Better World

What does it truly mean to give nature a chance? Is it enough for us simply not to interfere or is a more active approach required? &Beyond CEO Joss Kent talks about the meticulous planning and management that is necessary to drive the regeneration of the world’s wild places. 

How can the travel industry navigate the return of tourism while balancing growing environmental awareness with the demands of travellers starved for new destinations and experiences? Find out what themes and topics are truly important in sustainable travel and how both tour operators and travellers can help to drive genuine change.

Group Human Resources & Training Director Linda King speaks about the launch of the &Beyond Academy, an initiative three years in the making. Designed to empower &Beyond staff by allowing them to earn both internal and external qualifications while working, the Academy builds on a long-standing tradition of training and development, as well as a commitment to promoting from within. Now boasting certified training material, registered training schools, and accredited assessors, the &Beyond Academy brings formalised qualifications within the reach of each and every staff member. 

&Beyond Conservation & Community Impact Director Tony Adams unravels the meaning of responsible travel and speaks about how tourism can help make a difference to the world’s wild places, their inhabitants, and the communities that surround them. He provides advice for travellers who seek to leave behind nothing but footprints, detailing what questions to ask to ensure that they are travelling with a responsible tourism company. Lastly, Tony provides some practical examples of how companies like &Beyond can help leave the world a better place. Read more about &Beyond’s impact initiatives. 

&Beyond CEO, Joss Kent looks back on nine years spent at the helm of the conservation-led travel company, building on its vision to leave the world a better place. He describes the magic that happens when an unshakeable sense of purpose comes together with the financial discipline and planning necessary for long-term sustainability. Find out about the sound business decisions necessary to achieve true sustainability and listen to practical tips and hints for business leaders seeking to drive sustainable goals. Learn more about how &Beyond’s strong sense of purpose has made the business resilient in spite of the impacts of Covid-19.

&Beyond CMO Nicole Robinson and Dale Forbes, Head of Strategic Business Development at SWAROVSKI OPTIK, talk about the shared values that brought together the African-based luxury travel brand and the Austrian manufacturer of quality binoculars. Find out how the two worked to develop the recently launched limited edition birding itineraries, which span destinations as diverse as Bhutan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Botswana, and Ecuador. Discover how specialist guides help to combine some of the world’s best-known birding destinations with exceptional travel experiences that will appeal not only to birding fanatics, but to their travel enthusiast partners too.   

Get an overview of our limited edition birding itineraries.

Toby Sinclair from &Beyond Asia talks about his love affair with India’s rivers, describing their ever-changing landscapes and the traces of India’s culture and history that can be found along their banks. Find out about the birds and wildlife that can be spotted from a riverboat cruise in India and discover more about the Iconic Brahmaputra River Cruise.

Skipper Mareja, Regional Human Resources Manager for &Beyond Botswana, talks about his experiences in tourism, from managing lodges in the Okavango Delta to making a difference in the lives of local communities. Discover what it’s like to run a brand new lodge in the Delta and the intricacies of working with tented camps that move every five days. Find out about the challenges faced by the communities living on the outskirts of one of the world’s best-known natural wonderlands, from wandering wildlife to lack of drinking water. Hear more about the projects being put into place to assist them.

Nonhlanhla Ambrose talks about the Hustle Economy Programme run by Wild Impact (previously known as Africa Foundation) and how it is empowering young people and women in South Africa’s rural areas not only to make a living but to plan for a brighter future. Find out about this innovative project, which equips young ‘hustle-preneurs’ with the skills and insight to turn their dreams into reality, earning not only profits but also the respect and recognition of their communities. Warm your heart with success stories from the pilot project in KwaZulu-Natal and find out what’s in store for the future as Wild Impact plans to take the initiative live throughout Africa. 

Find out more about the relationship between &Beyond and Wild Impact. Read about Wild Impact’s vision and impact. Find out more about the Hustle Economy Programme or make a donation. Discover more about &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve.

Dr Raghu Chundawat talks about tiger conservation in India, from the inception of Project Tiger in the 1970s to the threats and challenges facing India’s tiger population 50 years on and his hopes for the future. Find out why tiger reserves were established in India almost 50 years ago and how they work. Learn about the successes of Project Tiger and what they have meant for the conservation of other species in India, as well as the new set of threats and challenges facing tigers. In between, enjoy personal stories and anecdotes from one of India’s premier conservation biologists and tiger experts.

Is Africa’s Big Five in danger of becoming the Big Four? Lions are one of Africa’s most iconic species and a drawcard for millions of tourists, however, lion populations have declined by 50% in the last 25 years. The species is now considered critically endangered. As apex predators, lions are critical not only as a key indicator of how well the entire ecosystem is doing, but also as a means of maintaining ecological balance.  Our panel of experts talks about the threats facing the species and describes some of the projects being undertaken to reverse the loss. Find out how conservationists throughout Africa are coming together to ensure the survival of the species.  

Watch a video of the live event. Find out more about the Lion Recovery Fund and the Lionscape Coalition. Find out more about &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve Conservation Manager Simon Naylor, featured in this podcast.