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 your’e based on the high street, in an office, or work from home, work under a host agent or run you’re own independent business, this is a community for everyone who wants to advance their impact by working together with likeminded colleagues.
How to get involved
Join our Linked In group to start, which will have all the latest information on what we’re up to. Our direction will be steered by the group, so we welcome any ideas you might have which will enable you to sell and market holidays with responsible elements at its heart, and will have a benefit to the community as a whole. We have our own ideas, and will be rolling these out over the coming weeks and months.
Our Charter
Demonstrate a commitment to Responsible Travel
Have a written Responsible Travel and Animal Welfare Policy
Have a client education strategy
Have carbon awareness
Support local economies
Have ethical and sustainable business practices
Support tour operators, cruise companies and DMC’s who publicly share our collective ethos
Commitment to improvement
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 Charter 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
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
Lisa Connolly, Elegant Resorts
Emma Summers, Tribe Family Adventures (Travel Counsellors)
Laura Sigsworth, Travel Counsellors
For Media, Tour Operator and Partner enquiries:
For media and partner enquiries, contact Ashley Quint: ashley@rtac.co.uk