Even in the luxury space, travel should not cost the earth. When it comes to sustainable luxury travel, we’re proud to lead the way.

As the new year approaches, we took the opportunity to talk with Shannon Guihan, TTC’s Chief Sustainability Officer and Head of TreadRight, our not-for-profit foundation. Here she shares how we’ve led the industry this year and takes a look ahead to 2024. Plus we announce a new project set to make a big impact towards our goal of net zero GHG emissions by 2050.

The year that was

Focussed on change though action, we’re constantly adapting our sustainability journey at Luxury Gold and our sister brands at The Travel Corporation. Exactly one year ago, we announced a reset of our Climate Action Plan and, as part of this reset, we accelerated our original climate action commitments.

A major undertaking, we committed to reach net zero GHG emissions across the value chain by 2050. “We were the first in the industry to have all three targets (short-term, long-term and net zero targets) validated by the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi), an organization that ensures our targets are aggressive enough to do our part for the planet,” Shannon explains.

“Another industry first, we established an internal Carbon Fund to invest in our net zero transition,” she continues. Luxury Gold contributes a dedicated amount annually to the Carbon Fund, alongside its sister brands within The Travel Corporation portfolio, this is then allocated to projects that will reduce our emissions in line with our Climate Action Plan. “Currently, we’re investing in 100% renewable electricity across our USA offices, solar power for our Australian offices and biofuels across our European coach fleet.”

Read ore about sustainable luxury travel: Slow and sustainable: The expectations of the luxury traveler in 2023 and beyond

Sustainable luxury travel in 2024

“Moving ahead, you’re going to see us really dive deep into our travel experiences to ingrain sustainability even further,” Shannon tells us. “Our itineraries already incorporate all of the work done to date into the guest experience. Many adaptations guests won’t notice, and that’s our aim – a seamless integration of greater sustainability performance, but guests can trust that as we are always evolving our approach.

“This is in addition to the gradual reduction of the carbon footprint through investment in our own infrastructure and assets and technology, all while  not passing that cost on to our guests, which is really important.”

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®

“Our MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences are a really wonderful way to identify pre-vetted experiences, ones that we know really benefit a community through either environmental or social justice,” says Shannon. “These are really interesting because they are immersive impact experiences that really get you into what makes a place tick, and quite often how that place is navigating with care the challenges the world faces today’. Ensuring you leave a positive impact in the places we visit, we are continuing to build these experiences and for 2024 we aim to have at least one MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience on every Luxury Gold journey.

Bookmark for later: 4 incredible MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences you can enjoy with Luxury Gold

Investment in carbon reduction

“Investments into carbon reductions is going to be the big trend across the board in 2024, there are more and more technological solutions coming online and investments are needed so that these solutions scale,” Shannon says.

According to the World Economic Forum, ‘new technologies are key to achieving arguably one of the greatest challenges for humankind, the transition to net zero.’

“Some ways we have invested to date include ensuring that at our offices we are nearly at capacity in our ability to produce renewable energy. Looking ahead to next year we are heavily focused on our Scope 3 emissions, these are those produced by our partners and suppliers.

“There are several ways we can reduce our scope 3 footprint, such as by favoring electric and or biofuels, and by changing our routes such that we are on the road a little bit less and staying in places a little bit more. We can also greatly reduce these emissions by saying ‘no to more stuff’.”

You may also enjoy reading: How your travels with Luxury Gold help conserve nature for future generations

Say “no to more stuff”

We’ve recently discovered that the branded merchandise we give away at TTC produces 2,500 tones of carbon emissions every year. So, from today (7 December) we will launching a new project, saying ‘no to more stuff.’ Luxury Gold’s Sustainability Officer Gemma Myhill tells us more.

“Focusing on the non-essential carbon emissions that we emit as a business; we identified that 2500 tones of emissions go into the branded merchandise that we give away every year. This is the equivalent to 6.5 million car driven miles worth of carbon emissions that could be completely removed from our ecosystem.

“Instead, we can donate the money we would’ve used for merchandise designed to give away into projects that focus on nature-based carbon solutions to climate change. So, we asked ourselves, do we actually need more stuff?  And the answer is no.”

The projects

Credit: @greenwaveorg on Instagram

“The nature-based solution projects we have chosen to support are Project GreenWave’s Kelp Climate Fund and Rainforest Rescue’s Daintree Project,” Gemma tells us. “There are two existing partners of our not-for-profit foundation, TreadRight. The fact that we already have strong relationships in place to leverage is a testament to how much sustainability is engrained in our core.”

GreenWave trains and supports ocean farmers in the era of climate change. Donations will be made to their Kelp Climate Fund which enables Kelp farmers to play a climate-positive role with their ocean farms, including carbon and nitrogen removal and habitat restoration. Each donation will fund the planting of 40lbs of kelp, which will help capture carbon and restore marine ecosystems.

To learn more about sustainable luxury travel, our sustainability strategy and journey to Net Zero, read our Climate Action Plan.

Down at the southernmost tip of Africa, expansive farms converge with vine-friendly slopes and teeming seas – not to mention dishes shaped by arrivals from all over the globe. The resulting rich and unexpected food scene makes South Africa the ultimate destination for a gourmet foodie road trip, whether you’re sampling a 10-course tasting menu on a wine estate, or tucking into a rustic braai (barbecue) in the bush. 

Guests on Luxury Gold’s nine-day Spectacular South Africa tour, for example, will tuck into seafood at the sea-view Harbour Restaurant in Kalk Bay, before enjoying a locally-sourced dinner at the world-renowned Boschendal Wine Estate – then dine under the stars in Kruger National Park.  

The sheer beauty of South Africa’s scenery – from wave-lashed coastline to green mountain slopes and dry savanna – means dramatic views from many of its most famous restaurants, while the contents of your plate are often firmly rooted in the terrain around you. Here are some of the culinary stops that have made this country the food destination it is today. 

Fine dining capital 

The perfect place to start any foodie road trip is Cape Town. One of the world’s great gourmet cities, Cape Town is teeming with innovative chefs both homegrown and imported making headlines with their menus. Here, Luxury Gold guests enjoy a visit the Old Biscuit Mill, once a series of factories but now transformed into trendy bakeries, boutiques, jewelers and cult restaurants. One such eatery, The Potluck Club, is an upmarket local favourite, with modern, arty small plates from star chef Luke Dale Roberts (most famous for the now-shuttered Test Kitchen). Expect dishes like springbok tataki and mussels with braised beef tongue, with a down-to-earth atmosphere and great sunset views over the Lion’s Head peak. The Old Biscuit Mill’s food market, Neighbourgoods Market, is a hit with trendy locals, and a must-see on your visit. 

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A taste of the Winelands 

Credit: @boschendal on Instagram

Sitting among acres of vines glowing gold in the sunlight, you swirl your first jewel-bright taster of wine around the glass. A vineyard visit is a standout moment of any South Africa tour, and its Cape Winelands are not only a ravishing place to do it – all imposing mountains, undulating vineyards and quaint towns of boutiques and restaurants – they’re also a hub of exciting chef activity. Take Boschendal Estate, a working farm between Stellenbosch and Franschhoek where you can go horse riding, tour the kitchen gardens, indulge in a picnic or just come for the main event: a glorious farm-to-table lunch. Sitting out at the Werf Restaurant, a highlight of any foodie road trip with its incredible views of the countryside, you’ll taste the likes of flame-cooked asparagus, forest-reared Duroc pork and tandoor cauliflower – all part of what chef Eric Bulpitt calls “soil to fork” cuisine.  

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Destination restaurants  

Credit: @harbourhouse on Instagram

South Africa is a country of destination restaurants worth the detour. Venturing outside of Cape Town, you might head to the coastal suburbs for a slap-up seafood meal. The iconic Harbour House restaurant in Kalk Bay is on your South Africa itinerary, where head chef Ryan Lee Van Rooyen dishes up elegant sushi rolls, dressed oysters and show-stopping seafood platters. But you might also linger for La Colombe in Constantia, one of the world’s best fine dining restaurants where you’ll try intriguing dishes such as the Dove’s Nest, featuring eggshells you uncork to eat with a straw, and a tuna starter served in a tuna tin with the lid peeled back. Or travel to pretty Franschhoek in the winelands for salt-sugar-cured pork belly and amarula panna cotta at stylish local’s favourite, Reuben’s.  

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A braai in the bush 

Credit: @lionsandsgamereserve on Instagram

Safari trips aren’t renowned for their food, but a luxurious reserve like Kruger National Park’s Lion Sands will host some of the most memorable meals of your trip. One highlight at Lion Sands Tinga Lodge – the base for game drives on the Spectacular South Africa tour – is the Celebration Dinner, an atmospheric barbecue grilled up in the wilderness near the camp.

As part of a full-board stay, you and the other guests at this upmarket lodge will follow staff to a lantern-lit spot in the reserve, where expert chefs will grill game and fish over a traditional South African barbecue while you chat in the light of a roaring log fire. It’s served in the traditional style, with pap (polenta), salad and sheba (a traditional tomato-and-onion sauce). And don’t worry about big cats or wild dogs intruding on the feast – staff are discreetly positioned to look out for any carnivorous visitors attracted by the aroma.  

To enjoy a gourmet foodie road trip and taste the best of South Africa, along with magnificent hotels and exclusive experiences take a look at our Spectacular South Africa luxury journey.

Rural Ireland may be most famous for its uninterrupted “Emerald Isle” greenery, but it’s even more of a pleasure to watch its leaves turn gold and amber. Among other forested spots, this spectrum of late autumn foliage is reflected most beautifully in Lough Corrib, the body of water at the foot of Ashford Castle, arguably Ireland’s best hotel and one of the most storied.  

This 800-year-old residence has a pleasing mix of outdoor living and cosy creature comforts that will suit your holiday mood as the season changes. This is a place where you can pull on a cashmere sweater for walks through the 350 acres of grounds, then dress up for dinner before a nightcap by the fireplace in the Prince of Wales Bar.  

While the hotel was recently named the fourth best in Europe (in the Conde Nast Traveller Reader’s Choice Awards, in the “Rest of Europe” category), it’s been a magnet for A-listers, leaders and trendsetters for more than a century: Oscar Wilde, King George V, John Lennon and Barbra Streisand have all stayed, whether in the building’s years as a private home or its subsequent life as a luxury hotel. Here’s how to enjoy this landmark hotel in the atmospheric holiday season months.  

Stay at Ashford Castle on: Ultimate Ireland and Castles and Kingdoms

Outdoor pursuits

Credit: @ashfordcastle on Instagram

As well as heart-pumping walks through the lakeside, woodland and hills around the castle, guests visiting in late autumn can take full advantage of the cooler days to get out and about. Ashford is home to the oldest established falconry school in Ireland, where you’ll get to grips with these beautiful, huge-clawed birds of prey. Try the Hawk Walk experience, where you’ll embark on an atmospheric forest stroll with your own avine companion, giving them room to explore before swooping back to your gloved hand.  

Clay shooting and archery are both quintessential countryside experiences to acquaint you with your surroundings, while a lakeside cruise or fishing trip will get you out on the smooth, rippling waters of Lough Corrib, where the bronzed treetops frame a tranquil view as you cast your rod from a hand-crafted 19ft traditional wooden clinker.  

Equestrian types can enjoy Ireland’s best hotel on horseback. Saddle up with instructors or guides for lessons and trail rides, trotting out to the spectacular paths around the Lough, neighbouring woodland and into the mountains of Connemara to see the rural beauty of the county the way Ashford’s 19th-century guests did. 

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Sublime seasonal cuisine

Credit: @ashfordcastle on Instagram

Ornate wood panelling, Waterford crystal chandeliers and period fireplaces characterise the dining and drinking haunts at Ashford Castle. But the chef’s vision for your meals is entirely modern: seasonal, local Irish produce is the priority in the George V dining room, where you can graze your way through tangy St Tola goat’s cheese from County Clare, lobster from Rossaveel, 60km away, and lamb loin from Kinvara, just the other side of Galway. The real highlight for many is the restaurant’s signature 28-day-aged Chateaubriand and braised cheek, which is carved for two from a vintage-style chef’s trolley in front of you.  

Autumnal fare in Ashford’s restaurants might include woodland girolle mushrooms, a spiced pumpkin soup or gourmet takes on root vegetables such as parsnip and carrot. Meanwhile, chilly October or November mornings cry out for a Full Irish breakfast before you set off to explore: think sausages from Andarl Farm, 40km north of where you sit, plus sizzling Irish bacon, black and white pudding, mushroom, tomato and eggs to order.  What better way to stay the day at Ireland’s best hotel?

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Warming spa sessions  

Credit: @ashfordcastle on Instagram

After a day out on the Lough, with the falconry team or simply driving through County Mayo’s autumn foliage, an hour or three at the hotel’s world-class spa beckons. There’s a reason why this pampering palace has been named Ireland’s Best Spa for eight consecutive years at the World Spa Awards: as well as lavish interiors featuring chandeliers, lashings of gold and a striking Tree of Life mural, it has palatial treatment rooms with big-windowed views of the countryside, plus a hammam and relaxation pool.   

Keen walkers and jet-lagged long haulers can ease tense muscles with an aromatic massage using Voya seaweed products, where therapists tap into a long Irish tradition of using the coastal flora for healing and soothing purposes. Meanwhile a nourishing Natura Bissé facial will plump out dry skin after encounters with wind and rain, and an Ashford hammam session employs Atlantic salt and seaweed soap for an invigorating, inimitably Irish take on the Arabic spa tradition.  

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Stay in Ireland’s best hotel and discover the magic of the Emerald Isle on Ultimate Ireland and Castles and Kingdoms