By Ethan Gelber

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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.”

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

By Ethan Gelber

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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.

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

By Ethan Gelber

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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.

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

By Ethan Gelber

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A statue inside the grounds of Wat Impeng Temple, Vientiane, Laos (courtesy of Tari Bowling)

With a little luck, by early 2010, Lee Sheridan believes his company, Teamworkz Consulting, the whl.travel local partner in Laos, will have processed US$1 million worth of travel bookings through three Laos destination websites (Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Vientiane). Perhaps even more impressive than the gross numbers is the volume it represents: As of 10 October 2009, with completed bookings totalling almost US$800,000 and an average transaction valued at a few pennies more than US$115, that’s nearly 7000 bookings in just four years.

“Along with this, the three websites in Laos have already surpassed more than 100,000 unique visitors this year,” Sheridan enthused. “The Luang Prabang site alone has received over 60,000 unique visitors this year so far, and with our high season just starting, we may be able to reach 100,000 unique visitors for this one site in 2009.”

All in all, that’s not bad at all for a young company in an off-the-beaten-path nation notable for its least developed country status.
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Posted under General, Laos, Thailand, countries, responsible organisations, responsible travel, responsible travel news, whl.travel newsletter

By Ethan Gelber

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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

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Posted under General, Laos, Thailand, Turkey, Vanuatu, awards, countries, responsible organisations, 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.

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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