CONFERENCE Aito Overseas Conference 2025: Almost 100 delegates attended the event to he
Firms urged to make ‘small steady sustainable actions’
A
ito companies have been urged to “start small and start now” with sustainable
actions to reap commercial benefit and boost staff retention. Zoe Savage-Morton, responsible
travel manager at Lusso, told a panel debate that travel firms should look at what they are already doing in a sustainable way and consider how to improve on that. Savage-Morton, co-chair of Aito’s
sustainable tourism committee, said: “Start small, start now and don’t do it alone. Look at what you are already doing and build in sustainable activity. When you are paying your bills and [assessing] waste management, look at the volumes and try to reduce them. It’s all part of starting to act sustainably. Small, steady actions create momentum with commercial benefit.” She said Lusso had become
more sustainable through a range of actions, including measuring
E
electricity and water usage to reduce costs, developing supplier standards and traveller guidelines, improving processes to make decision-making easier and reviewing destination activities. She said one “standout benefit”
had been staff retention, adding: “Where they [staff] saw we were acting more responsibly and ethically, they aligned with our values as well. [But] it’s a very slow process.” Sam Clark, managing director
of Experience Travel Group, encouraged each Aito company to put forward a staff member to join the association’s sustainability webinars to get ideas on how to act.
“I don’t think there there are n
enough joining,” he added. Women in Travel founder
Alessandra LoTufo Alonso suggested business leaders consult with staff to gain ideas on how to make their companies more sustainable. She said: “Delegate and ask staff
what they would like to do. If you want retention and innovation, you have to include them.” She added that companies should
also consider the impact of their operations on the communities to which they send customers. Former Aito chair Richard
Hearn, founder of Inn Travel and co-founding director of responsible tourism business Village Ways, said: “There can only be commercial disadvantage by not engaging.” Pedro Medina, deputy director
of the Spanish Tourist Office, cited successful efforts by Spanish cities to control overtourism, adding: “There are many benefits to doing things in the right way.”
Aito to celebrate 50th year with 2026 conference in Oman
Oman is to host next year’s Aito Overseas Conference when the association will mark its 50th anniversary. Muscat will be the host city for
the annual event and is expected to attract up to 150 delegates. The destination was revealed at
the end of this year’s conference in Asturias, Spain. Oman boasts more than 1,800
miles of Indian Ocean coastline as well as mountains and deserts, offering an array of activities for visitors. Azzan bin Qassim Al Busaidi, undersecretary
12 4 DECEMBER 2025
Nizwa Fort, Oman
of tourism in Oman’s Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, said: “Oman is a nation proud of our heritage yet committed to progress under Oman Vision 2040. This focus on sustainable development is what defines our future, and it is why we value our partnership with Aito so deeply.” Aito chairman Chris Rowles
said the association had chosen a “truly exceptional destination” to celebrate 50 years and said
post-conference tours were likely to be offered. A special 50th celebration evening will also be held after Aito’s AGM on March 17, 2026.
‘Recruit staff to better repre
Travel businesses were challenged to better represent their customer base for both ethical and commercial reasons. Alessandra LoTufo Alonso, who
runs social enterprise Women in Travel, made the case for companies to review their recruitment as one way to tap into growing markets such as solo women travellers over 50, clients with accessible needs and the halal market. She told Aito companies that
consumers were more likely to book if they felt represented and understood. Changes in the age, background and
Cudillero, Asturias
travelweekly.co.uk
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PICTURE: Shutterstock/Jahidul-hasan
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