The biggest game changers in travel this year

Traveller Awards: Change Makers

We shine a spotlight on the industry heavyweights setting the trends and leading the charge in the travel space. Brace for eco initiatives that take “green” literally, accommodation platforms deftly taking on tours, and so much more. Read on for our Traveller Awards 2024 winners in the Change Makers category.

Pan Pacific Orchard, Singapore

Pan Pacific Orchard is divided into Forest, Garden, Cloud and Beach.Credit: Darren Soh

When it comes to tropical green architecture WOHA, the Singaporean-Australian firm, ticks every one of the high-rise planter boxes. Over the past decade, it’s designed most, if not all, of Singapore’s distinctive, vine-entwined sustainable hotels beginning with the groundbreaking Parkroyal Collection Pickering, part of the eco-minded Pan Pacific group. WOHA’s latest, Pan Pacific Orchard, is divided into a quartet of nature zones – Forest, Garden, Cloud and Beach – each with massive open-air voids allowing in air, light, nature and the abundant Singaporean tropical rain that keeps the vegetation green and growing. Blueprints crossed with green thumbs, WOHA is the teal of architecture. See panpacific.com

Scenic Eclipse I and II

The luxury expedition fleet is equipped with helicopters and submersibles.

If James Bond were ever to retire, Scenic Eclipse I and II would surely be the kind of sophisticated luxury expedition ships he’d be inclined to splurge his super on. These exclusive vessels are equipped with big boys and girls’ toys such as helicopters and submersibles, and what’s more are so sleekly designed they could serve as extras in a 007 film, even if Newcastle, NSW, lovely as is, doesn’t quite qualify as a Bond location. That’s where, nearly 40 years ago as a domestic coach tour operator, the beginnings of Glen Moroney’s Scenic brand can be traced to. It somehow evolved into a leading European river cruise business and, most recently, expedition discovery yacht operator. Full of ups and downs, it’s an Australian tourism success story that would probably even impress Ian Fleming. See scenic.com.au

Qantas

A vegan dish served in the Qantas First Lounge.Credit: Qantas

Carbon offsets seem futile when airlines continue to package meals and amenities in throwaway plastic. So it’s encouraging to see Qantas taking decisive action by replacing plastic utensils, packaging and amenities with responsibly-sourced wood, recycled plastic, bamboo and compostable material. And with vegan meals the most frequently requested dietary choice on Qantas flights, plant-based options are now standard on menus alongside meaty fare. See qantas.com

Virgin Voyages

Blinged-up casual diner, Razzle Dazzle, on board Virgin ships.

You’ll find almost every aspect of the cruise experience has been tweaked, blinged-up and drizzled in double entendre when you board a Virgin Voyages ship. For a start, you won’t hear announcements or see paper itineraries; instead, each day’s schedule is accessed via an app. There’s also no ship-wide muster drill; passengers watch a safety video then join a small-group lifejacket demonstration. And say farewell to the cruise director; that role has been replaced by an energetic cast of onboard “personalities”. Naturally, there’s an equally eclectic range of activities: from karaoke and ’80s workouts to drag queen bingo and BDSM workshops. Although we won’t see a Virgin ship cruising Australian waters this summer, we hope to see its ships returning in the near future. See virginvoyages.com

1 Hotels

Resort-style pool at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge.Credit: 1 Hotels/James Baigrie

Proving that luxury and sustainability aren’t mutually exclusive, 1 Hotels has 11 high-end, eco-friendly properties in some of the globe’s most sought-after hot spots, including New York, London and Paris with Melbourne on the way. Commendable sustainability initiatives include wooden key cards, chalkboards instead of notepads and hangers made from recycled greeting cards. Outside, each property features a verdant living plant wall, while inside there’s copious greenery and extensive use of recycled materials. Impressively, none of these initiatives feel finger-waggy or preachy and the vibe is still unashamedly upscale, with plush robes, artisanal minibars, upscale amenities and collaborations with award-winning chefs. See 1hotels.com

Sierra Grande, New Mexico

The rustic, 17-room Sierra Grande Lodge has an extensive conservation program.

Located in the quirky New Mexican town of Truth or Consequences, Sierra Grande is one of several resorts owned by Ted Turner, the former CNN media mogul who has devoted the remainder of his life (and fortune) to species and wilderness preservation. In the process, he has become the second-biggest private landowner in the US. From the rustic, 17-room resort, guests can take guided jeep safaris into nearby Ladder reserve (one of three vast properties he owns in New Mexico), which has active programs to conserve vulnerable species such as the Mexican wolf, Chiricahua leopard frog and Bolson tortoise. See tedturnerreserves.com

Luxury Escapes

Luxury Escapes’ dreamy holiday products now include tours and experiences.

The Melbourne-based business’ winning formula of cooking up tasty travel packages that are win-win deals for both providers and customers has become a true travel force to be reckoned with. Not content to let a tried and tested formula do all the work, the company, owned by entrepreneur Adam Schwab, has embraced the age of influencers to showcase its dreamy holiday products and has even created its own tours. A special food-focused tour of Sri Lanka designed and hosted by former MasterChef judges Matt Preston and Gary Mehigan is one of its newest Signature Series offerings. See luxuryescapes.com

ANI

ANI Private Resorts run four-year sponsorship programs for young local artists.

Setting the pace for luxury hospitality giving back to the community in a truly meaningful way, British arts patron and philanthropist Tim Reynolds, founder of ANI Private Resorts, established ANI Art Academies in 2010, a non-profit organisation dedicated to providing a free education to students of fine art. Each of ANI’s four ravishing resorts in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Anguilla and the Dominican Republic host an academy where aspiring young local artists are given a rigorous four-year education at no personal cost, benefiting students’ families and communities alike. See aniprivateresorts.com

Marriott

Guests take part in mangrove planting at Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay.Credit: Marriott Bonvoy

Global hotel chain Marriott encompasses a network of 8900 hotels and more than 30 brands in 141 countries, so ensuring sustainable practices across the group is a huge challenge. By implanting “green teams” in individual hotels, partnering with innovative thinkers such as chef Josh Niland and diversity champions Dylan Alcott and Ash Barty, and encouraging fresh ideas from hotel staff, Marriott is making headway with ambitious environmental and social responsibility goals, including reducing carbon emissions by 30 per cent by next year. From coral and mangrove planting activities for kids at Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay, to the ground-up sustainable design of The Singapore Edition, Marriott is focused on making a difference. See marriott.com

AndBeyond

Chief executive Joss Kent remains committed to conservation and community development.Credit: andBeyond

In 1991 andBeyond established Phinda Private Game Reserve on 13,000 hectares of degraded farmland. The land was rehabilitated and returned to the large mammals that originally roamed in the wild. The first luxury lodge built there, Phinda Forest Lodge, pioneered worldwide ecotourism. More than 30 years later, andBeyond operates 29 luxury lodges and camps across Africa, Asia and South America, harnessing the economic power of travel to conserve land and wildlife and create benefits for neighbouring communities. Chief executive Joss Kent is the force of nature behind the ambitious projects, which positively impact 75 communities and directly conserve a footprint of 400,000 hectares. See andbeyond.com

Traveller Awards contributors: Kate Armstrong, John Borthwick, Jim Darby, Anthony Dennis, Ben Groundwater, Julietta Jameson, Trudi Jenkins, Brian Johnston, Ute Junker, Katrina Lobley, Catherine Marshall, Rob McFarland, Justin Meneguzzi, Craig Platt, Jane Reddy, Jane Richards, Tim Richards, Craig Tansley, Lee Tulloch, Kerry van der Jagt, Penny Watson, Sue Williams