By Ethan Gelber

.

In a valley on the Pokljuka plateau of Slovenia are Alpine chalets once the homes and sheds of traditional herdsman

Baa baa black sheep, now we have your wool! So say travellers in Slovenia who have had the pleasure of an exclusive Alpine Melody tour with Spin Travel. Billed as a day-long excursion that “takes you back to the times of our grandfathers,” Alpine Melody was also shortlisted in early December 2009 for the Sejalac (Sower) award, given every year since 2003 to the most promising tour providers in Slovenia by the Slovenian Tourist Board.

“We made it to the finals,” enthused Mojca Peterka, a managing director of Spin Travel. “Even if we didn’t make it to the top 3, being among the top 6 is a big achievement for our travel agency. It tells us that we are moving in the right direction and that we deliver special experience to our clients.”

Read More…

Posted under General, Slovenia, awards, countries, local tips, responsible organisations, responsible travel, whl.travel newsletter

By Ethan Gelber

.

Boracay Hills fills the elegant house and gardens of the former Swiss Ambassador to the Philippines

On the Philippine island of Boracay – famous as one of the word’s most popular beach destinations – nestled in the hills of the village of Bantud is a surprise. In keeping with its exceptional setting, it’s called Boracay Hills and for anyone who treasures top-quality tropical hospitality, it’s a small (10-room) boutique hotel not to be ignored.

Recognised in 2005 (its first year of operation) by TripAdvisor as a Best Hidden Gem in Asia, Boracay Hills has now garnered new accolades, including a position on the Expedia Insider’s Select List – making it one of the top 1% of hotels in the world; in the Philippines, right up there with the Shangrila Makati and the Hyatt Hotel and Casino – and three big nods from Trivago.com: Best Hotel for Water Enthusiasts in the Philippines; number two Best Hotel in the Philippines, Visayas and in Boracay; and number five Best Hotel in Asia in the three-star category.

Read More…

Posted under General, Philippines, awards, countries, whl.travel news, whl.travel newsletter

By Ethan Gelber

.

The EcoTrophea International Environmental Award

On 3 November, WHL Group, the parent company of whl.travel, was identified as one of five nominees (linked article is in German only, as is this video) shortlisted to win the EcoTrophea 2009, the German Travel Association (or DRV) International Environmental Award. (For an English-subtitled video of the WHL Group section only, click here.)

The EcoTrophea prize has been awarded annually since 1987 by the DRV for “innovative, high-impact and exemplary environmental protection projects in tourism”.

The 2009 winner (alas, not the WHL Group) was announced on 4 December at the 59th DRV Annual Congress in Egypt. The DRV Environment Jury identified five outstanding projects, from which the winner was selected.

Read More…

Posted under General, awards, responsible organisations, responsible travel, responsible travel news, whl.travel news

By Ethan Gelber

.

At the July 2009 whl.travel Asia-Pacific Regional conference, Teamworkz Consulting was officially recognised as the whl.travel Franchisee of the Year 2008-2009 for its work in Vientiane, Laos. Teamworkz, which also owns and operates five other sites in Laos and seven in Thailand, could just as easily have earned its laurels for its labours in Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng, both also in Laos.

Teamworkz Consulting accepting its accolades as Franchisee of the Year 2008-2009 at the whl.travel Asia Pacific regional conference. Left to right are: Rob Shortland, whl.travel Asia Pacific Regional Director; Anne Done, Lee Sheridan and Mouk of Teamworkz; Len Cordiner, CEO of WHL Group

Read More…

Posted under General, Laos, Thailand, Turkey, Vanuatu, awards, countries, responsible organisations, responsible travel news, whl.travel news, whl.travel newsletter

By Ethan Gelber

.

The results are in and the veil has been lifted on the top finalists! The entire whl.travel network congratulates NatureAir, PEPY and Wikiloc for their well-deserved rewards and recognition in the Geotourism Challenge 2009, to Ger to Ger, Context Travel and Cobati (Community Based Tourism Initiatives) as recipients of the first Urban Adventures Prize, and to Ger to Ger, Cape Race and RiverIndia for the scholarships they’ve won as part of the Tourdust Scholarship.
Read More…

Posted under Cambodia, Canada, General, India, Mongolia, Spain, USA, Uganda, awards, responsible organisations, responsible travel, responsible travel news, whl.travel news, whl.travel newsletter

On June 12, despite earlier announcements to the contrary, whl.travel was revealed as one of five winners in the first ‘Globetrotting for Good – The Condé Nast Traveler Challenge’, hosted by Ashoka’s Changemakers.

“whl.travel is truly defining what innovation means in the field of tourism,” said Charlie Brown, Executive Director of Ashoka’s Changemakers. “Their ability to bridge the gap between traveller and destination is unique in that it doesn’t just service a single tourist but is building a movement.”

Along with whl.travel, whl.travel’s new affiliate in Santa Marta, Colombia, and three other deserving progammes will be highlighted in the September 2009 ‘Power of Place’ issue of Condé Nast Traveler magazine.

Read More…

Posted under General, awards, responsible organisations, responsible travel, whl.travel news

On 24 June in London, the winners of the 2009 Travelmole Web Awards were announced. Although both whl.travel and its partner Make Travel Fair were shortlisted, neither took home top honours. We remain no less committed to the work we are doing and look forward to perhaps working with the winners, all of whom we congratulate.

Of the 300 nominations and after more than 15,000 votes, whl.travel was one of four finalists in the Responsible Travel category (see the whl.travel entry), and Make Travel Fair was to be judged along with three others in the Travel Blog category (see the MTF entry).

The finalists were those chosen by Travelmole subscribers, but the ultimate judgment fell to a panel of experts.

Other awards categories covered accommodation, airlines, car rental, cruise and ferry operators, holiday add-ons, hotel groups, mobile technology, recruitment and training, tourist boards, tour operators, travel agents, travel videos and Web 2.0.

Posted under General, awards, responsible travel, whl.travel news