What does the TravelLocal Sustainability Badge in my itinerary mean?

In this Article:

• What does TravelLocal’s Sustainability Badge mean?
• What do the different tiers mean?
• What criteria are partners assessed on?
• How is compliance checked?
• Does the badge guarantee full sustainability?
• How often is the badge reviewed or renewed?
• How is this different from other sustainability labels?
• How can I learn more about TravelLocal’s sustainability?

What does TravelLocal’s Sustainability Badge mean?

When you see a Sustainability Badge on your itinerary, it means that the local tour operator you are planning your trip with has successfully completed our in-house sustainability pledge - the TravelLocal Partner Charter.

This charter sets out a range of environmental, social, and ethical criteria that partners commit to following. It was developed by TravelLocal in collaboration with Travelife for Tour Operators, an internationally recognized sustainability certification program for the travel industry.

What is the purpose of this sustainability program? 

As an online travel platform, TravelLocal is not a tour operator. Instead, we connect travelers directly with carefully selected local tour operators around the world. This means that while we select excellent operators, we do not have full operational control over every part of the supply chain - including the local suppliers our partners work with, such as accommodation providers, transport companies, and activity providers.

However, we recognize that we have an important opportunity - and responsibility - to support our network of more than 150 local tour operator partners across nearly 100 destinations in improving their sustainability practices.

The TravelLocal Partner Charter helps us communicate our sustainability and ethical guidelines to our partners and encourage continuous improvement. By completing the charter, partners receive a free sustainability report that highlights their current practices and identifies areas where they can strengthen their environmental and social impact. For many small and medium-sized tour operators, this can be an accessible first step on their sustainability journey before pursuing a formal certification, which often requires significant resources.

The report also helps us identify where partners may need additional support. In these cases, we can guide them towards relevant training courses and resources provided by organizations such as Travelife for Tour Operators, share examples of best practices from other companies, and provide further guidance to help them continue improving.

Why do some partners not have this badge?

If a TravelLocal partner does not display the Sustainability Badge on their itineraries, it does not necessarily mean that they do not operate sustainably. In some cases, partners may simply not yet have had the time to complete the TravelLocal Partner Charter. In other cases, they may already have completed the charter, but the badge cannot currently be displayed due to limitations in the itinerary software they use.

If you would like to learn more about the sustainability practices of the local company you are traveling with, you are always welcome to ask your local expert directly about the measures their business has in place.

What do the different tiers mean?

What are the different sustainability tiers?

Sustainability Seedling

This is the entry-level tier and is designed to be accessible for smaller tour operators that may not yet have the resources to dedicate significant time or staff to sustainability initiatives, but still want to actively engage with the topic. The Seedling criteria focus specifically on the trips and travel experiences that the partner promotes and sells through TravelLocal.

Sustainability Elder

This is a more advanced tier for tour operators that already have a well-developed sustainability strategy in place. The Elder criteria apply more broadly to the partner’s overall business operations, including trips promoted on the TravelLocal website, trips sold through TravelLocal, as well as trips sold through their other sales channels.

Does the Elder tier mean a partner is “more sustainable”?

Not necessarily. One of the requirements for the Elder tier is that a partner holds an official sustainability certification from a recognized organization such as Travelife for Tour Operators or TourCert.

However, some partners may already have strong sustainability practices in place but are not able to pursue formal certification because these programs often involve fees. As a result, they may not currently qualify for the Elder tier. This does not mean that these partners are less committed to sustainable travel.

What criteria are partners assessed on?

The criteria are closely aligned with TravelLocal’s sustainability policy and the guidelines of Travelife for Tour Operators.

They cover four main areas: People & Society, Environmental Protection, Animal Welfare, and Business as a Force for Good.

Examples of the criteria include operating offices in a more sustainable way, prioritizing lower-carbon transport options wherever possible during tours, supporting locally-owned suppliers and businesses, giving a preference to locally-owned suppliers, and much more.

How is compliance checked?

Partners complete the TravelLocal Partner Charter through a self-assessment, where they confirm whether they meet the relevant sustainability criteria. We work closely with our partners and rely on these strong relationships to ensure the charter is completed honestly and in good faith.

In addition, we carry out regular spot checks of itineraries that partners send to customers to ensure that the trips offered through TravelLocal align with the principles set out in the charter.

Some of the criteria - such as paying more than minimum wage, measuring water and energy usage and actively working to reduce those, and others - are also covered through our partner contracts.

Does the badge guarantee full sustainability?

No. While the TravelLocal Sustainability Badge covers a range of important environmental, social, and ethical topics, it does not guarantee that a company operates in a fully sustainable way.

The TravelLocal Partner Charter is intended as a starting point to help our local tour operator partners engage with sustainability and continuously improve their practices. It is not as comprehensive as a formal third-party certification from organizations such as Travelife for Tour Operators or TourCert.

How often is the badge reviewed or renewed?

Compliance with the TravelLocal Partner Charter is reviewed annually. Partners who are unable to renew their compliance will no longer be able to display the Sustainability Badge.

In addition, we conduct periodic spot checks of partner itineraries. If a partner does not meet the charter criteria during these checks, we will discuss the issue with them and may ask them to remove the badge if the criteria are no longer being met.

How is this different from other sustainability labels?

How is this badge different from external certifications?

The TravelLocal Sustainability Badge is an in-house recognition awarded to partners who complete the TravelLocal Partner Charter.

Unlike formal third-party certifications such as Travelife for Tour Operators or TourCert, the badge is not an official certification and is based on partners’ self-declaration that they meet the charter criteria. Independent certification programs typically require documented evidence and formal audits to verify compliance.

Who awards the badge?

The Sustainability Badge is awarded by TravelLocal and does not represent an official third-party sustainability certification.

The criteria within the TravelLocal Partner Charter were developed in collaboration with Travelife for Tour Operators. However, the Sustainability Badge itself is awarded by TravelLocal and is not issued or certified by Travelife.

Can partners have other sustainability certifications as well?

Yes. TravelLocal partners may hold additional sustainability certifications alongside the TravelLocal Sustainability Badge.

In fact, one of the requirements for the Elder tier is that partners hold an official certification from a recognized organization such as Travelife for Tour Operators or TourCert. Some partners with strong sustainability practices may choose not to pursue these certifications because they often involve application and auditing fees.

How can I learn more about TravelLocal’s sustainability?

Our sustainability guidelines, information about TravelLocal’s Travelife and B Corp certifications, and other projects, such as our Fund for Good, can be found on our Reimagining travel site.

If you have any other questions or feedback regarding sustainability, you can contact us at sustainability@travellocal.com. We look forward to hearing from you!