RTAC at TTG’s Fairer Travel Event
A just a couple of months old. The Responsible Travel Advisor Collective (RTAC) met for the first time at TTG’s Fairer Travel Event in London. We had, of course ‘met’
The Responsible Travel Advisor Collective (RTAC) brings together a new generation of travel advisors who are committed to doing things differently. Created to address a gap in the industry, RTAC supports advisors in building confidence, deepening knowledge, and driving meaningful change in responsible travel. It’s a collaborative space where like-minded professionals come together to share insight, challenge the status quo, and play an active role in shaping a more responsible future for the travel industry.
Who is this collective for?
This is a platform for all UK-based travel advisors and travel agents who are passionate about sustainability and responsible travel. Whether you’re based on the high street, in an office, or work from home, work under a host agent or run your own independent business, this is a community for everyone who wants to advance their impact by working together with like-minded colleagues.
How to get involved
The Sustainable Agent Community (managed by the Responsible Travel Advisor Collective) and RTAC Membership are two connected levels of involvement within the Responsible Travel Advisor Collective, designed to bring together UK-based travel agents who share an interest in making travel more responsible.
The Sustainable Agent Community
The RTAC Sustainable Agent Community is the open starting point. It is for travel agents who have a genuine interest in responsible travel and want to learn, connect with other like-minded advisors and stay informed with the work of RTAC. Community access does not require an invitation or a formal pledge, but does require agreement to the Community Code of Conduct.
It provides access to shared knowledge, webinars, resources, discussions and regular updates, creating a space where advisors can develop their understanding and become more engaged with responsible travel.
Responsible Travel Advisor Collective - Membership
RTAC Membership is a more formal and committed level of involvement. Membership is by invitation and is for travel agents who can demonstrate an evidenced commitment to responsible travel through relevant training, professional development and the way they operate their business.
Members agree to uphold the RTAC Pledge and Members Code of Conduct and, importantly, are expected to actively contribute to the collective: taking part in meetings, helping shape its direction, supporting projects and being willing to take on leadership responsibilities.
Our Pledge
Our ambition is for the Responsible Travel Advisor Collective to set the standard in selling and promoting responsible tourism. Excellence is what we strive for, but we don’t expect you to know everything. Just having the passion and willingness to learn.
So, as a collective, we have a pledge which outlines the basic principles we keep and expect any new member to follow.
It brings together travel professionals who are committed to promoting tourism that benefits people, places and the environment. Members pledge to support ethical and sustainable travel experiences, avoid wildlife exploitation and harmful tourism practices, work with responsible suppliers, communicate honestly without greenwashing, and continually improve their knowledge of responsible tourism. The pledge recognises that perfection is not always possible, but requires members to make informed, accountable decisions that balance commercial success with social, environmental and ethical responsibility.
To join us, you’ll need to agree to the Pledge and sign that you agree with those principles.
Mission
To empower travel advisors to lead the shift towards responsible tourism by strengthening knowledge, confidence and commercial success, while advocating for higher standards across the travel industry.
Purpose
To unite travel advisors who are committed to responsible travel, creating a collective voice that can influence industry practices, support others, and drive meaningful change across sustainability, animal welfare and community impact.
Objectives
We aim to position responsible travel as a core commercial model, ensuring advisors are equipped not only to promote it with confidence, but to embed it within their everyday business practices. Through collective action, strategic partnerships and industry engagement, we will work to improve animal welfare standards, support local communities, reduce environmental impact and shape a more responsible future for travel.
Goals
- Build a recognised collective of travel advisors committed to responsible tourism principles
- Increase advisor confidence, knowledge and ability to sell responsible travel experiences
- Establish and uphold a clear Responsible Travel Advisor Pledge across members
- Hold tour operators and industry partners accountable for transparent and robust responsible tourism and animal welfare policies
- Advocate for industry-wide visibility of responsible tourism standards alongside commercial terms
- Expand access to high-quality training through partnerships with operators, tourism boards and suppliers; and develop collaborative opportunities such as group training trips and shared learning experiences
A note from the founder
The concept of this idea has been playing on my mind for the last couple of years, as although a lot has changed, I have realised there are still massive gaps we can improve upon.
I strongly believe that we can achieve more by working collaboratively, and especially between travel advisors and between tour operators and travel agencies. Advisors need the confidence that the partners they work with align with their businesses own ethos and policies; and there’s more to be achieved in highlighting what products fall within these policies.
Currently tour operators and tourist boards control the direction, but advisors would like a voice too , coming from the unique position we have with our clients.
ASHLEY QUINT, Founder
Our Founding members
Annika Nickson, Nickson Travel
Ashley Quint, TravelTime World
Rachel Tredwell, Tredwell Travel
Emma Andrews, Travel Village
Group
Ellie Adamo, Purpose Travel
Julie Breckon, Earthwise Travel
Marie Rowe, Marie Rowe Travel (Travel Counsellors)
Toni Sharp, Designer Travel
Helen Bateman, Firecrest Travel
Zoe Pope, Everything But Ordinary
Marina Schumacher, Travel Counsellors
James and Jess Lewis, Vetsetters
Kate Bailey, Kate Bailey Travel (Travel Counsellors)
Liz Penn, Travel Counsellors
Alison Nicholls, Travel Counsellors
Andrea Smith, Travel Village Group
Lisa Connolly, Elegant Resorts
Emma Summers, Tribe Family Adventures (Travel Counsellors)
Laura Sigsworth, Travel Counsellors
Caroline Joyner, Travel Counsellors
Lisette Julio-Quinn, Fair Winds Travel
For Media, Tour Operator and Partner enquiries:
For media and partner enquiries, contact Ashley Quint: ashley@rtac.co.uk
Welcome to the Responsible Travel Advisor Collective
Today marks the official launch of the Responsible Travel Advisor Collective (RTAC), a new community of UK-based professionals dedicated to ensure that travel advisors are acknowledged as a vital piece