Carbon offsets seem futile when airlines continue to package meals and amenities in throwaway plastic. So it’s encouraging to see Qantas taking decisive action by replacing plastic utensils, packaging and amenities with responsibly-sourced wood, recycled plastic, bamboo and compostable material. And with vegan meals the most frequently requested dietary choice on Qantas flights, plant-based options are now standard on menus alongside meaty fare. See qantas.com
Virgin Voyages
Blinged-up casual diner, Razzle Dazzle, on board Virgin ships.
You’ll find almost every aspect of the cruise experience has been tweaked, blinged-up and drizzled in double entendre when you board a Virgin Voyages ship. For a start, you won’t hear announcements or see paper itineraries; instead, each day’s schedule is accessed via an app. There’s also no ship-wide muster drill; passengers watch a safety video then join a small-group lifejacket demonstration. And say farewell to the cruise director; that role has been replaced by an energetic cast of onboard “personalities”. Naturally, there’s an equally eclectic range of activities: from karaoke and ’80s workouts to drag queen bingo and BDSM workshops. Although we won’t see a Virgin ship cruising Australian waters this summer, we hope to see its ships returning in the near future. See virginvoyages.com
1 Hotels
Resort-style pool at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge.Credit: 1 Hotels/James Baigrie
Proving that luxury and sustainability aren’t mutually exclusive, 1 Hotels has 11 high-end, eco-friendly properties in some of the globe’s most sought-after hot spots, including New York, London and Paris with Melbourne on the way. Commendable sustainability initiatives include wooden key cards, chalkboards instead of notepads and hangers made from recycled greeting cards. Outside, each property features a verdant living plant wall, while inside there’s copious greenery and extensive use of recycled materials. Impressively, none of these initiatives feel finger-waggy or preachy and the vibe is still unashamedly upscale, with plush robes, artisanal minibars, upscale amenities and collaborations with award-winning chefs. See 1hotels.com
Sierra Grande, New Mexico
The rustic, 17-room Sierra Grande Lodge has an extensive conservation program.
Located in the quirky New Mexican town of Truth or Consequences, Sierra Grande is one of several resorts owned by Ted Turner, the former CNN media mogul who has devoted the remainder of his life (and fortune) to species and wilderness preservation. In the process, he has become the second-biggest private landowner in the US. From the rustic, 17-room resort, guests can take guided jeep safaris into nearby Ladder reserve (one of three vast properties he owns in New Mexico), which has active programs to conserve vulnerable species such as the Mexican wolf, Chiricahua leopard frog and Bolson tortoise. See tedturnerreserves.com
Luxury Escapes
Luxury Escapes’ dreamy holiday products now include tours and experiences.
The Melbourne-based business’ winning formula of cooking up tasty travel packages that are win-win deals for both providers and customers has become a true travel force to be reckoned with. Not content to let a tried and tested formula do all the work, the company, owned by entrepreneur Adam Schwab, has embraced the age of influencers to showcase its dreamy holiday products and has even created its own tours. A special food-focused tour of Sri Lanka designed and hosted by former MasterChef judges Matt Preston and Gary Mehigan is one of its newest Signature Series offerings. See luxuryescapes.com
ANI
ANI Private Resorts run four-year sponsorship programs for young local artists.
Setting the pace for luxury hospitality giving back to the community in a truly meaningful way, British arts patron and philanthropist Tim Reynolds, founder of ANI Private Resorts, established ANI Art Academies in 2010, a non-profit organisation dedicated to providing a free education to students of fine art. Each of ANI’s four ravishing resorts in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Anguilla and the Dominican Republic host an academy where aspiring young local artists are given a rigorous four-year education at no personal cost, benefiting students’ families and communities alike. See aniprivateresorts.com
Marriott
Guests take part in mangrove planting at Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay.Credit: Marriott Bonvoy
Global hotel chain Marriott encompasses a network of 8900 hotels and more than 30 brands in 141 countries, so ensuring sustainable practices across the group is a huge challenge. By implanting “green teams” in individual hotels, partnering with innovative thinkers such as chef Josh Niland and diversity champions Dylan Alcott and Ash Barty, and encouraging fresh ideas from hotel staff, Marriott is making headway with ambitious environmental and social responsibility goals, including reducing carbon emissions by 30 per cent by next year. From coral and mangrove planting activities for kids at Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay, to the ground-up sustainable design of The Singapore Edition, Marriott is focused on making a difference. See marriott.com
AndBeyond
Chief executive Joss Kent remains committed to conservation and community development.Credit: andBeyond
In 1991 andBeyond established Phinda Private Game Reserve on 13,000 hectares of degraded farmland. The land was rehabilitated and returned to the large mammals that originally roamed in the wild. The first luxury lodge built there, Phinda Forest Lodge, pioneered worldwide ecotourism. More than 30 years later, andBeyond operates 29 luxury lodges and camps across Africa, Asia and South America, harnessing the economic power of travel to conserve land and wildlife and create benefits for neighbouring communities. Chief executive Joss Kent is the force of nature behind the ambitious projects, which positively impact 75 communities and directly conserve a footprint of 400,000 hectares. See andbeyond.com
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Publish date : 2024-08-21 15:32:00
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