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The online directory www.travelifecollection.co.uk is populated by properties across the world which can be booked through the UK’s favourite tour operators - both mainstream and specialists. 

Nearly 200 hotels and apartments which have signed up to the Travelife programme have all made conscious business decisions to improve their environmental performance and support their local communities, either via an initial self-assessment or a full audit. 

The Travelife scheme also awards properties on how successful they are with regard to their environmental and social performances. Those properties wanting to improve can sign up to have full environmental and social audits carried out on their entire business to work towards achieving the Travelife bronze, silver and gold awards. The hotels, which have achieved Travelife award status are featured in tour operator brochures with the Gold, Silver or Bronze logos. 

Achieving a Travelife Award isn't easy and requires a good result from the Travelife Audit. This involves a visit from an auditor, who'll look at employment records and energy bills, interview staff, and inspect the property thoroughly to ensure excellent management of energy and water, chemical usage and community relations - to mention but a few requirements.
There are three levels of award:

Bronze: Businesses have proved that they have policies and procedures in place which actively reduce their environmental impact and treat people in a fair and respectful way.

Silver: Going further than Bronze, these businesses seek ways to provide extra benefit for the local community and environment

Gold: These businesses display a very high commitment to sustainability. They encourage others to get involved, constantly seek new opportunities for improvement, and actively communicate their progress to others.

Nikki White, Head of Destinations and Sustainability at ABTA said: “By booking a Travelife property, people who want to continue to go to the destinations they love with tour operators they trust can now do so with the knowledge that these companies are doing as much as they can to protect their local environment and support their local communities. Booking a hotel participating in the Travelife programme is one of the easiest ways to get a greener holiday.”

ABTA Members who use Travelife accommodation include the following: Airtours, Cosmos, Direct Holidays, First Choice, Hayes and Jarvis, Inghams, Kuoni, Neilson, Sovereign Luxury Travel, Sunvil, The Co-operative Travel Group, Thomas Cook, Thomas Cook Signature, Thomas Cook Style Collection, Thomson Holidays, Thomson Tailormade and Virgin Holidays.

For further information contact:
Sean Tipton, Senior Press Officer, tel: 020 3117 0513,
Frances Tuke, Public Relations Manager, tel: 020 3117 0514, Mobile 07850 712 325.
Out of Hours:  Contact the Duty Press Officer via pager: 07659 190 987
E-mail: press@abta.co.uk 
Web: www.abta.com
 
Notes to Editors
ABTA – The Travel Association was founded in 1950 and currently has 1,351 members with 5,700 outlets. Members include travel agents, tour operators and support services right across the spectrum from small family-owned businesses to the largest tour operators. 

ABTA is the largest travel association in the UK and its members provide 90% of the foreign package holidays in the UK as well as selling millions of independent travel arrangements. 

In 2008 ABTA merged with the Federation of Tour Operators [FTO], thereby cementing its role as the leading travel association and increasing benefits for both ABTA and FTO members. Both the ABTA brand which is highly recognised by consumers and the FTO brand which is well known in destinations will be retained.

As part of its comprehensive package of services to members, ABTA, as a non-party political organisation works to represent the interests of its Members to government and key opinion formers in the UK and EU.