November is a very exciting time for the UK Travel Industry. We all eagerly head to the World Travel Market in London, a huge event spread over four days where tourist boards and suppliers from all over the world congregate to showcase their countries and their products.
For those of us who work in travel, it’s like entering a giant sweetie shop. So much choice, so much to sample and new products to learn about. The world of travel is constantly evolving. It wasn’t so very long ago that Libya and Syria were tipped to be the next big thing and the travel industry put past differences behind them and waited to show the world what amazing historical sites these countries could offer. Then war broke out. This year, we will rally around Morocco and offer our support. We are here to help each other, just as we will be when current conflicts come to an end and other countries need our help to build their tourism up again.
If you would like to help support those affected by the recent earthquake in Morocco, consider supporting the Charitable Travel Fund emergency appeal here.
I will be especially keen to learn about new luxury hotel openings and other luxury experiences that I can share with you. Of course, the old favourites will also be showcasing and those luxury hotels I have been recommending for years will no doubt have news about new additions and upgrades which will make them even more fabulous.
The big difference in recent years and more than ever this year is that we will all be talking about responsibility, sustainability, and ethicality. It is no longer a case of paying lip service to these ideas. With many countries experiencing dramatic climate changes and having suffered wildfires, flooding, drought and other natural disasters which have severely impacted their tourist numbers, there is no room for complacency. Greener travel is urgently needed now. So, I will be paying very close attention to new hotel openings and checking out their green credentials before I offer them to you.
I was recently impressed by a number of hotels I visited In Belize, all with sustainable practices in place. In particular, I’d like to mention Blancaneaux Lodge, owned by none other than Francis Ford Coppola. The hotel itself is rustic and blends in with its natural forest surroundings. But there is more. It has an enormous garden, growing almost all the vegetables and fruit used in the kitchen. Mr Coppola even thought to install a hydro dam on the property to generate electricity!
Before you ask, yes, luxury hotels can be sustainable. Most are now adopting sustainable practices, such as serious recycling, aiming for near-zero net waste, importing less by being more self-sufficient and using renewable energy sources.
I hope to return from World Travel Market with many new and exciting luxury travel products to share with you. Watch this space!
Feeling inspired? Book your next escape now. Get in touch with Lizzi by emailing [email protected] to book your dream trip!
by net effect