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Sustainability has been at the core of our mission since Elevate’s inception in 2005. Yet, even with this strong foundation, our leadership team recognized an opportunity for growth. In 2023, we began to discuss ways to deepen our commitment to social and environmental sustainability and amplify our influence through our network of ground partners around the world. The team took a deep dive into our operations with an internal audit to evaluate Elevate’s sustainability practices.
Using the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) criteria as our benchmark, we assessed how our efforts align with global standards. This led to the formation of the Elevate Sustainability Working Group (ESWG) in January 2024, beginning a year-long project to redefine our sustainability practices with our partners and suppliers.
The destinations covered included:
Morocco
Rwanda / East Africa
Tanzania
Nepal / Himalayan region
Chile
India
Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia)
Colombia
Ecuador
Kenya
Argentina
New Zealand
With the release of our first annual Elevate Sustainability Working Group (ESWG) report, we’re eager to share how we’re turning our findings into measurable action to uplift our partners, travelers, and the planet. This report is a roadmap for progress, guiding us toward greater impact for the year ahead and beyond.
Photo Credit: Brubaker Family
Key Insights
Our partners have collectively demonstrated exceptional commitment to ethical and sustainable practices across various aspects of their operations. Their efforts align with our core values and vision for a more sustainable and equitable future in tourism.
Local Sourcing and Fair Trade
All of our partners interviewed prioritize sourcing goods and services from local and fair-trade vendors, a practice that not only uplifts local economies but also preserves cultural heritage and traditional practices.
For instance, Travel Scope India supports organizations like Dhonk Crafts in Ranthambore and Pashoo Pakshee in Central India, which are dedicated to preserving traditional crafts and promoting sustainable livelihoods for communities near wildlife sanctuaries.
Photo Credit: Natrajan Family
Biodiversity Conservation
An impressive 79% of our partners actively contribute to biodiversity conservation efforts in their operational areas. BirdsChile demonstrates this commitment by dedicating 600 volunteer hours annually to train local entrepreneurs and support initiatives for cultural and natural preservation.
Sustainability Practices
Our partners demonstrate innovative approaches to sustainability practices. True Colombia, for example, operates almost entirely on rainwater and ensures that water leaves their facilities cleaner than when it entered. They also encourage bottle refills in cities with potable tap water to reduce plastic waste.
Respect for Local People and Culture
All our partners interviewed ensure their staff are trained on the natural and cultural heritage of visited areas to provide accurate information to clients. 93% favor service providers that engage with and support local communities, and the same percentage support local entrepreneurs in developing sustainable products based on the area’s nature, history, and culture.
Photo Credit: Brownell Family
Tierra Del Volcan shows this commitment by promoting the preservation of the Chagra culture. They are one of the last Haciendas that does El Rodeo, a cultural expression of their heritage. They are also part of the sustainable committee of the Cotopaxi National Park.
Oyikil Travel also exemplifies this dedication to local empowerment and opportunity:
“All Oyikil employees are local residents. We prioritize local talent, partnering with local universities to create talent pipelines and fair opportunities regardless of background.”
Equal Employment and Advancement
Our partners are committed to local employment and gender equality. EAsia reports that over 95% of their employees in each destination are locals, with 90% of key management roles held by local women. Similarly, Wilderness Destinations is one of the few organizations promoting women in guiding positions, and all their camp management roles are filled by local Tanzanians who have progressed through the organization.
These initiatives demonstrate how our ground partners are leading the way in sustainable and ethical tourism practices. By prioritizing local sourcing, biodiversity conservation, cultural preservation, and equitable employment practices, they create positive change and set new standards for responsible tourism.
Photo Credit: Samuelson Family
Areas of Opportunity
As we celebrate these achievements, it’s equally important to recognize areas where we can improve and grow:
Water Risk Assessment
Currently, only 29% of our partners are actively assessing water risks in their primary destination areas. This presents a significant opportunity for improvement, given the critical role that water resources play in our visited destinations. We recognize the need to:
- Better understand the restrictions our partners face in implementing water risk assessments
- Work closely with our partners to increase awareness of water-related issues
- Develop and implement comprehensive water risk assessment practices throughout our network
Indigenous Community Collaboration
Our 2024 assessment revealed an opportunity to refine our best practices for collaboration with Indigenous communities. We acknowledge that meaningful engagement with Indigenous peoples is crucial for:
- Preserving cultural heritage
- Ensuring equitable tourism practices
- Promoting sustainable development that respects traditional knowledge and ways of life
Some partners are already setting a strong example in this area. As Encounters Asia shares:
“We work with many communities and tribes throughout the country for our trips. Utmost care is taken to not commodify them, and in fact employ someone from their community to show us the true and authentic representation of their culture.”
Looking Ahead: Our 2025 Strategy
As we reflect on the progress made in 2024 and set our sights on 2025, we’re more committed than ever to driving positive change in the tourism industry. Our experiences have shown us that collaborative efforts yield the most impactful results, and we’re excited to build on this foundation.
After careful analysis of our 2024 assessment, we’ve identified water management as our most pressing area for improvement. We look forward to sharing the details of this initiative in an upcoming blog post, where we’ll outline specific goals, strategies, and how we plan to measure our progress.
