Sustainable Travel Workshop Series

A Peer-to-Peer Coaching Program Designed for Tour Operator Executives

Sustainability is often defined as balancing economic growth, environmental care, and social well-being.

While it’s easy to recognize the importance of implementing sustainable practices into your business, starting your sustainability journey may feel daunting. In fact, the most common question we receive from our members is, “How (and where) do we start with sustainability?”

Join us as we dive into those questions and more through our Tourism Cares’ Sustainability Workshop Series, a unique program designed particularly for tour operator executives. Led by seasoned travel executives from Tourism Cares, MaCher, B Tourism, and USTOA, this program will coach participants through structured learning sessions that expand their knowledge and empower them to develop a comprehensive sustainability plan tailored to their unique needs and goals.

Workshop Format

Sessions take place every other week for 9 sessions (18 weeks total). Meetings are held on Zoom and are tailored to the following topics based on the needs of the participating organizations:

  1. The Why” - Understanding the business case for sustainability.

  2. The How” - which includes:

  • Engaging stakeholders, including employees, communities, and the environment

  • Aligning company purpose, culture, and values

  • Measuring your impact on social and environmental performance

  • Setting goals and taking action

  • Communicating progress

  • Protecting the company’s mission, including the role of certifications.

What to Expect

The workshops are a safe, trusted environment to navigate the basics and learn the practical steps to building a robust sustainability plan. All learning is hands-on and tailored to tour operators and travel sector suppliers.

Throughout the series, participants will gain a trusted peer group that will provide support in the years ahead. Experience has shown that these workshops are effective because everyone shows up equally and is willing to learn together.

After the first two sessions, participants should expect to invest 1-2 hours per week outside the workshops for minimal homework and to get started on the measurement project. There will be one-on-one coaching calls available in between the workshops scheduled.

Post-workshops, additional trainings, and resources for deeper learning will be offered depending on the company’s needs and strategic direction.

Requirements for Participation

Tour Operators, including two people per company, must participate, including a founder or senior executive.

Maximum participation, including 100% attendance from at least one company representative. 

A willingness to trust each other, learn, take action, and report back on progress.

Cost is free, providing you are (or become) a member of Tourism Cares.

Workshop coaches donate their time because they believe that, in order for scalable change to happen, we must all play our part and “pay it forward.” Most people find the workshops to be transformational and helpful in accelerating their knowledge and commitment to building a meaningful sustainability plan. Participants are also encouraged to become a workshop coach in the future, allowing for these workshops to scale and grow our collective learning.

Join Us

The next workshop series begins in Spring 2025. Please fill out the following form if you are interested in applying for a future session or have additional questions.

  • "Participating in the Tourism Cares Sustainability Workshop was invaluable for me. The sense of community, open discussion format, and willingness to provide support and guidance was instrumental in helping us launch our new sustainability strategy so quickly. In addition, the relationships we developed in the series have already proven a helpful resource, as we continually refine our action items."

    Rebecca Tribelli, Global Impact Manager, Tauck

Item 1 of 4

Past Workshop Participants