Accommodation at Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef, near Exmouth
Bee+Hive, a not-for-profit association uniting luxury hotels and partners committed to creating a better world through sustainable tourism experiences, has announced that it will launch a booking platform in June 2019.
By working closely with its members, Bee+Hive’s new booking platform will give travellers the ability to plan a trip based on sustainable experiences and the chance to support global sustainable tourism.
Booking revenues generated by users of the site will be reinvested to support the destinations, local communities, environment and economy.
Travellers who book directly with Bee+Hive will join the global movement to grow sustainable tourism both by supporting a hotel or destination that is committed to sustainability and by knowing that Bee+Hive will continue to help offer more unique experiences in a sustainable way.
Founded in 2017 by Bruno Correa, Bee+Hive’s collective of hotels are all committed to shaping the future of travel and share the same core values and beliefs on acting as change agents through impactful ecologic, socio-Economic or cultural sustainability experiences.
Each member is unique and offers its own bespoke experiences that give back to the local area, champion sustainability and attract travellers.
As advocates for sustainable tourism experiences, Bee+Hive focuses on three key pillars of sustainability to inspire travellers beyond their trip so that they can spread awareness and knowledge.
These include Local Environment – experiences and activities that are focused on preserving the local environment and wildlife, Local Economy – experiences promoting practices that contribute to the local economy,and Local Culture – experiences helping to safeguard local culture, celebrating and preserving the identity of communities.
Having worked in the hospitality industry for over 20 years, Correa and his family noticed that it was often the small boutique properties that shared the same philosophy in that tourism businesses have the power to educate travellers.
However, many of the properties lacked the means and resources to promote their experiences globally and awareness. As a result, awareness and uptake of these unique experiences were often limited.
“We wanted to combine a strong, aligned portfolio of members with a focus on sustainable experiences to generate resources that help the people who are supporting their local areas,” said Correa. “As a group, we create meaningful connections that enable members to develop and promote more inspiring and impactful experiences.”
According to a recent study conducted by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), on average, for every 100 dollars spent by a tourist on holiday in a developing country, only five dollars remain in the host country.
On this topic, Correa said: “This figure represents the potential benefit tourism can have on local communities if we turn around the role of the hotel within this social environment. A responsible hotel cares about developing the local eco-system and its’ community, and the best way to do this is by offering authentic activities that reflect the destination.”
As a not-for-profit, all revenue from Bee+Hive is reinvested into promotional efforts for legitimate and inspiring sustainable hotels and experiences. The portfolio currently consists of 12 properties across Australia, Brazil, Phillippines, Sweden, USA and Zimbabwe, with plans to expand this globally.
For more information, please visit www.beeplushive.com
