Sunvil managing director Noel Josephides has been appointed The Travel Foundation chairman. He will take over from former BA Holidays managing director Roger Heape, who is retiring as part of a planned rotation of trustees. The Travel Foundation trustee and Co-operative Travel Group managing director Mike Greenacre will become vice-chairman.
Josephides was instrumental in creating The Travel Foundation when it was set up in 2003, since when he has been a trustee. Chief executive Sue Hurdle said: “Having two of travel’s best-known figures help to lead the charity for the next three years speaks volumes about how far sustainable travel issues have come.”
Josephides said: “The Travel Foundation plays a vital role in educating staff at all levels in our industry about what sustainable travel is about and how they can get involved.”
He said he is proud of projects – such as the Cyprus village routes – that show tourists the real Cyprus, and said the foundation would continue to develop destination-based projects that help local people, who would otherwise be living in poverty, earn an income from tourism.
Greenacre said: “Operators, retailers and hoteliers have made huge strides in implementing sustainable tourism policies and practices over the past few years. But sustainable tourism is now more important than ever. We need to keep it on the boardroom, government and media agenda, and reach a wider cross-section of the industry, including transport operators and accommodation providers.”