Custom travel specialist Audley Travel has shared its latest achievements in its long-term commitment to ensuring the entire business operates ethically and responsibly. The annual report details the progress Audley has made against its Environmental Social Governance (ESG) Framework (now entering its fourth year).
Audley’s ESG Framework
The ESG Framework identifies five key areas (the environment, workplace, communities, marketplace and governance) in which the business has set 36 annual targets which are either aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals or with Audley’s internal priorities. The targets form a long-term journey where small sustainable steps over extended periods of time continue to deliver change to benefit the communities in Audley’s destinations.
Achievements During 2023
Audley made strong progress against the 36 ESG targets set for 2023, with 33 met and the remaining three being a continued focus for 2024. Highlights of the achievements include:
Responsible product – Audley formally launched its Responsible Choice criteria to clients to enable them to make sustainable choices, clearly marking the product that goes above and beyond to give back to local communities and the environment. 137 stays and experiences were added to the collection in 2023, taking the total to 279. Audley plans to add a further 200 during 2024.
Employee volunteering– Audley exceeded its goal of 50% of employees using at least half a day to volunteer, with the team dedicating a total of 4,475 hours to helping out in their local communities.
Insight – As part of its commitment to a goal to support education for all, Audley’s Insight initiative uses the knowledge of employees and suppliers to support young people exploring career opportunities in the travel industry. In 2023, 37 of Audley’s employees delivered the initiative to 121 students in nine schools and community hubs (four more than last year, and a 22% increase in the number of students reached).
Long term carbon strategy – Audley’s long term carbon reduction work continues, with a focus on working with suppliers to reduce the carbon emissions from clients’ trips. This will support Audley's target to reduce its scope 3 emissions (excluding the aviation emissions from client trips) by 55% by 2030. Examples of Audley’s engagement with suppliers includes helping reduce emissions by moving to electric car transfers and replacing internal flights with alternative options, such as train travel. Audley also continues to enhance the detail of the data it holds, surveying the top 550 hotels it works with (accounting for 80% of client stays) to gain a more accurate understanding of each hotel’s footprint. In November, Audley held a Carbon Webinar to give suppliers a forum to share ideas and best practice on how to reduce their footprint.
Audley Travel Becomes B Corp Certified
Heather Magnussen, Responsible Travel & Sustainability Manager at Audley Travel, says:“Responsible travel has always been part of Audley’s DNA and we are really proud of the progress we made in our 2023 ESG targets. The past year has also seen us celebrate our certification as a BCorporation – an achievement that the entire business is incredibly proud of as it acknowledges our focus on operating for purpose as well as profit. “There are always more improvements that we can make, so 36 new targets have been set for this year, and we are confident that these will enable us to continue to build on this year’s success.”
Audley’s Sustainability Report can be downloaded here.
About Audley Travel
Audley Travel is a B Corp certified custom tour operator, providing trips to over 75 destinations worldwide designed based on clients' tastes, budgets, and wish lists. Itineraries are designed by country specialists who are experts in the destination they sell, having traveled extensively or lived there themselves. Audley's US office is in Boston and celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.