What is sustainability?

Basically, sustainability refers to meeting people’s needs today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. We at Whole Travel look to what’s known as a “triple bottom line” – people, planet, and profits. We recognize the importance of people and planet even while on vacation. Like you, we know that we’ll only be able to continue enjoying our travel destinations in the future if we protect the environment and respect the local communities we visit now.

Leave only footprints. Take only photographs.

Sustainable travel is tourism that preserves the environment while respecting and benefiting local communities – both today and into the future. It can include nature trips to ecologically sensitive areas, visits to cultural heritage sites and even stays in urban centers. Ecotourism is one part of sustainable travel. To us, sustainable travel means visiting incredible places, meeting great people and creating memorable experiences and adventures. Whole Travel helps you minimize your ecological footprint and support local socioeconomic growth while you’re enjoying an amazing trip.

Whole Travel = Sustainable travel.

Feel good about your vacation from the moment you start planning, and long after you return. Our travel providers care about their impact on people and the environment around them. Their business practices conserve natural resources, promote local economic development and educate travelers about the ecology, history and culture of their destination. We offer sustainable travel options for everyone – from high-class luxury hotels to huts in the rainforest that are way off the beaten path. Whole Travel works against “green-washing” and ensures the sustainability of our destinations through Whole Ranking ®. You can see each hotel’s Whole Ranking ® scores, and read about their philosophies in “Their Story”.

Greening the travel industry.

Whole Travel helps support Whole Travel Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve sustainability in travel and tourism worldwide. The Foundation administers Whole Ranking ® and supports hotels and communities in their efforts to become more sustainable. Visit the Whole Travel Foundation website to learn more about their projects and Whole Ranking ®, or to make a donation.

Getting Your Property a Whole Ranking ®

If you are a hotel owner or operator, we encourage you to take our Whole Ranking ® questionnaire. This is the first and most important step in getting your hotel on our website and to find out how sustainable you are. After you submit your answers you will be given a Whole Ranking ® score. The questionnaire is simple and it should only take about 20 minutes to do.

What are you waiting for?! Click here to get a Whole Ranking®!

If you have any questions regarding the questionnaire please send email to sustainability@wholetravel.com.