The World’s Leading Youth Travel Company Pledges Carbon Neutrality

Contiki—the social tour company for 18- to 35-year-olds—has this month announced it will be gearing up for a more sustainable future, starting with appointing the brand’s first-ever Chief Sustainability Officer, Tasha Hayes.

Hayes will lead the efforts in working toward accelerating the United Nations’ Sustainability Goals in order to combat climate change and work toward complete carbon neutral status through forest conservation in Australia, renewable energy in the USA, and biogas energy in Thailand.

“Living sustainably is a non-negotiable at this stage in the game. Our world is at stake and it’s imperative that as a global travel brand that we are taking responsibility to ensure our trips operate as sustainably as possible,” Hayes said in a statement. “Our goal is to leave only a positive economic impact on the beautiful places we visit, and a minimal carbon impact behind.”

Hayes will also be working toward new initiatives that support mitigating food insecurity in partnership with Flourish Forever and GreenBronx Machine, ensuring animal welfare in partnership with World Animal Protection, and moving towards renewable energy at the Contiki-owned properties and on coaches all over the world.

“As a market leader for 18–35-year-olds –a generation of activists, it’s our responsibility to do everything in our power to reduce travel’s carbon footprint, mitigate climate change and give back to the environment, people and places we visit,” Hayes said.

These changes come just in time for a new generation of travelers: in a recent survey of over 1,200 participants, Contiki uncovered that 87 percent of millennials and generation Z travelers are seeking unique travel experiences that support and give back to local communities while fostering a sense of mindful travel.

“As travelers pack their bags again, there’s not only a heightened sense of mindfulness and responsibility but also an increased sense of curiosity and adventure. Travelers are so stoked to be able to explore again that they are booking multiple trips at a time,” Contiki CEO, Adam Armstrong said.

“While everyone was grounded at home, dreaming of their next trip, so were we and the result is 70 new and truly incredible experiences. Our new trips provide more options and include adventures catered to exactly what our travelers have asked us for.”