Our foundations
Travelife was established in 2007 by ABTA - The Travel Association in the United Kingdom and the Dutch travel association ANVR, with the involvement of Leeds Metropolitan University, Lund University and ECEAT, a Dutch not-for-profit organisation specialising in sustainability and tourism.
The Travelife methodology was developed through the EU-supported LIFE TourLink project and built on sustainability management approaches developed by UNEP, the Tour Operators' Initiative for Sustainable Tourism Development (TOI), and earlier sustainability experience within the European travel sector.
From the beginning, Travelife was designed to combine internationally recognised sustainability and management principles with the practical realities of tourism businesses. Its methodology and criteria have drawn on frameworks including ISO 14001, EMAS, ISO 26000, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, the Global Reporting Initiative and the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria.
The programme has continued to develop through experience gained from implementation with travel companies worldwide, consultation with tourism businesses and associations, cooperation with sustainability experts and stakeholders, and developments in international sustainability standards and regulation.
Travelife for Tour Operators is managed by ECEAT, a not-for-profit organisation based in the Netherlands with a long-standing focus on sustainability in tourism.
Travelife for Accommodation
Travelife for Tour Operators is separate from the Travelife sustainability certification programme for hotels and other accommodation providers. The accommodation programme is managed by Travelife Ltd, a UK-based organisation owned by ABTA, the UK’s largest travel association.
