A global association of hotels, Bee+Hive’s new booking platform will allow travellers to plan trips based on sustainable experiences, with the ultimate goal of creating a better, more environmentally friendly global travel industry
A new booking platform has launched dedicated to uniting luxury hotels and partners through sustainable tourism. Created by Bee+Hive, a not-for-profit association, the platform will allow travellers to plan trips based on sustainable experiences, with booking revenues generated by users of the site reinvested to support the destinations’ local community, environment or economy.
Founded in 2017 by Bruno Correa, Bee+Hive’s collective of hotels is committed to shaping the future of travel by acting as change agents by means of impactful ecologic, socio-economic and cultural sustainability experiences. Each member is unique and offers its own bespoke sustainable experiences that give back to the local area, champion sustainability and attract travellers. These include getting involved in the protection of loggerhead sea turtles or going on bald eagle-spotting expeditions at St. Simons Island in the USA; spending an evening afloat the Zambezi River with hippos and elephants through Masuwe Lodge in Zimbabwe and swimming with whale sharks at Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef.
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 three pillars include the implementation of experiences focusing on preserving the local environment and wildlife, experiences promoting practices that contribute to the local economy and experiences helping to safeguard local culture.
Having worked in the hospitality industry for over 20 years, Correa noticed that it was often the small boutique properties that shared the same belief that tourism businesses have the power to educate travellers. However, many properties lacked the means and resources to promote their experiences globally. 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.”
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.