CONNAISSANCE RECEIVES ‘TRAVEL PARTNER’ AWARD AT WTM

Both Connaissance de Ceylan and Travel Design by CDC have long believed in embodying sustainable and ethical business practices

Connaissance De Ceylan and its bespoke DMC arm, Travel Design by CDC was awarded the

‘Travelife Partner' recognition at the World Travel Market in London on 5 November 2019. This award is a recognition gained for long-term efforts towards sustainability and corporate social responsibility including labour conditions and human rights.

Connaissance de Ceylan is only the 6th company in Sri Lanka to receive this recognition. travelife is a certification system, dedicated to achieving sustainable practices specifically within the tourism industry. It provides companies with realistic sustainability goals, tools and solutions to implement positive change within their businesses and supply chains.

Travelife is managed by ABTA (The Travel Association, UK) and ECEAT Projects (- a not-for-profit organisation in the Netherlands).

The Travelife standard for Tour operators and Travel agencies is based upon full Corporate Social Responsibility themes, including labour conditions, human rights, environment, biodiversity and fair business practices. Management requirements ensure compatibility with EMAS, ISO 14001 and

ISO 26000 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) themes. Additionally, Travelife’s full compliance standard for DMO’S are in line with UN supported Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria.

Both Connaissance de Ceylan and Travel Design by CDC have long believed in embodying sustainable and ethical business practices and aimed at working with hotels and experience providers that share similar values. Connaissance

De Ceylan and Travel Design by CDC complied with more than 160 Travelife criteria, related to tour operators’ office management, product range, and customer information in order to receive this award. Naut Kusters, Manager of Travelife for tour operators said, “I am delighted to see that sustainability in the tour operators’ sector is obtaining momentum. The award of the front runner

Connaissance De Ceylan will inspire other companies in Sri Lanka to follow the same path”.