Canadian tour operator Transat has signed up to Travelife, marking the latest step in the Abta-owned sustainability system’s transition into a global scheme.
Transat operates to more than 60 destinations. The company has registered its Canadian and French businesses with Travelife: Transat Tours Canada, Look Voyages and Vacances Transat.
Travelife business manager Soren Stober said: “We are delighted that another international tour operator is committed to sustainability and using the Travelife system to promote the achievements of the hotels it uses.”
At the same time, Travelife today launched a major review of the criteria it uses to rate accommodation as it seeks to increase the scheme’s relevance and boost its growth.
Independent auditors currently assess the social and environmental efforts of registered properties on criteria developed in 2004. The review will follow internationally recognised procedures and include two public consultations – the first to run from November 1 to December 16 and a second between February 1 and March 2 next year.
The process will examine how Travelife could be used by companies of differing sizes and business models. The system was developed by the UK Federation of Tour Operators, now part of Abta, and has many of Europe’s leading travel groups signed up – including Tui Travel, Thomas Cook and Kuoni.
Travelife will establish a criteria-review group representing major stakeholders, including representatives from various global regions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), academics, hoteliers, tour operators and other standard-setting organisations.
Abta head of destinations and sustainability Nikki White said: “Travelife is supported by the EU, by hotels across the world, by large international tour operators and by smaller independents. It has become the international certification scheme of choice for the industry.
“In order to ensure credibility, grow the scheme and keep it relevant, we need to ensure it has the most up-to-date and relevant criteria. This review will do just that.”
Almost 15,000 properties have registered with Travelife, which is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Abta. Properties which have attained Travelife gold, silver or bronze awards are identified on agents’ directory gazetteers.com