32 SUSTAINABILITY


DVENTURE group travel company, WeRoad, has officially launched in the UK, taking small groups of solo travellers, starting from as low as a £200 booking deposit. The travel industry faced massive challenges during


the past two years and WeRoad was no exception. As the pandemic hit in March 2020, the company had two options, freeze their operations, and look to survive, or pivot their business model in another direction and thrive during lockdown. Temporarily transferring their attention away from


the consumer market and redeploying their capabilities and expertise towards B2B, allowed the brand to shift focus to their consulting services and strengthen an area of their business that was previously overlooked. It’s no secret that the whole travel industry was one of


the hardest hit industries during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, however, as restrictions were rolled back across Europe and around the world, WeRoad made the decision to be ready to move quickly and expand their business again – as soon as people were willing and able to travel again. Fast forward to March 2022 and the brand has opened


three new international offices (Madrid, Barcelona, and London) and with the term ‘revenge travel’ (making up for lost travel opportunities during the pandemic) at the forefront of many millennial minds, the appetite to travel and have adventures is stronger than ever for many Brits. And in further timely news, many countries that had previously enforced some of the strictest lockdown rules around the globe (Vietnam now open again),


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are allowing fully vaccinated foreigners to enter. As a result, WeRoad has recently seen a surge in bookings by Brits keen to travel to far-flung corners of the globe, with February experiencing 400% growth in sales vs the brand’s monthly record in pre-pandemic 2019. Across all their European markets, the below mix


of long-haul destinations and unique, short-haul stops are proving very popular, with WeRoad booking data reflecting this. Top Requested Destinations for the UK market so far in 2022


Exotic Colombia - 25% Evergreen Iceland - 22% Majestic Perù -15% Historic Vietnam- 10% Japan (*not open yet but registering a huge number of requests and pre-bookings for Autumn) Travel for WeRoad in 2022 is poised to be massive


and when it comes to South America, adventure seekers are choosing Colombia and Peru as their destinations of choice. Whilst for those interested in heading to Southeast Asia, Vietnam is once again open for tourism and proving very attractive! Not Just a Travel Brand As a brand, WeRoad is not just about travel, but also


about making personal connections. Their vision is to ‘design and deliver experiences worth living and sharing, whilst rewriting the rules of the travel industry’. Since launching in Italy in 2017, (now with a total


of 96 employees and 700+ travel coordinators), this refreshing adventure travel concept has rewritten the rules within the solo traveller market, with over 30,000 would-be adventure seekers brought together by the innovative company and their unique guided tours, led by trained experts known as ‘Travel Coordinators’. It’s not just a job – it’s a way of life Travel is a very personal thing and everybody has


their own likes and dislikes, and after encountering their own frustrations whilst travelling the world, the company three Co-Founders decided to take matters into their own hands, coming up with the initial USP of offering small groups of Millennial travellers a bespoke experience, with the focus on ‘mood-based tours’, enjoyed alongside another passionate traveller with similar interests. Community and experiences are at the heart of everything they do, but the brand owes a lot of their success to their unique ‘Travel Coordinators’, a group


April/May 2022 Travel News


Adventure Solo Travel Company Launches in the UK A


of passionate travellers who also have day-jobs and are not only team leaders, but also selected for their naturally outgoing and adventurous personalities, often becoming best pals with their travelling group and inspiring individuals to push their boundaries and live their best life. Acting as ‘travel buddies’, the Travel Coordinators


allow guests to experience their destinations from a local perspective, giving them the most bespoke and adventurous trips possible. The 700+ strong team of Travel Coordinators are made up of passionate globetrotters, all equipped with the necessary passport stamps to give guests a truly holistic and professional experience.


What Sort of People Go on WeRoad Trips? WeRoad’s adventure-seekers are made up of 90%


solo, Millennial travellers, primarily looking to travel the world without all the time-consuming planning. Small groups of 8-15 people are fully immersed in new cultures, eating local cuisine, staying in guest houses, giving customers a truly authentic experience and helping to form lifelong friendships along the way. Groups are matched based on their age and what kind of trip they’re up for – a relaxing escape or pulse-raising adventure! (Couples and groups are also welcome). WeRoad’s Co-Founder, Erika De Santi, commenting


on the UK launch of the business, said: “When we initially launched in Italy, we identified that travelling with friends can be a daunting experience. Itineraries don’t always match, budgets can differ, and travel tastes can also clash. While some are keen to hike the Inca Trail, friends might want to kick back and relax on a beach in Ibiza, and so WeRoad was born. De Santi continued: “We’re thrilled to be able to offer


UK travellers our bespoke experiences and itineraries. And we know that after the past two years, now more than ever, travellers want to make up for a lost time, so make sure your next holiday is an unforgettable one.” All trips are specially designed to meet the individual


needs of WeRoaders, with the brand taking care of the majority of time-consuming travel admin. Prospective guests are only required to organise their own flights, as the brand is keen to provide everyone with the flexibility to depart from their most convenient airports, on a date and at a time of their own choosing.


To find out more visit https://www.weroad.travel/ Follow at their official Instagram page: @weroad_


tavel New Sustainable Adventure Travel Company Launches


SLOW Adventure is a new sustainable adventure travel company offering adventures that give power back to local communities. It supports fair and transparent conservation funding, reinforces the importance of nature so that it is valued and helps adventurers choose how to give back. Slow adventures are immersive and mindful journeys


that maximise time outdoors and allow adventurers the chance to reconnect with the natural environment and with the people who live there. Local members design and deliver each adventure,


creating community-led tourism where local people who are passionate about conserving and regenerating the environment and unique culture choose how people engage with their local area. All adventures embrace human or nature-powered


travel, and local suppliers are on hand to offer the best experience in each destination. Human-powered adventures – snowshoe hiking in Sweden and wilderness survival in Scotland Slow Adventure launches with two destinations, Scotland and Sweden. Further destinations to be added in 2022 include Finland, Iceland, Ireland and Italy. Each adventure includes nature-based accommodation, local, slow, foraged, caught, grown, hunted food and human or nature-powered outdoor activities and other complementing elements such as wildlife interpretation, storytelling and wellness. In Jämtland Härjedalen, Sweden, adventurers will


hike on snowshoes to a mountain lodge and feast on lunch by a campfire. This experience is then followed by ice fishing, a wood-fired sauna and hot tub and a chance to see the northern lights. During their slow adventure, guests will learn about the Sami culture, one of Sweden’s official national minorities and reindeer herders. In Lochaber, Scotland, adventurers can learn to


forage and survive on an expedition into wilderness with an experienced ecologist and bushcraft expert, canoeing to a remote peninsula and putting their new skills to the test by foraging and staying in a bothy. Slow Adventure Impact Fund Through the Slow Adventure Impact Fund, 5% of


each booking goes directly back to the communities to support local conservation and regeneration projects. The customer can choose the project they wish to support at the booking stage.


The conservation projects supported by the Slow Adventure Impact Fund are proposed by the local members and partners based on their expert knowledge of the best run projects in their regions. Co-founders Sara Mair Bellshaw and Jane Stuart


Smith Created and founded by Sara Mair Bellshaw and


Jane Stuart Smith to continue the good work started by those involved in a European-funded project called SAINT, this new model creates positive change and a positive impact that is clear for everyone involved. Co-founder and Managing Director, Sara Mair Bellshaw commented: ‘I am determined to continue to help small businesses in rural areas and encourage visitors to slow down to connect more with nature and local culture. We’re building a global movement of people who understand that it’s no longer possible to adventure without giving back’. Co-founder, Jane Stuart Smith commented: ‘Slow Adventure makes responsible visiting of remote and beautiful places easier and actively supports these communities and sustainable, good quality local jobs’. For more information and to book please visit www. slow-adventure.com


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