NEW YORK – Regenerative Travel, a benefit corporation and a collection of independent hotels and lodges committed to regenerative hospitality, announce the launch of the 2023 Impact Awards. The Regenerative Travel Impact Awards celebrate people and projects that embody the spirit of regeneration—improving people’s lives, our communities, and the world around us. Regenerative Travel is searching the globe for inspiring change makers working to solve our biggest challenges and inspiring positive action, both inside and outside of travel.
Regenerative Travel will engage its network to help uncover inspiring examples of initiatives and individuals striving to create abundance for all, continuing a paradigm shift for travel that is non-extractive, immersive, inclusive, innovative and equitable. Judged by industry experts from travel media to travel CEOs, these awards will acknowledge the efforts of regenerative travel trailblazers and encourage an ongoing paradigm shift in tourism globally.
New categories that have been added this year include Regenerative Agency of the Year, Regenerative Storyteller of the Year, Regenerative Change Maker of the Year, Regenerative Design and Regenerative Travel Experience. Nominations are now open until July 14, 2023.
The Impact Awards will be announced and celebrated at The Regenerative Travel Summit 2023 this year during Climate Week New York on September 20, 2023 at Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn, New York.
The Impact Awards 2023 categories are listed below:
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 to 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
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
Education Projects
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.
Food and Agriculture
Ideas and initiatives that improve what we eat, how we eat, and how we get or grow our food.
Community
Initiatives that promote equity and honour culture for vibrant, resilient communities.
Conservation
Initiatives to restore and regenerate ecosystems, biodiversity, or critical species.
Judges Featured
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.
- Angelique Braithwaite, Director of Science and Co-founder at Blue Finance
- Bruce Poon Tip, Founder of G Adventures
- Kathleen Rellihan, Freelance Travel & Climate Journalist and Former Newsweek Editor
- Kelley Louise, Founder of Impact Travel Alliance and Marketing Director at Fora
- Sophia Li, Climate Journalist and United Nations Human Rights Champion
- Mukul Bhatia, Visual Storyteller
- Paul Rodgers, Co-founder and Director at Planet Happiness
- Harsha L’Acqua, Founder of Saira Hospitality
- Veronica Chou, President at Novel Fashion Holdings and Impact Investor