Inside Travel pursues B Corp status Juliet Dennis


Inside Travel Group has outlined plans to achieve B Corp status in early 2023, joining a small but growing band of certified travel companies in the UK. The Asia specialist tour operating


group aims to follow the Intrepid Group, which became the biggest travel company globally to achieve B Corp status in 2018, and Pura Aventura, which claimed to be the first specialist tour operator in the UK with the certification last year. The company, which includes


brands InsideAsia Tours and InsideJapan Tours and operates in the UK, the US and Australia, announced significant investment in


June from private investment group Blandford Capital LLP. Co-founder Alastair Donnelly


said: “We are in the verification process, which we expect to complete in December. We hope to be confirmed [as a B Corp] in early 2023. We have been working towards this since 2019 and made a long-term commitment to it in summer 2020. “Simon [King, co-founder] and I


have always said the business is not just about delivering profits for the shareholders. B Corp’s key principle is around running a business for people, planet and profit equally. “For me that sums up what


business should be about.” B Corp is the only certification that measures the entirety of a


Ocean Holidays unveils support for disabled travellers


Samantha Mayling


Florida specialist Ocean Holidays has launched an accessibility programme to support travellers with disabilities. The Essex-based operator has


become a member of the global Hidden Disabilities Sunflower network and released the results of a survey carried out among 1,007 people with a disability to highlight the issues they face. More than half of respondents


(51%) said they find holidays stressful, while a third (36%) find them frustrating to plan and book.


6 17 NOVEMBER 2022 One in 10 said they avoid leisure


travel as they are not confident that their additional needs will be met. Nine in 10 (90%) experienced


problems when booking a trip. Issues raised included affordable and suitable accommodation (32%), staff ’s lack of knowledge (26%) and hidden fees (25%). Airports were also a challenge,


with 33% of respondents citing lack of help or facilities and 22% reporting problems getting to the airport. Ocean Holidays’ accessibility


programme was unveiled after 12 months of research and development and offers a service and resource hub.


We want to be part of [the movement] leading travel to become a more sustainable industry


company’s social and environmental performance, creating a public and legally binding commitment to balance profit with people and the planet. Donnelly added that B Corp gives


businesses a framework about how to run their firms and makes it easier to make the “right decisions”, such as choosing a green energy provider. The operator’s commitment to sustainability, such as offsetting all


its products “and then some”, was already helping with recruitment. “Simon and I meet every new


starter and more often than not our commitment to sustainability is right up there and they say our values are closely aligned to theirs; that’s coming out in recruitment,” he said. Donnelly hopes the certification


of the Inside Travel Group will spur other travel companies to follow suit. “We want to be part of [the


movement] leading travel to become a more sustainable industry,” he said. “We feel that by shouting about it,


more people will join that movement. “We see B Corp as having benefits for our business and that if you don’t take sustainability seriously, your business will fail.”


Harry


Hastings and family


Staff have been trained so they


can offer advice about accessible options for holidays in Florida. Harry Hastings, co-chief executive


and co-founder of Ocean Holidays, said: “These findings underline the opportunity the travel industry has to make travel a better experience for the one in five individuals with disabilities in the UK.” His son Rudy has a rare genetic condition called MCAHS1, with symptoms such as epilepsy and mobility issues. He added: “We also believe


it’s time that more mainstream travel companies step up with a more inclusive approach to


supporting people with disabilities and their families. “At Ocean Holidays, we are at


the start of this journey, and we’ve taken steps to improve the experience across the board. We promise to do our best to provide people with disabilities with the support they need to enjoy their dream holiday.” Paul White, chief executive at


Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, said: “The launch of Ocean Holidays’ accessibility programme demonstrates how businesses are starting to take disabilities seriously by reviewing their offerings and practices. This is a positive step in the right direction.”


travelweekly.co.uk


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