As you’ll hear in this discussion, it’s Earth Month, and we couldn’t not have an episode about sustainability efforts within travel. Here, host Rebecca Tobin speaks with Paula Vlammings, the chief impact officer of nonprofit Tourism Cares, and Travel Weekly hospitality editor Christina Jekski about some of the hot topics of 2025.

Topics we cover: Solutions to overtourism; why travelers don’t want to pay more for green travel initiatives; and whether recent shifts in U.S. policy will have an impact on sustainability efforts.

This episode was recorded April 24 and was edited for length and clarity. 

Episode sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by The TTC Tour Brands https://agents.ttc.com/login

Related links:

Sustainability-minded hotels are staying the course https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Sustainability-minded-hotels-staying-the-course

Arnie Weissmann’s From the Window Seat column: CLIA: “Regulate us. please!” https://www.travelweekly.com/Arnie-Weissmann/CLIA-Regulate-us-Please

From 2024: A focus on overtourism overlooks destinations’ problems: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Overtourism-focus-misses-destination-problems

From 2024: Overtourism solutions: putting residents first https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Tourism-related-issues-need-right-approach-experts-say

Tourism Cares: https://www.tourismcares.org/

Note: This episode is ahead of the news: A column by Christina Jelski on Trina White and the Parkside Hotel & Spa will be published later this week.

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