The homeworking agency, which was among the big winners at the 2024 Top 50 Travel Agencies by TTG ceremony last week, has teamed up with Kiwano Tourism co-founder Rebecca Woolford to put 50 consultants and other members of head office staff through the training.

The training was specifically designed to tap into the team’s personal passions, skills and talents, and inspire them to put their existing knowledge and experiences to good use when it comes promoting and selling more sustainable holiday options.

Spanning online learning, knowledge tests and practical tasks, topics ranged from recognising signs of greenwashing and climate injustice to addressing tourism leakage and "rethinking" tourism through the eyes of tourism dependent communities, as well as questioning forms of wildlife tourism.

Designer Travel managing director Karen Pocock said the aim of the training was to help the team advise and educate customers about their sustainable travel options.

"We want to work with suppliers that put sustainability right at the heart of their agenda, allowing us to develop partnerships that make tourism a force for good," said Pocock. “Rebecca’s support has allowed the team to get the most out of the training and experience. Everyone who participated has been impressed with the content."

Designer Travel said the core aim of the programme was to "liberate and empower" its team to understand more about what they can do to make a difference and "ask the questions that need to be asked" as part of a wider mission to "reimagine and reset" tourism for local people, places and nature.

Colin Brown, a Designer Travel agent, said the training had given him the confidence to engage with clients and suppliers on sustainability, gender equality and tourism leakage.

Designer business development manager Di Victory said the course opened her eyes to topics and issues she had previously only scratched the surface of. "The masterclass will hugely benefit our company as it will allow us to confidently implement positive changes," she said.

Head of sales Darren Bien added: “I can now speak with more confidence to our suppliers and partners. This will be key to our sustainability strategy going forward."

The training has also been supported by World Animal Protection campaigns manager Katheryn Wise to help Designer Travel strengthen its animal welfare policy and then implement it.

Pocock added: “We are a growing business and, as we’ve said before, we are determined to play our part making tourism a force for good, protecting exciting, worldwide travel for future generations."

Kiwano Tourism’s Woolford said: "It never ceases to surprise me how willing people in the travel industry are to learn new things and strive to be – and do – better. Companies like Designer Travel are taking bold steps and are paving the way for others to follow [and] it starts with relearning how we see the role tourism plays.

"The six-week on-demand training encourages everyone, regardless of their role or experience, to rethink and reimagine the tourism industry as a change agent to revitalise human and natural eco-systems.

"I welcome any travel agent, tour operator or trade professional, regardless of where they are in their sustainability journey, to head to the Kiwano Tourism website to find out more."