With a steady eye on identifying fun, interactive and ethical travel experiences, the whl.travel global online travel-booking network taps into and magnifies the excellence of local tourism experts who. Alone, these experts are local leaders, but united they have become a forceful global presence for the right kind of tourism, sharing with major markets all…

Last weekend, in the Bahamas, the TravelMole Caribbean Web Awards 2012 singled out several websites for their excellence in online travel. While it did not take top honors, Gunyah.com, the WHL Group’s marketplace for authentic local-travel experiences and short break holidays and vacations, was shortlisted in the Tour Operator category.

The winners have now been announced of the Ecotourism Travel Blog Contest sponsored by whl.travel. The goal of the contest was to promote ecotourism and responsible travel through shared stories about real-world adventures. Now, from a shortlist of 10 finalists established by popular opinion, three winners have emerged, each entitled to an ecotourism adventure for two people courtesy of whl.travel.

“Just like in childhood memories in which reality seems to shine with living colours,” says the website of Montenegro Adventures, a well-respected tour operator, “Montenegro is a land of contrasts and natural beauty… a fascinating combination in which the tiny and the grandiose are tangled.” Apparently, that same website has been instrumental in capturing some of the same sense brilliance in “this small but fabulous destination.” Late last year, it was awarded the country’s Wild Beauty Award 2010 for Best Tourism Website.

On Monday 6 August, The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) announced the 16 finalists (five individuals and 11 organisations) of the 2010 TIES Innovation Leadership in Sustainable Tourism Awards. The WHL Group is pleased to learn that one of its subsidiary companies, WHL Consulting, has been selected as a 2010 Innovation Award finalist for creation of the Tourism Development Bank.

The Wanderlust World Guide Awards (formerly known as the Paul Morrison Guide Awards) are held every year to recognise the very best of the world’s tour-guide community. The WHL Group is very proud to recognise the nomination of Tina Zorman, our whl.travel local connection in the beautiful unspoiled lands of Yemen.

On April 29, at the 2010 Travel Distribution Summit Asia in Singapore, a Web Innovation Award for Best Travel Startup of the Year was awarded to Urban Adventures. Urban Adventures, which was also shortlisted in the Most Exciting New Use of Technology in Travel category, was launched in October 2009 and has quickly grown into a global force, recently featured on Getaway, Australia’s favourite travel show.

One week ago, The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) announced Michelle Rodrigues as its newest Travel Ambassador. Michelle, born and raised in New York City but now resident in Florida, USA, is also a project manager and content editor for the WHL Group in its North America and the Caribbean Regional Office currently based in Miami.