads Safaris Collection marks another milestone for the tourism industry in Kenya. The tour operator certification complements the eco-rating certification standard for accommodation facilities and jointly work to give an assurance that Kenya’s tourism is sustainable”.
Ecotourism Kenya
Grace Nderitu, phone +254 726 366 080
ceo@ecotourismkenya.org
www.ecotourismkenya.org
About Ecotourism Kenya
Ecotourism Kenya is a business membership association directly serving more than 350 members, and reaching out to hundreds more in Kenya. Since its inception in 1996 Ecotourism Kenya has been involved in a wide range of activities to promote and broaden the industry understanding of sustainable tourism, and attract membership beyond the mainstream tourism industry. Ecotourism Kenya has had many firsts: it was the first Ecotourism Society in Africa; the first to develop a voluntary eco-certification scheme for hotels/lodges in Africa, the first to publish a Green Directory of producers of green products and services, the first to develop a customized sustainability standard for Tour Operators in E. Africa and the first to develop Green Destination Guidelines in Africa. For further read, visit our website http://ecotourismkenya.org/
Travelife for Tour Operators & Travel Agents
Naut Kusters, phone +31 6 48805 475
n.kusters@travelife.info
www.travelife.info
About Travelife (www.travelife.org)
Travelife is a certification system, dedicated to achieving sustainable practices within the tourism industry. It provides companies with realistic sustainability goals, tools and solutions to implement positive change within their businesses and supply chains. Travelife is managed by ABTA – The Travel Association in the UK – and by ECEAT Projects – a not-for-profit organisation based in The Netherlands. Travelife has two key focuses: Travelife for Tour operators and Travel agents: the scheme provides online training and practical tools for sustainability management and certification. The training and online tools are suitable for tour operators and travel agencies of any size and cover all management aspects of the travel company business including office operations, the supply chain, destinations and consumers. Upon submitting a report in compliance with the Travelife standard (based on an independent onsite audit), the company can obtain the “Travelife Certified” status. The Travelife standard for Tour operators and Travel agencies is based upon the full Corporate Social Responsibility themes, including labour conditions, human rights, environment, biodiversity and fair business practices. The management requirements are compatible with EMAS and ISO 14001. The system is supported by more than 35 national travel associations to further its implementation among members.
