Their practice in experiential and mindful travel and their locals’ knack for identifying, explaining and sustaining the distinctive qualities of a place make them the perfect go-to people for travellers looking for unique ways to experience a destination. But sometimes, when travellers prepare to hit the road, they’re not choosy about where they want to go: they’re actively looking only for the best of the best – the best experiences in the best destinations based on information from the best travel experts.

To facilitate that process, whl.travel has announced the winners of its 2011 internal competitive performance review. Based on their work in 2011, four tour operators – one from each of four broad geographical areas – have been singled out as models for a set of whl.travel standards critical to the operation of their own businesses but also fundamental to the success of the global network. Assessment criteria included response times and customer service, maintaining an active social media presence and keeping destination Web portals up to date.

The whl.travel local partner in Malawi: The Responsible Safari Company (left to right: Chimwemwe Siyabu, Kate Webb, Dom Webb, Andrew Kayuni). Photo courtesy of The Responsible Safari Company

Malawi Triumphs in Africa

In Africa, whl.travel is anchored in about 40 destinations across 20 countries. Taking honors on this continent was the Responsible Safari Company, the whl.travel local connection for Malawi. Apart from demonstrating a strong commitment to community development through sustainable tourism initiatives, they have proven that they are serious about client services.

The whl.travel local connection in Boracay, Philippines: Go Discover Travels (left to right: Kristiana Jorjah Espiritu, Trudy Allen and Chaddy Cocjin; not pictured: Helen Atanacio and John Maclang). Photo courtesy of Go Discover Travels

The Philippines Shine in Asia and the Pacific

The whl.travel local partners in Nepal, the Philippines and northeast India stood out from the mix of more than 70 destinations in 26 countries in Asia and Oceania; however, it was the Philippines’ Go Discover Travels, one of the first partners to join the whl.travel network, that came out on top for their whl.travel Boracay Travel website. They also manage portals in the Philippines for Cebu, Palawan and Manila.

The whl.travel local expert in Corfu, Greece: Corfu Sunspots Travel (right to left: Sandra Broedner and Chrysa Tsakalakou; Andronikos Moutos not pictured). Photo courtesy of Corfu Sunspots Travel

Corfu Takes the Limelight in Europe and the Middle East

Corfu Sunspots Travel Ltd, the whl.travel local expert in Corfu, Greece, ranked above approximately 40 other destinations in about 20 countries in Europe and the Middle East. What started as a small family-run business back in 1986 has blossomed into one of Corfu‘s largest, most reputable and successful agencies.

The whl.travel local partner in Santa Marta, Colombia: Las Pleyades (Fabiola Duerig and Oliver Blanco). Photo courtesy of Las Pleyades

Colombia Conquers in the Americas

The whl.travel local connection in Santa Marta, Colombia, was crowned the winner in the Americas, where there are about 50 whl.travel destinations in 15 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. The site for Santa Marta is owned and operated by Las Pleyades, a small company that is a big player when it comes to developing social and environmental travel.

“While every network is only as strong as its weakest link, it’s also as ambitious as its strongest,” commented Rob Shortland, CEO of whl.travel. “whl.travel relies on each local operator to help build and develop our shared global brand. If we want travellers to support local companies then it’s essential that their service standards compete with, if not exceed, that of the large global powerhouses. Add in a large dollop of local knowledge and we’re tough to beat.”

Screenshot of the Bahamas page on Gunyah.com, the website shortlisted by the Caribbean Web Awards 2012

An Award for Quality Websites

Unlike most travel awards, the Caribbean Web Awards 2012 focused on the websites that represent the travel companies, not on the travel companies themselves. As stated on the Caribbean Web Awards 2012 website, special attention was given to best practices in online marketing with an eye toward recognizing websites with excellent graphic communication, superb online copy and salesmanship, and laudable examples of strategies and techniques for enhanced site conversion.

Through its recently launched online presence, designed with all of this in mind, Gunyah dishes up memorable short-break package holidays and vacations managed by a dedicated network of passionate people all around the world. With locals in every destination and a clear responsible travel vision, Gunyah is more in tune with what makes a truly authentic local travel experience.

“We wanted to convey the authenticity and inspiration of our short breaks from the moment users started researching their trips, something that combined the spontaneity of independent travel with the comfort of a package holiday,” commented Luke Ford, CEO of Gunyah, about the unique look and feel of Gunyah.com. “The experience begins from the moment they start corresponding with our local operators. We wanted the navigation functionality to be simple and so it’s search by destination, but we also wanted to include a search by experiences for those looking for, for example, diving or a cultural break. We were thrilled to have been shortlisted.”

A screenshot of one of the packages available in the Bahamas on the Gunyah.com website

A Work in Progress

At the present time, Gunyah lists 170 short-break package holidays in 46 countries with an additional 600 contracted or under construction. Gunyah is working with 83 local partners in a total of 78 countries, including developed markets in North America, Europe and Australia, and emerging-market economies across Africa, Asia, South America and elsewhere.

The short breaks – all of which consist of carefully selected accommodation, tours and activities – average four to six days in duration, but can also extend to 12 days. Regardless of length, Gunyah’s goal is to evoke an authentic experience through each package by connecting travelers to the people, communities, food and culture of each destination.

“We are only at the early stages with product development in the Caribbean, but this attention from the Caribbean Web Awards provides us with even more motivation to include more fascinating destinations in the region,” added Ford. “We have some amazing experiences in San Salvador, Bahamas, with diving, fishing, nature and eco walks, history and adventure, something for everyone! Our local partners in the Bahamas deserve credit for all of their hard work developing such unique experiences.”

The kind of idyllic setting found on of the many islands that make up the Bahamas

The Winning Announcement

The TravelMole Caribbean Web Award winners were announced on the eve of the Caribbean Marketplace held in Nassau, Paradise Island, Bahamas. In their second year, the awards were run by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association in association with TravelMole, one of the largest online travel trade communities in the world, and LeadGenerators, the UK’s specialist online marketing agency for the travel industry.

The awards were presented by TravelMole’s Graham McKenzie, who praised the shortlisted websites but called for a stronger focus on online marketing within the Caribbean: “With the obvious exception of the shortlisted sites, the general standard of nominations were very poor and for the benefit of all really needs to improve. The importance of a good online presence for all tourism businesses cannot be overstated and at this time many do not make the most of the opportunities presented.”

We are nevertheless once again proud to present our Photos of the Year – the travel pictures of the year 2011 that most captured the imagination of The Travel Word team and a group of expert external judges. Unlike our Photo of the Year 2010, this year (2011), we had a tie for first place.

Click on the image below for more information about them. See further below for the judges’ comments about them and the rest of the shortlist.

Krishna Mandir on Krishna Janmashtami, Patan, Nepal

Cheetahs Posing, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

About the Photo of the Week and the Photo of the Year

A bit more than two years ago, we started featuring one picture each week (or, lately, every other week) on The Travel Word. We spotlighted favourite images pulled from our growing collections on Flickr.

We then asked the photographer or owner of each selected Photo of the Week to submit a short and revealing text about it – covering the subject of the photo, the general location, the experience of taking the picture, technical aspects of photography etc.

These text-image combinations have proven to be very popular. We believe that this has a lot to do with the special emphasis we have placed on the honesty of the images, all taken or sourced by our partners, who are local travel experts in their destinations. Through their eyes, and given their knowledge of what makes their homes unique, we felt confident that were discovering something special.

The Shortlist

Our methods were decidedly unscientific. For each month, The Travel Word team singled out one photo of the month. To this list of 12 we added afew wild cards that had made a particular impression on us. This shortlist is what we sent to a group of five skilled photographers for their assessment.

Below are the nine images, ranked in order, that caught the judges’ fancies along with their comments. We thank the judges for their contribution and encourage you to learn more about their work.

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+ WINNERS: PHOTOS OF THE YEAR 2011: Krishna Mandir on Krishna Janmashtami, Patan, Nepal AND Cheetahs Posing, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

Comments about Krishna Mandir on Krishna Janmashtami, Patan, Nepal, photo and text by Navin M. Shrestha:
“This photo does an excellent job of capturing both the manic movement of the crowd and the ethereal nature of the temple.” — Mike Richards

“Here’s a unique image of the Durbar Square of Patan that not only does a good job of displaying the beauty of the temple of Lord Krisha, but bringing the square to its full cultural context by choosing to photograph it on Krishna Janmashtami (the birth anniversary of Krishna), full of devotees, prayer and a long enough exposure that bleeds the light and gives the scene a more spiritual climate.” — Arog Vila

“This picture is amazing for the fact that at first glance it could reflect a scene dating back centuries. Truly a timeless shot.” — Matt Stabile

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Comments about Cheetahs Posing, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, photo by Ward Graham, accompanying text by Shafina Bandali:
“Luck is the final element, together with well-studied technique, good planning and plenty of patience, that results in this gorgeous golden-hour capture of two cheetahs looking back at us. This image has a rich tonal range accentuated by a pronounced vignette, which in this case does more than spotlight the cheetahs, it completes the interplay of light within the frame.” — Arog Vila

“Great light, composition and pose, it’s almost tells the viewer that these wild cheetahs are longing for some patting.” — Rafael Pinho

“From a technical perspective, the depth of field and vignetting are just right to single out the pair of cheetahs. They appear curious, ominous and regal all at once.” — Mike Richards

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+ RUNNERS UP: Church of Tisco, Arequipa, Peru AND Beautiful Waters of the Bocas Islands, Panama

Comments about the Church of Tisco, Arequipa, Peru, photo by Alberto Gonzalez, accompanying text by Mariel Gonzalez:
“Travel photography at its best evokes faraway experience in a single image, and this shot of a remote Peruvian church does just that: the totemic ochre ornamentations and roaming landscape transport the viewer to the high fields, far from home.” — Linus Gelber

“Just the right amount of grunge and color provide a contemporary artistic take on a classic stone structure.” — Mike Richards

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Comments about the Beautiful Waters of the Bocas Islands, Panama, photo by ATP, accompanying text by Melissa:
“Transparent green water makes any destination appealing, even if it’s all there is to it. This image portrays the dream-like environment all urbanites long for.” — Rafael Pinho

“I’m a sucker for visions of tropical paradise, probably because I so rarely experience tropical paradise. A jetty with amenities, lifted above clear entrancing waters, with balmy skies above – does it get better than this?” — Linus Gelber

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OTHER FAVOURITES OF OUR JUDGES:

+ Sleepy Lions, Kidepo Valley National Park, Uganda, photo by Steve Cunliffe, accompanying text by Nicola Swann

Comment:
“As anyone who has gone on safari knows, finding lions is the ultimate reward, and to find them in such a natural state must have been a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Oddly enough, this also looks like my family’s living room after Thanksgiving dinner.” — Matt Stabile

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+ The Children of Yakel Village, Tanna, Vanuatu, photo and accompanying text by John Nicholls

Comment:
“Seven strange children range along the ladder entrance to a treehouse home on Tanna Island; they may never hold an Xbox controller or argue the merits of teen fashion, but they smile, gaze, consider and go about their business just like children anywhere else. The wild differences highlight that we are, at heart, pretty much the same.” — Linus Gelber

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+ Smile from a Little Girl, Cusco, Peru, photo by Pieter Roos, accompanying text by Fernando Carrasco

Comments:
“This heartwarming portrait of a little girl is technically sound and beautifully communicative of the colorful personality beyond the girl’s colorful costume. An image that is very easy to connect with, well done!” — Arog Vila

“This girl’s amazing smile reminds me of what is truly great about travel: the people.” — Matt Stabile

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+ Migratory Birds, Lijiang, China, photo and accompanying text by Lily Zhang

Comment:
“A skein of geese, which might have just recently taken off, before forming a V, makes this a chaotic but amusing composition where each element has a certain clumsiness to it.” — Rafael Pinho

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The Judges

We sincerely thank our five judges for the time and effort taken to review our shortlist. We value their opinions and their readiness to share them with us. Please take a moment to check out their work.

Linus Gelber is a photographer from New York City, where he shoots cityscapes and live performances (notably burlesque) and sees way too many movies, if such a thing is possible. His work is represented by Getty Images. Linus would like to go to Antarctica one day, and if you knew how he felt about New York winters you’d think that was weird too.

Born in Brazil, Rafael Pinho took up photography after finishing his architecture studies. He set out as a freelancer in 2005 in Belo Horizonte and spent the following years between Berlin, New York, Reykjavík and São Paulo. His work has been shown at the Florence Biennale (2011) and the Biennale di Roma (2012) and appeared in the The Wall Street Journal, Modern Painters (US), Forum AID (Sweden), FFW Mag! (Brazil), Nýtt Líf (Iceland), Trip and Tpm (Brazil).

Mike Richard is the editor of Vagabondish. He lives in Rhode Island – a spit of land in the northeastern US - where he is a professional web designer and travel junkie with an unhealthy addiction to backpacking, camping, hiking and seeing the world. He enjoys knit hats, small, declarative sentences and speaking in the third person.

Matt Stabile founded and runs TheExpeditioner.com, through which you can read his writings, see his videos, purchase the book he co-edited or contact him via email at any time.

Arog Vila is a New York-based photographer who developed his unique aesthetic and rule-breaking composition studying at the International Center of Photography, the New School and the School of Visual Arts. He delivers crisp and edgy images of photojournalistic human narrative, pointing his camera on the expected from an entirely new angle, then turning to the unusual and connecting it to something familiar and beautiful.

Such too were the reasons why whl.travel, the global online travel-booking network of mindful local travel experts, stepped up to sponsor it, working from within its extensive network of local partners to find fitting ecotourism prize material for the winners.

Participants were given a limit of 1,000 words and five evocative photographs through which to tell their stories. They were also required to provide tips about ecotourism in their selected destinations or reflections about how they might help better preserve that particular destination through ecotourism practices.

See the promotional video here:

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And now the winners have been identified. From dozens of submissions, a shortlist of 10 finalists (determined by public vote) was reviewed by a panel of judges that included representatives from The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), Tourism Concern, MyNatour and the WHL Group, the parent company of whl.travel.

Ethan Gelber, the Chief Communication Officer of the WHL Group, said (see the video directly below) that he was looking for three qualities when determining the best of the ecotourism travel blog contest finalists: the first was “how much time and effort was taken by the person to think about what an ecotourism experience is”; the second was “how carefully they made a choice of the experience they wanted to live through”; and the third was “whether or not the experience was as rich as they thought it would be.”

And now the winners have been announced and decided on their prizes:

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FIRST PLACE: A Garden Lady in India’s Cold Mountain Desert by Shivya

As her prize, Shivya will escape to the highland region of the Albanian Alps. Hosted by Outdoor Albania, the whl.travel local connection in Albania, Shivya will set off on a five-day guided trek through some of the country’s most vivid scenery. With overnights spent in the traditional houses of the Albanian highlanders, daytime activities include a ferry trip along Lake Koman, a visit to the Valbona Valley and a trek to the Theth Valley surrounded by high mountain passes and peaks.

SECOND PLACE: Reef to Rainforest by Hobbers

Hobbers will head deep into Estonia’s Soomaa National Park (soomaa translates more or less as ‘land of the bogs’). Surrounded by vast floodplains and crisscrossed by rivers, she and a companion will enjoy a wilderness experience in an area known for its canoeing, ‘bog-shoeing,’ beavers and berry-picking – all courtesy of Soomaa.com, an operator based out of Estonia.

THIRD PLACE: My Trip to Mali – Halt in Terya Bugu by Mario Difra

Mario will travel from his home in Italy to southwest Laos, a region replete with jungles, raging rivers and outstanding cultural heritage. Once there, he will embark on a high-flying treetop adventure by zipline, followed by a Mekong cruise to the World Heritage Site of Wat Phou – all made possible by Teamworkz, the whl.travel local connection in Laos.

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The three ecotourism packages that were not selected were a rainforest adventure in Ecuador made possible by the Yachana Lodge, the whl.travel local connection in Quito; a Galapagos Island tour through Yacu Amu Experiences, the whl.travel local connection in the Galapagos; and a visit to Sana’a and Soqotra in Yemen with Eternal Yemen, the whl.travel local in Yemen.

Projects in Kenya, Peru, Sri Lanka and Brazil have been announced as the winners of the first travel2change idea challenge. Over 500 members joined the travel2change online community since its launch in late April 2011, and submitted around 60 innovative project proposals. The submitted ideas were evaluated based on creativity, effectiveness, impact, feasibility and sustainability.

The children participating in the travel2change project in Oyugis, Kenya, were shown and then practiced how to wash hands properly with soap in order to prevent the spread of germs and diseases. The children were trained as role models, who will then replicate the idea in the wider community, starting in their own homes. Photo courtesy of travel2Change

The four winning projects were named on July 17, 2011, by a jury of experts and will be realized in the coming months, thanks to the support of the travel partner Kuoni. Each winning project receives financial support as well as the help of volunteer travelers, who will collaborate with the local communities to bring the projects to life.

Travel2change First Challenge Winners

SEP – Soccer, Education and Prevention (Oyugis, Kenya)

In Oyugis, Kenya, travel2change, together with the Society Empowerment Project (SEP), hosted a four-day football event for around 300 children. Along with teaching life skills, teamwork and football skills, volunteer travelers will now train the children in proper hand washing techniques and the importance of basic hygiene. The production of soap from locally sourced materials will also be part of the program.

300 children from all over Kenya participated in the SEP Football Tournament in Oyugis where they learned about life skills, teamwork and the importance of basic hygiene and hand washing with soap. Photo courtesy of travel2change

Getting Kids Pumped for School (Horana, Sri Lanka)

The aim of Getting Kids Pumped for School is to connect a local school to its well so the children have access to running water for drinking and sanitation, which will help improve the children’s health, thus reducing the risk of dengue and other communicable diseases. This will be achieved by installing pumps, water tanks and pipes, as well as expanding the depth of the well. Visiting travelers will contribute to the project by assisting with the installation of pumps and water tanks.

AmazonArt at the Combu Education Centre (Combu Island, Brazil)

AmazonArt aims to employ music and the arts to inspire the children and local community. Its goal is to create awareness and understanding of the importance of protecting the rainforest, river and its local communities. Together with the staff of AmazonArt, travelers will assist with music and art classes and provide English lessons along with a cultural exchange to local children. Travelers will have a chance to improve the infrastructure of the school through basic construction projects and educate the children on the importance of safe drinking water and hygiene.

Travel2change will assist local staff from WAVES for Development in running a number of activities to create life-enriching experiences in the coastal community of Lobitos, Peru. This will be done through education programs that help develop youth into healthy and empowered adults, and of course surfing and swimming lessons. Photo courtesy of travel2Change

WAVES for Development (Lobitos, Peru)

WAVES for Development aims to create life-enriching experiences through education programs to develop healthy and empowered adults. The traveler will join local staff to teach local children water safety, beach management and environmental conservation among other things, and of course, surfing classes. Cultural exchange through activities to increase healthy living and teaching skills for life is another great benefit of the program.

All travelers will provide frequent updates to give all community members the opportunity to monitor the realization of the projects.

Are You Ready to Travel2change?

Travel2change is now offering the chance for you to participate in the Sri Lanka project and the Peru project this fall (September-October 2011). Travelers will play an active part in carrying out the activities to help successfully implement the goals of these projects. To learn more about the Travel2change Join This Trip Contest and to apply, please go to review the contest details here.

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.

The Montenegro Adventures team accepts their Wild Beauty Award 2010 for Best Tourism Website in Montenegro

“We are aware that our work has just begun, and we have so many plans for the future. We hope that we will be able to attract a growing number of independent travellers to Montenegro, to explore new markets. But we still have a lot to learn – the whole project is a big learning exercise for our team,” said Slavica Vukcevic, Executive Director of Montenegro Adventures. “The plan is to expand by working with a much larger number of accommodation providers, and to add various other products and services, but also we would like to post more content about different regions, traditions, culture, events, etc. We have been listening intently to all the feedback we received from our clients and will respond to many of the given suggestions in the next year.”

Wild and Beautiful

First organized in 2005 by the National Tourism Organization of Montenegro under the auspices of the President of Montenegro, the Wild Beauty Award was created with the aim of improving the image of Montenegro by promoting excellence and raising the quality of the county’s tourism sector. The awards cover everything from hotels, tourism companies and campaigns to events, projects, websites and more.

The 2010 award ceremony was held in the Government House (Vladin Dom) of Cetinje, the historic capital of Old Royal Montenegro. The building was built in 1910, the same year in which Montenegro was proclaimed a kingdom, making the awards of 2010 part of a centennial celebration.

Despite the importance of the year, the awards this year were relatively understated. In a break from routine, the National Tourism Organization decided to donate part of the resources budgeted for this occasion to the Rijeka Crnojevica community, which suffered terribly during recent floods.

King Nikola and Queen Milena in front of the Vladin Dom of Cetinje on August 28, 1910, the day of the proclamation of the Kingdom of Montenegro

Montenegro Adventures

Montenegro Adventures was established by the Centre for Sustainable Tourism Initiatives (CSTI), a local Montenegrin NGO founded as a lasting actor in the development and promotion of tourism in Montenegro. CSTI went on to develop more than 40 unique tours, most of them adventure-based or eco-cultural in orientation, some in remote parts of the country; high-quality promotional materials; and strong partnerships on the ground with local communities, national government bodies and key organisations abroad.

As demand for CSTI-developed tourism products grew, two needs were identified. First, independent travellers and small groups were asking to travel, but, second, “All of our tours were just sitting around unused,” said Vukcevic. “We had tested the tours – advertised them, taken a few people and journalists on them – and we thought local operators would carry on the tours. But they didn’t.” And so, Montenegro Adventures was born.

Whereas CSTI is an NGO that develops responsible and sustainable tourism products, Montenegro Adventures is a for-profit tourism agency that sells those products. However, their desired end result – using sustainable and responsible travel practices to improve the quality of life in Montenegro, preserve cultural heritage and protect the environment – is refreshingly the same.

Montenegro Adventures went on to sign a contract with the International Finance Corporation (IFC is a member of the World Bank Group) and whl.travel, for which it is the local partner in Montenegro and oversees three accommodation- and tour-booking destination portals covering Montenegro’s capital city of Podgorica and its surrounding mountains, the elegant seaside Budva and southern Montenegro and the Bay of Kotor.

The Montenegro Adventures and its three associated whl.travel websites were honoured with the Wild Beauty Award 2010

Looking Ahead

It was “during our work on these destination-management portals that we realized how important it is to cooperate with different institutions and businesses,” explained Vukcevic. “So far we have invested huge effort in travelling throughout Montenegro, working on different products and services, and working with different accommodation providers. In 2011, we plan to focus on transfers and tours, but also we would like to continue supporting the efforts of local tourism organisations and event organisers to promote local traditional events throughout Montenegro.”

As a young but conscientious company with lots of momentum, Montenegro Adventures is also committed to improving the business environment in Montenegro. “We are a relatively new company (almost a startup), but we think helping to streamline administrative processes and promote operational improvements for the benefit of all small and medium enterprises is a must,” concluded Vukcevic. “For that reason, we are actively participating in several working groups organised by the National Tourism Organization or the Ministry of Tourism, such as the Hiking and Biking Development Project, the Montenegro Convention Bureau and, lately, the MOA (a very informal name for a group of Montenegrin outdoor agencies). We have also recently been recognized by SNV (the Dutch Development Organization) as one of their ‘local capacity builders’ – trainers/consultants active in different projects related to enhancing the economic potential and capacity building of small enterprises in the tourism sector.”

Exactly one year ago, we started featuring one picture each week on The Travel Word. We spotlighted favourite images pulled from our growing collections on Flickr (here and here).

We also asked the photographer or owner of each selected Photo of the Week to submit a short and revealing text about it – covering the subject of the photo, the general location, the experience of taking the picture, technical aspects of photography etc.

These text-image combinations have proven to be very popular. We believe that this has a lot to do with the special emphasis we have placed on the honesty of the image. All taken or sourced by our franchise partners, who are local travel experts in their destinations, they conveyed (we believe) something special. We weren’t looking for postcard images, even if we did end up focusing on a gorgeous sunset or backlit kid. We still always knew we were looking at a place through the eyes of someone who’s seen lots of kids and sunsets and knows their worth or when a scene comes along that really is exceptional.

The Shortlist

Our methods were decidedly unscientific. For each month, The Travel Word team singled out one photo of the month. To this list of 12 we added four wild cards that had made a particular impression on us. This list of 16 we put to a group of five skilled photographers for their assessment.

Below is the resulting list of nine images, ranked in order, with comments from the judges:

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+ Winner: Photo of the Year: The Dazzling Colours of Sunset, the Maldives

Comments:
“Nice composition, perfect exposure. I like that the photographer chose
to silhouette the people and the bridge. It definitely makes me want
to be there!”

“This stunning sunset in the Maldives is a classic example of being in the very-right place at the very-right time. What separates this sunset photo from most is the focus the people on the pier gives the viewer. Taking us far away and drawing us into the scene, in doing so we end up wishing that we ourselves were right there in the photo.”

“Sunsets never get old, and this one is quite spectacular. There is something really inviting about the whole scene, and I deeply envy those people on the pier.”

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+ First Runner Up: Mt Yasur Eruption, Tanna Island, Vanuatu

Comments:
“I like the abstract quality of this image. Proper exposure could be
challenging and this is nicely done.”

“I’ve never seen a live volcano up close, and given that I live in Brooklyn in New York City, I count that as a good thing. This view of a sudden and unexpectedly powerful eruption is an instantly-accessible peek into a foreign world. I like the easy way it reminds me of everything we don’t expect to run into in the course of a regular day.”

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+ Second Runner Up: Boats Bob in the Waters of Melissani Lake, Kefalonia, Greece

Comments:
“Crystal-clear waters in a shocking blue against the weathered gray stones of the surrounding cave walls – what’s not to like? This image has a simplicity and a purity to it. It’s a casually-composed shot, a day in the life of some guys who just happen to work in this incredibly beautiful spot.”

“I chose this one because it just had it all. The photograph itself is beautiful, it is wonderfully shot and of a spectacular moment in what looks to be an amazing place.”

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Other Favourites of Our Judges:

+ Yummy Penny Bun Mushrooms in Latvia

Comments:
“This basket of mushrooms picked in Latvia looks simply stunning. The photographer has found a whole world of textures and rich colours framed by the equally tactile grass and basket. The high contrast and dappled light creates a larger-than-life image that makes me crave mushroom soup.”

“Here’s a beautifully composed image that has a nearly artificial tone to it suggesting a leisurely adventure that’s always fantastic: mushroom picking. The photograph with its colors, the arrangement of the mushrooms in a basket, takes the viewer right back to fairy tales and stories of enchanted forests.”

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+ Gorillas in Our Midst, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda

Comments:
“Gorillas make very good models and the one in this picture is nearly human in its cinematographic expression. The image has a curious temporality as it freezes the movement of a beast that’s decidedly about to do something. The frame is suggestive of movement and one is tempted to imagine what’s beyond the frame and beyond the time frozen in it.”

“This handsome portrait of the gorilla really struck me. You can really feel the impact of his stare through the photograph; it was captured perfectly. I really have to give it to the photographer for getting that close.”

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+ Sifting Rice for the Day in Muang Sing, Luang Namtha, Laos

Comment:
“This photo of a girl carrying out what is for her a day-to-day chore offers for the casual viewer a brief window into her world in a photo filled with context and brought to life with action. In the background, the rural character of her village on stilts is clear and everything about her from her unwashed clothes to her slight Mona-Lisa smile gives you a wealth of detail in this brief snapshot of her day. Contrasting this detail the rice is a blurred fountain of movement and adds a bit of magic to the every-day.”

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+ Traditional Soap Making, Tripoli, Lebanon

Comment:
“Travel photography is a genre where the portrayed object is more important than the image itself. It’s a matter of finding the most peculiar scene, place or event and then register that in a way that is pleasant to look at. A row of ladies stirring soap in steamy cauldrons is as catchy as a photograph can be.”

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+ Fire-Knife Dancing in Samoa

Comment:
“I love fire as a photographic element; it’s stark and full of motion, and when you capture it right you can almost hear the sizzle and crackle. This shot made me think about how performance is a kind of shorthand, in some ways. While the picture was taken at a hotel during a cultural program, it still evokes dark nights on sandy beaches, on foreign shores.”

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+ Young Novice Monks in Vientiane, Laos

Comment:
“Very nice shot of the playful interaction. Many people are too intimidated to photograph strangers, but the people we meet are such an essential part of the experience.”

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The Judges

We extend sincere thanks to our five judges for their time and effort. We value their professional opinions and their readiness to share them with us.

+ Ian DeLaune is a New York-based artist working primarily with issues of media and information dissemination, and drawing on a wide array of digital and analogue techniques. He received his MFA in 1998 from SVA and currently works and teaches at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn.

+ Linus Gelber is a photographer from New York City, where he shoots cityscapes and live performances (notably burlesque) and sees way too many movies, if such a thing is possible. His work is represented by Getty Images. Linus would like to go to Antarctica one day, and if you knew how he felt about New York winters you’d think that was weird too.

+ Richard Jephcote has taught traditional photography and Photoshop in colleges in North London and created several films through the artistic collective Tea Fuelled Art, which he co-founded with writer/composer George Lewkowicz and artist Katherine Harding. In addition to freelancing in photography/design and filmmaking, he has been pursuing an MA in Filmmaking (specialising in cinematography).

+ Born in Brazil, Rafael Pinho took up photography after finishing his architecture studies. He set out as a freelancer in 2005 in Belo Horizonte and spent the following years between Berlin, Reykjavík and São Paulo. His work has appeared in Modern Painters (US), Forum AID (Sweden), FFW Mag! (Brazil), Nýtt Líf (Iceland), Trip and Tpm (Brazil).

+ Although Jennie Zeiner received her undergraduate degree in Journalism, it is her images that have appeared in Reader’s Digest, Fast Company, Forbes, Money Magazine, Inc., BusinessWeek, Newsweek, ComputerWorld, Utne Reader and Village Voice. Her corporate/advertising work has been used by Bank of America, General Motors, FedEx, FCB, VISA, Mastercard, Larry King, Disney Latin America and Discovery Network.

The TIES Innovation Leadership in Sustainable Tourism Awards recognise demonstrated leadership through innovative actions that effectively promote sustainable tourism and bring tangible benefits to communities and conservation. Each year, one individual and one organisation will be honoured for contributions, best practices and, of course, leadership as judged on the basis of one example of an innovative project, product or program developed in the previous year that advocates for uniting communities, conservation and sustainable travel.

WHL Consulting in the Mix

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, “a leveraged, barter-based, payment-facilitation platform… that lets accommodation providers pay for market-access, clean-energy and other services with room nights instead of cash.”

As described in the nomination of WHL Consulting: “Typically it is hard for small businesses, primarily in the hospitality sector, to collateralize their assets (i.e. their rooms stock) and/or gain access to finance from traditional lenders (especially in the developing world). High energy costs and a lack of market access due to insufficient e-commerce/online competitiveness are critical constraints to their long-term financial sustainability.”

The Tourism Development Bank is, therefore, an elegant means of overcoming this key business constraint faced by many small and medium-sized enterprises: access to finance. Without money, essential (and beneficial) business buoys, such as market access tools and services, and retrofits or renovations to reduce energy consumption and operating costs, often go unfunded. The businesses are seen as being either too small and risky for commercial banks or too large and not poor enough for micro-finance institutions and donors.

“We have been working quite hard over the past six months in several pilot destinations, like South Africa, Mexico and Brazil and always felt that what we were doing was really innovative,” said Zachary Rozga, CEO of WHL Consulting. “Sometimes when you do this, you get caught up in reflection and just aren’t exactly sure if what you are doing is going to make sense to outsiders. It is nice to be formally recognised by a prestigious organisation like TIES as being an Innovation Leader. We hope this is just the beginning of a good things to come for the Tourism Development Bank.”

Your Thoughts Matter

Project stakeholders, supporters and members are encouraged to comment on finalist submissions by Monday, August 23, 2010. Testimonial comments are considered for the final selection, scheduled to be made by August 31st, 2010. (Supporters of WHL Consulting and the Tourism Development Bank are additionally encouraged to comment on an entry about it in the G-20 SME Finance Challenge. Fifteen finalists from that competition will be invited to a meeting of the G-20 in November.)

The two winning Innovation Leadership Awards finalists will be honored at the Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference (ESTC), North America’s largest and only conference focusing on sustainability in the tourism industry, taking place from 8-10 September 2010 in Portland, Oregon.

Rozga, in his capacity as North America & Caribbean Regional Director of the WHL Group, will be presenting at the ESTC on September 10, 2:30-4:00pm, on the “Effective strategies for financing and supporting sustainability initiatives in tourism” panel of Track 2 – Practical Ideas on Triple Bottom Line: Managing Footprint and Implementing Solutions.

Momentarily setting aside his attention to the Tourism Development Bank, Rozga will be focusing on a practical model of how micro-franchising allows even the smallest tour operators to compete with big companies on both price and product. The WHL Group is the leading global franchise network for small and local entrepreneurs in tourism.

Tina Zorman of Yemen

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. Born in Slovenia, Tina owns and guides for Eternal Yemen with her Yemeni husband (and two children) based out of the country’s fascinating capital city of Sana’a. Tina feels very much at home with her family in Yemen and takes great pride in showing people this country and introducing them to the traditional Yemeni way of life. It is her desire to challenge the misconceptions people have about this troubled land and help them better understand the Islamic faith.

The World Guide Awards were launched in 2004 in memory of the co-founder of Wanderlust, Paul Morrison, who always felt that tour guides “were the unsung heroes of the travel industry.” The Wanderlust team have again welcomed an expert judging panel for these awards, including travel writer Bill Bryson, conservationist Mark Carwardine and Wanderlust’s editor-In-chief Lyn Hughes.

Tina Zorman of Eternal Yemen

Whereas the judges narrowed the field to the shortlist of eight on the merits of the nominations, the final three – to be announced on 28 September 2010 at London’s Royal Geographical Society – will be decided with input from the travelling public.

Given that, if you have ever been fortunate to visit Yemen in the company of Tina Zorman, please send word to Wanderlust why you think she should be voted the World’s Top Guide for 2010. Just email topguide@wanderlust.co.uk and be sure to include her name in the subject line. Act fast. You have until May 14 to send your vote for Tina!

The whl.travel portal for Yemen – a website owned and operated by Eternal Yemen as the exclusive local partners of whl.travel – will be launching soon with a range of accommodation, tours and activities bookable online.

Bruno Dawson of Sri Lanka

Also worthy of mention is Bruno Dawson, a guide working in Sri Lanka for Intrepid Travel. A native of Haputale, in the lush biodiversity of the Uva Province in the mountainous centre of the country, Bruno has for years helped visitors understand the country’s tumultuous present in terms of its folklore-rich past. We welcome Bruno’s nomination as well, recognition of the outstanding local guides employed by Intrepid on its tours.

Intrepid Travel and the WHL Group have joined together to create Urban Adventures, a new style of travel experience for those who want to get off the beaten path and really connect with the destination.

“As a team and a network we’re thrilled to be name Best Travel Startup of the Year,” commented Mark Robson, CEO of Urban Adventures. “It’s a reflection of all the hard work contributed by everyone at Urban Adventures, the collective network of Intrepid and the WHL Group, and especially our fantastic Urban Adventure Partners all over the globe. We’re looking forward to a very bright future of providing travellers unique day tours in a responsible and sustainable manner.”

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.

Unique Day Tours in over 100 Cities by the End of 2010

Urban Adventures are a global range of city-based tours. Ranging from two-hour to one-day experiences, they may be short in duration, but they’re long on real-life experiences. They put you in touch with what makes a city tick and acquaint you with the local food, culture and traditions, all in the company of an expert local guide. On an Urban Adventure, you see more than just the usual sights.

Whether you’re after an evening of home cooking and hanging locally in Istanbul, a full-day exploration of the magnificent temples of the Angkor complex in Cambodia, visiting the history and people of Johannesburg by bicycle or sampling Los Angeles, from Hollywood glitz to the quirkiness of Venice Beach, Urban Adventures really connect with the destination.

The Urban Adventures business was developed by leading adventure travel operator Intrepid Travel and the WHL Group, the largest local-travel company in the world. Urban Adventures relies on a combination of Intrepid Travel’s experience in designing and running the world’s best experiential trips, plus the WHL Group’s network of local operators and the technology to sell these trips at low cost. Intrepid and WHL Group share a commitment to local and sustainable travel with a minimum impact on the environment and on communities.

Urban Adventures depart daily with groups of no more than 12 people. Prices start from US$15.

Web Innovation Awards Asia/Pacific 2010

The 2010 Web Innovation Awards are “for the industry, decided by the industry,” presented as a “celebrating the most creative, successful and groundbreaking companies that are driving innovation in the Asian online travel market.”

For a list of other winners and shortlisted companies, see www.travelmole.com/webawards_asia_2010.php#Winners.

A herdsman's typical Alpine feast - dried sausages, cheese and more - greets hungry travellers on an Alpine Melody tour

“We made it to the finals,” enthused Mojca Peterka, a managing director of Spin Travel. “Even if we didn’t make it to the top 3, being among the top 6 is a big achievement for our travel agency. It tells us that we are moving in the right direction and that we deliver special experience to our clients.”

Peterka’s enthusiastic commitment to searching the furthest corners of Slovenia for unique and meaningful destinations and experiences, already so exemplary, is just part of what makes Spin Travel a valued on-the-ground point of contact for any traveller in the country.

In a valley on the Pokljuka plateau of Slovenia are Alpine chalets once the homes and sheds of traditional herdsman

Slovenian Tourism Forum

The Sejalec awards are designed to stimulate innovation by rewarding creativity in tourist product in Slovenia. They are announced every year at the Slovenian Tourism Forum, where leaders and experts in the travel industry meet to discuss present policy and future developments in Slovenian tourism.

At the 2009 Slovenian Tourism Forum, in light of changing travel trends and the Slovenian government’s adoption of a new tourism policy, special attention was paid to the issues of green and sustainable tourism development. In fact, perhaps chief among the many distinguished guests was Mr Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General (ad interim) of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), present to speak about the important conclusions of the UNWTO/European Travel Commission symposium on Tourism & Travel in the Green Economy, held a few months prior in Gothenburg, Sweden.

“Tourism is one of the main global economy sectors that makes an essential contribution to national and local economies around the world by diminishing poverty, creating new jobs and facilitating investments and trade,” said Mr Rifai during his address. “The current economic challenges constitute a strategic opportunity for tourism to become the key factor in the transition toward green economy through enhancing its sustainability.”

Mr Dimitrij Piciga, Director of the Slovenian Tourist Board, looking at Slovenia’s road ahead, agreed: “Slovenian Tourist Board not only wishes to be the initiator of the green way of thinking but also of taking green action in Slovenian tourism. We are aware that green behaviour is not just a short-term trend but rather a long-term precondition for the preservation of Slovenia’s wealth and tourism, on one hand, and one of the key competitive criteria concerning its position on the world tourist map, on the other.”

An Alpine Melody Sings Strong

Given the commendable shift in Slovenian tourism priorities, the recognition accorded to a tour product carefully prepared by Spin Travel is high praise indeed. And so it should be: the eight-hour tour takes in two gorgeous and remote valleys in the Bled vicinity rarely visited by outsiders.

Lojz, the only living traditional herdsman on the Pokljuka plateau in Slovenia, shows off his delicious homemade dried sausages

First, along the Radovna River, visitors work firsthand with Marko as he demonstrates the herder’s lifestyle, including caring for sheep in his Alpine paradise and then shearing them for the raw material that goes into creating fantastic homespun wool products.

Further along, on the Pokljuka plateau, tour-takers meet the only living traditional herdsman on the plateau. A sit with him over a classic Alpine feast of dried sausage, homemade cheese, zaseka and local spirits allows for full appreciation of the stunning panoramic backdrop of Triglav National Park. Earlier, during a walk with a specialist in local agriculture, fresh Alpine herbs picked in the field are used to make a real Alpine tea.

Of course, in keeping with the principles of responsible community-based tourism, the hosts benefit from the Alpine Melody tours as much as the visitors. Not only is there the vital but intangible satisfaction of having welcomed people from many faraway lands to experience a little of the traditional and natural local lifestyle, but there is a share in the fees charged for the tour. Spin Travel of course pays for the hosts’ time and effort to demonstrate the shearing, as well as the cost of the Alpine delights.

And visiting travellers leave knowing that they have done the right thing by supporting communities far off the beaten path.

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The Alpine Meadows tour runs seasonally from April to October.

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