We always look for a #BCorp option when we travel & when we can't find one, we look for accommodations that meet similar commitments such as #cleanenergy, zero/minimal waste & single use plastic, water use minimization, inclusive leadership among local/indigenous communities, fair pay, farm to table food, community financial support, etc.
The good news is that B Corps continue to grow in #travel, with 20 new ones this year (177 in total). These include hotels, safari camps, tour operators, travel designers, ski mountains, travel tech, travel activities, & more. B Tourism and Travel by B Corp continue to raise awareness of #BCorps & why every company in travel should be one, in order to enhance their resilience & appeal to the current generation of travelers.
We've recently returned from a family vacation, where our itinerary (created by Alluring Africa) included 2 B Corps (Emboo Camps and Asilia Africa Namiri Plains) & the other camps shared similar principles (Eg Lewa Wilderness at the The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy). In fact a few of the destinations also carried B Corp products, like Kazi Yetu Tea., since B Corps exist across 160+ industries. Think tooth brushes (Preserve), clothing (Cotopaxi, Allbirds, VEJA, Definite Articles), sunglasses (Bureo Inc, SunGod), luggage (Patagonia, Bellroy), food & beverages, toiletries (Tom's of Maine, Rituals, L’OCCITANE Group, Dr. Squatch, Le Labo Fragrances), etc ... just a few of the brands that accompanied us on the trip.
Knowing that the money we spent in #Kenya & #Tanzania would support equitable practices enhanced our vacation. It's true that the emissions from our travel negatively impacted our #climatecrisis, so it was important that we minimized the consequences & ensured that our money uplifted the communities that we visited. Intentional travel is so much more rewarding than Mindless travel. Knowing we used responsible companies allowed us to focus on the true reason for our trip, which was to connect with family, to connect with & better understand local customs, cultures & people (Eg Modern Massai), & to experience open savannas where animals roam, migrate and co-exist with living communities (schools, homes, etc).
Our trip was a success. It challenged our preexisting assumptions, opened us up to new ways of thinking about people & the world we inhabit, provided learning opportunities that I can implement in my business & personal life back home & was truly enjoyable. We were mindful of the consequences & opportunities that come from travel and it allowed us to better relax & have a deep appreciation for the people around us. We hope to return again soon & when we do, we hope to have many other B Corps to visit.
I hope you too can enjoy a similar trip in the near future. If you do, I would love to hear about your B Corp experiences.
#travel #tourism #vacation #business #africa B Lab Africa #hotels #nature #sustainabletravel #regenerativetravel The Long Run Matt Starkey B Lab Lucy Muigai
