We’re delighted to announce that we have expanded our team with five new experts, including three new roles, marking a new era of opportunity.
Following two challenging years of rapid change and adaptation for everyone in travel and tourism, we have recently been able to expand our portfolio of work across both our strategic priorities: to accelerate climate action and advance destination stewardship approaches. Our current destination stewardship work includes an ambitious new programme with easyJet holidays for community positive tourism in five European destinations. We are also now working with several leading US destinations where the pandemic has brought new challenges and impacts, including in California, Port Aransas (Texas) and Vail.
A more recent focus for us is on the urgent issue of climate change. We have brought onboard the Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency initiative and are providing ongoing support for the ‘Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism’ initiative, working in collaboration with the UN’s World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). Both initiatives aim to drive and support action on decarbonisation and adaptation to climate realities.
The Travel Foundation’s team is increasingly international, with team members now based in eight countries, reflecting the global nature of the organisation’s work.
The Travel Foundation’s new team members are:
Jeremy Smith, Climate Specialist. Jeremy was co-founder of Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency and co-author of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, he is now leading the Travel Foundation’s climate action programme.
Elke Dens, Director of Global Programmes, is a marketing strategist who loves to explore the transformative and regenerative power of tourism, as she did with a large team at Vist Flanders. Elke was previously a valued trustee of the Travel Foundation.
Rebecca Armstrong, Sustainable Tourism Specialist, has experience in working with destinations, companies and travel organisations on tourism strategy as well as practical engagement with businesses and communities. Rebecca has previously provided consultancy support for Travel Foundation projects in Jamaica, Cyprus, Cabo Verde and Turkey.
Kelly Galaski, Sustainable Tourism Specialist, is an expert in community tourism and responsible travel policy development, who has worked with Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA), Planeterra and G Adventures.
Alicia Fajardo, Sustainable Tourism Specialist, is an expert on the development of tourism public policies and strategies for destinations with experience in the strategic planning of tourism in Andalusia, specializing in sustainable tourism.
To read about our full team, click here.
To read more about our projects, click here.
