The team at Designer Travel have taken on the challenge of making a real difference when it comes to our amazing planet. With that aim in mind, we have created our Little Steps...Big Impact story, which is told through the eyes of our baby elephant "Moyo". Moyo means heart in Swahili.

Moyo's goal is to talk about the simple steps that we can all take, both at home and overseas, to make a real difference when it comes to our environment.


We all love to travel and we want to help ensure that future generations have the same opportunities as we do.

I hope you will fall a little bit in love with Moyo and his powerful story and that you will share our challenge to make a real difference and help our amazing planet.

We are delighted to announce that a member of our working party, Toni Sharp, was awarded the Responsible Luxury Travel Designer of the Year at the recent TTG Luxury Awards, which were held in London at The Chancery Rosewood Hotel. The working party here at Designer Travel are passionate about doing all we can to make travel a force for good, and Toni's achievement makes us all very proud of the journey we are on.

In September last year, we were recognised by the Association of Touring & Adventure Suppliers (ATAS) at their convention in Wales. We were humbled to receive the “Champion of Change” award for our focus on sustainability in travel.

For us, sustainability isn’t a buzzword; it’s a passion, a responsibility, and a journey we’re committed to every day. We believe that future generations deserve the chance to experience the world in all its beauty, just as we can today.

Our commitment includes:
✅ Running accredited training programmes and dedicated supplier webinars
✅ Featuring advice and stories in our digital magazine
✅ Supporting charities and launching our own animal welfare guidelines
✅ Creating our Little Steps, Big Impact working group, a panel of passionate in-house advocates.
✅ Highlighting eco-friendly hotels, activities and transport options
✅ Offering a dedicated sustainability hub on our website

There’s still much more to do, but this award is a powerful reminder that we’re moving in the right direction.

A huge thank you to TTG and ATAS for recognising the work of both of us, individually and as a team. We look forward to continuing our journey alongside our partners who share our vision and our wonderful customers who choose to travel with us. Together, we can ensure travel continues to be a force for good -today, and for the future

Designer Travel is committed to doing whatever we can to help look after our planet.

As one of the UK’s leading travel homeworking businesses, we are committed to working with partners who put sustainability at the very heart of their business, both in terms of strategy and more importantly in terms of demonstrating implementation.
We as an agent will do everything, we can to keep our customers informed of industry-wide sustainability policies allowing customers to make informed decisions about all of their travel choices.

Designer Travel are committed to: -

• Providing our team with regular training opportunities to learn more suppliers who have proven sustainability credentials. Our series of weekly webinars are designed to bring policies to life and give the team an opportunity to explore what operator and supplier policies mean in practise.

• Producing our own customer communication document to be sent out electronically to all customers, featuring handy tips on how everyone can make a difference to the environment they are visiting along with how to make a difference when they return home.

• Working hard to reduce the amount of paper we use in all parts of our business. This means, that we will use electronic communications wherever possible and when ever it suits the most important part of our business – our customers.

• Recycling. We know just how important it is to re-cycling as much as we possible can. We will strive to source consumables that are officially recognised as being recyclable. We will recycle in both of our Head Office buildings in Ramsbottom with every team member playing their part within their home environment.

• Improving our water efficiency. Both at our home locations and Head Office properties we will make a conscious effort to reduce our use of water and minimise waste.

• Helping to protect natural environments and the wildlife in the destinations that we trade with around the globe. We will only promote wildlife experiences that are endorsed by the locals

This summer, we want to personally invite as many customers as possible to take part in Designer Travel’s Litter Pick.

Wherever you are in the world, one thing is certain: there will be rubbish in plain sight. It might be scraps of paper, plastic, a discarded can ring or cigarette butts... even the most pristine of beaches or plains in Africa are likely to be affected.

During the summer months, from the15th of June to the 31st of August, all colleagues will be inviting customers, friends and relatives to take part in Designer Travel’s Litter Pick, with a chance to win prizes for your efforts when you share pictures of your litter collections from around the world on social media. To get involved, you will just need to take a recyclable bag* of some description with you on holiday (you can also do this at home in your local area if you prefer). Spend a suggested 30-60 minutes collecting small items of litter, take a photo of your stash of trash, and then share it on social media and tag us in your photo @designertravel.

Each week, Designer Travel will be giving away two prizes for the best photos, and every weekly winning entry will be entered into a prize draw to win a Chelsea Peers bedding set in pink featuring sunbathing leopards. We also have some small ‘spot prizes to give away so make sure you check your tagged photo to see if you are a winner.

We are looking forward to completing our own summer litter pick and making a difference, and we can’t wait to see your pictures and hear about your good work too!

We did it!

Over the course of our Walk of Hope challenge, our amazing walkers came together to travel the virtual equivalent of seven continents, taking thousands upon thousands of steps and proving that small actions really can make a big difference.

Thanks to the generosity, determination and community spirit of everyone involved, we have not only raised vital funds for Reuben's Retreat, but we have also been able to purchase trees through our partners at Reforest, helping to restore landscapes, support indigenous communities, create economic opportunities and contribute to a greener future.

Every step taken represented hope.

Hope for families who need support. Hope for communities around the world. Hope for our planet.

As a travel business, we are passionate about exploring the world, but we are equally passionate about protecting it. This project allowed us to bring people together, improve our own wellbeing, support an incredible local charity and leave a positive environmental legacy that will grow for years to come.

A huge thank you to everyone who walked, donated, cheered us on and shared their journey. You have helped create something genuinely special.


We celebrated not just the miles covered, but the trees now taking root because of your efforts.

Together, we walked with purpose. Together, we created hope. Together, we've made a lasting difference.

Our planet is an amazing place. We, like many other businesses, want to do whatever we can to make a positive difference when it comes to our planet. Some actions taken may be internal and only affect our team, others may have the ability to affect a wider audience – our customers, our suppliers and ultimately the destinations we travel to.

Our goal is to do as much as we can to “leave nothing but footprints whilst making magical memories”.

Our business has an advisory policy on animal encounters and attractions of any kind. We hope you will find our policy interesting (we have also included recommendations to several different websites that may be useful) and that it provides you with some food for thought.

Wild animals are by their definition – wild. This means any encounter with wild animals should be considered carefully and only once you are fully satisfied your experience will not be detrimental to the animal, you or the environment.

Visiting Do’s

There are few greater pleasures in life than experiencing an animal encounter when animals are in their natural environment. Often referred to as INSITU – here conservation is in place in the animal's habitat.

Conservation often takes place in EXSITU – here the animals are likely to be in a realistic but protected environment.

Don’ts

Animals that are kept in captivity in an environment that does not resemble their “home turf”.
Try not to be tempted to visit animals tamed to cope with human interaction.

Riding
There are very few recognised animal facilities that encourage riding on animals. Research has moved a long way from the days when it was perfectly acceptable to accept a lift on an elephant or a trip on a camel. If you wouldn’t do something in the wild, then why consider it when an animal is in a captive environment?

Feeding
Animals know what their diet should contain and most healthy animals will be well-versed in finding their next meal. Whilst feeding a baby animal, or its mother come to that, might be viewed as “cute” it may also provoke a reaction from an animal that you are not expecting and may encourage a reliance on human visitors. Please don’t be tempted to interfere with nature.

Responsible Tourism
Be a responsible tourist. Do your homework in advance about any adventures you are planning so that you know your experience will provide the very best results for you as the visitor but equally great results for the destination you are travelling to.

Social Media
We will never knowingly promote animal attractions where animals “perform” for the general public or offer animal encounters that involve invasive human interaction.

Useful/interesting websites :
https://www.bornfree.org.uk/ - an organisation dedicated to protecting wild animals in their natural environments
https://www.wwf.org.uk/
https://awionline.org/content/what-you-can-do-wildlife
https://www.worldlandtrust.org https://www.wcs.org

Welcome to Behind the Scenes by Designer Travel, our bi monthly magazine created to inspire your next unforgettable holiday.
Written by our professional travel experts alongside our most trusted suppliers, Behind the Scenes offers a closer look at the destinations we love and the experiences we believe in. From first hand travel stories and expert blogs following recent trips, to insider insight you simply will not find anywhere else, this magazine is designed to spark ideas and fuel your wanderlust.
Sustainable travel is a topic close to our hearts at Designer Travel, and throughout these pages you will discover how you can travel more thoughtfully while still enjoying exceptional experiences around the world. Expect meaningful journeys, responsible choices and inspiration that goes far beyond the brochure.
Whether you are dreaming, planning or ready to book, Behind the Scenes invites you to explore the world through the eyes of those who know it best.
Let the journey begin.

Take a look at our latest editions below