Audley Travel achieves 92% of ESG goals in 2025

Audley Travel’s latest Sustainability Report has revealed that the operator achieved 92% of its 36 environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals in 2025.

The tailor-made operator launched its ESG framework in 2021 in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals as part of a “long-term journey where small sustainable steps over extended periods of time continue to deliver change to benefit the communities in the destinations Audley’s clients visit”.

Highlights of the report include Audley’s updated child and animal welfare policies to align with industry best practices and the latest research.

The operator’s child welfare policy, which was first established in 2021, outlines that “visits to schools or other child-related institutions can unintentionally position children as attractions”.

In 2025, Audley extended this policy to all residential childcare establishments, as well as clarified that “any short-term or direct interactions with children should be discouraged, including voluntourism, gift giving and community visits”.

The operator also developed the first iteration of its animal welfare policy, supported by specialist consultancy Animondial.

In line with Abta’s Global Animal Welfare Guidelines, Audley has begun “phasing out experiences that involve practices previously considered high-risk, which are now widely seen as unacceptable”.

This includes “performances with animals that rely on unnatural behaviours or harmful training methods” and physical interactions with wild animals.

The Sustainability Report also outlined Audley’s progress towards diversity, equality and inclusion with the completion of Level One of the UK government’s Disability Confident Committed programme, a voluntary three-level scheme to support employers in recruiting and retaining of people with disabilities.

The operator boosted its career-building initiatives last year. It connected with more than 5,000 students at careers fairs and volunteering programmes, created week-long work experience opportunities for 70 students and 12-month placements for four undergraduates.

Audley has also introduced a supplier award to recognise efforts to achieve gender equality and improve opportunities for female guides.