Meet the guru who is reinventing regenerative travel.
Planet-loving explorers are looking to travel greener, and sustainable tourism is making a huge impact on minimising the negative effects with the movers and shakers behind the tourism industry; however, there is still a long way to go in creating a holistic and long-lasting relationship with the places we visit.
When I met Amanda Ho, co-founder of Regenerative Travel, a Portugal-based company that aspires to enable travellers to become more conscientious on their journeys, I was pleasantly surprised at how much goes on behind the scenes to build a networking community.
As an eco-advocate, and ex-magazine Editor, Amanda, has spearheaded a movement to shake up the industry. Regenerative Travel was founded pre-pandemic with the notion of educating trade and consumers on the importance of collaborating with locals to foster positive change. However, her love affair with eco-travel began on a seven-year adventure around the world, working as an Editor focusing on luxury hospitality, real estate, and lifestyle brands. “I found myself drawn to the stories of hotel owners who were dedicated to what I now refer to as ‘regenerative hospitality’. From documenting the efforts of anti-poaching rangers in Kenya to exploring the impact of tourism in Antarctica, my journey as a storyteller led me to spotlight individuals and organisations that were pioneering climate change solutions through travel. I slowly became focused on only telling stories of sustainable travel companies and became further dedicated to using my media platform to amplify these voices through film, writing, and photography.”
With new insight, she realised that there was scope for a lot more to be done to create a better space for the future, and Portugal seemed like a good place to base herself as holidaymakers and hoteliers are already engaging with the community here. She continues “The country is blessed with the most spectacular coast and beaches that are protected as natural reserves; there is vast countryside where there are many quintas and small boutique hotels, tiny homes or homestays that honour the essence of the land and should be protected. Many that I have seen focus on agrotourism and regenerative farming to cultivate their produce or cork, olive oil and wine.”
By utilising her power of storytelling and branding, Amanda spotted a paradigm shift towards regeneration and the seed was formed to start a brand that could authentically embody the essence of this movement. “I’ve always held the conviction that change is most effective when it stems from inspiration.”
Community building is at the heart of everything the company stands for, “I’ve always recognized the need to create a vibrant and collaborative kinship that works together to make a meaningful impact.” So what initially started as a mission to connect travellers with environmentally and socially aware hotels has transformed into a dynamic association and marketplace. Now, Regenerative Travel’s overarching goal is to cultivate collaboration and synergy among all the key stakeholders in the travel industry. “We aim to unite hotels, travel agents, destination management companies (DMCs), and tour operators under a unified vision, all working together to shape a regenerative future for travel.”
Travelling should be experienced in the present moment, with the mindset of learning from and sharing the experience, “When we embark on our journeys with this perspective, we can create more meaningful and mutually beneficial travel experiences for ourselves and the destinations we explore.” So the idea of slow travel goes hand in hand with slowing down.
Chatting with Amanda, I get the impression that the idea of regeneration is already present in Italy, Mallorca and Ibiza, with the number of hotels and travel agencies associated with Regenerative Travel growing rapidly. However, in Portugal, the Craveiral Farmhouse, just 2.5 hours away from Lisbon in the Alentejo region is cited as the first member property. Ticking the boxes of truly embracing the regeneration ethos and the reason she came to the country almost 3 years ago. “It holds a special place in my heart as Craveiral’s philosophy embodies a deep connection to a slower lifestyle, embracing the tranquillity of nature and the joy of savouring produce straight from the farm. Honouring traditional farm-style cottages that are local to the Alentejo region, it reflects what regenerative tourism is from all aspects from its architectural design, supply chain and food sourcing, through agritourism and the experiences that it offers to its guests.”
Getting the entire tourism industry onboard is no mean feat as many holidaymakers just want to see the highlights and get the Insta shot: “There is a need for more education regarding what regeneration truly means and, more importantly, how to embody this ethos as a traveller. You can start with a quest for meaningful experiences- recognizing that active participation is one of the most pivotal elements of your journeys. Rather than being passive observers, you strive to be active participants, fully immersing in the local culture and environment. This immersion is not just about surface-level interactions it goes much deeper. Regenerative travellers seek to establish profound connections with their host destinations, forging relationships with the people and places they encounter along the way.”
Connecting with someone so passionate about this was an eye-opener as I cast my mind over my travels, and although I’m no angel, I can safely say that I am happy and eager to put my newfound knowledge in place.
