The mission of the company is to inspire travellers around the world to choose the Maltese Islands for their holiday through sustainable growth in authentic quality experiences and innovative technologies that make ours Malta's premier incoming tourism company.
Conventionally, sustainability can be outlined into three pillars concurrently - the economic, environmental and sociocultural impact sets and thus achieve the “triple bottom line” (Elkington, 1997; Sherman 2012). It is only through collaboration by stakeholders that the ‘triple bottom line’ sustainability targets may be achieved. This policy and subsequent goals and actions are an effort by the company to achieve this sustainability target within a growth context.
Impact Report 2022-2024
At our company, sustainability and responsible tourism are deeply embedded in our ethos. Over the past two years, we have taken meaningful steps toward reducing our environmental impact and supporting the communities in which we operate. Yet, we acknowledge that sustainability is an ongoing journey, and there is always room for growth and collaboration.
Key Achievements:
- Sustainability Training: We have expanded our sustainability training, engaging more staff members in the Travelife program to build a solid foundation of eco-conscious practices across the company.
- HR Policies: New HR policies have been implemented, including a formal Health & Safety policy and updated procedures for complaints and overtime remuneration. Our comprehensive 'Welcome Pack' helps new employees align with our sustainability values from day one.
- Environmental Management:
- Energy Reduction: We are proud of our progress in energy management, including the introduction of a formal energy reduction policy. By monitoring energy consumption monthly and setting annual reduction targets (aiming for a 3% reduction each year), we are working to achieve more substantial long-term improvements.
- Waste Reduction: We have introduced a formal waste reduction and recycling policy, but we know there is more to be done to further minimize waste in our operations.
- Paper Reduction: Through efficient processes, we reduced our paper usage, saving the equivalent of 4 trees in 2024 compared to the baseline year. This is a small but meaningful step toward reducing our environmental footprint.
- Energy Savings: Our energy-saving efforts have reduced electricity costs by 22%, a reflection of our commitment to operating more sustainably.
- Water Usage: While we have made progress in other areas, our water consumption increased slightly by 1.45%. We see this as an opportunity for growth and are actively exploring ways to improve water efficiency in the future.
- Accommodations: We continue to prioritize sustainability by including eco-certifications as part of our accommodation selection process.
- Sustainable Activities: We have added more "Sustainable Conscious" activities, marking these in our system to help guide customers toward environmentally responsible experiences.
- Customer Communication: We have updated our Destination Information script to promote responsible behaviours, including guidelines on forbidden souvenirs that can harm wildlife and local cultures.
Industry Leadership and Advocacy:
- In 2022, Co-CEO Alan Arrigo represented the company on the Council of the Malta Chamber of Commerce and served as the Chairperson of the Tourism Operators Business Section. The section launched the 'Rediscover' policy document, outlining a sustainable vision for Malta’s tourism industry. The policy aims to future-proof the sector by promoting environmental, financial, and socio-cultural sustainability, ensuring Malta remains a destination of choice. Alan also led discussions with key government officials, including the Minister of Tourism, to advocate for sustainable growth.
- In 2024, Alan was appointed to the Board of Management and Council of the Malta Chamber of Commerce. He continues to champion sustainability through his role on the Tourism Operators Business Section and by writing articles in national newspapers on topics such as Malta's tourism transformation and sustainability challenges. Alan also represents the company on the Council at Federation Association of Travel and Tourism Agents in Malta (FATTA) and sits on the Finance & Tourism and Sustainability Committees of the European Travel Agents' and Tour Operators' Associations (ECTAA), where he contributes to sustainability initiatives on a European level.
- Moreover, Alan has been nominated to the Board of Directors of the Malta Tourism Authority and the Inspire Foundation, a voluntary organization supporting individuals with disabilities.
Community Support:
We are also committed to supporting the community through our work with Victory Kitchen, a charitable foundation that provides food to families in need:
- In 2022, our staff raised EUR 1,000 through a swim event, with Co-CEO Andrew Arrigo serving as a founding member and board member of Victory Kitchen.
- In 2024, we formalized our commitment by signing a corporate sponsorship agreement for the years 2024-2026.
Room for Growth and Long-term Goals:
While we are proud of our accomplishments, we humbly recognize that sustainability is a continuous journey, and there is much more to achieve. One area we are actively working on is improving water efficiency, and we are committed to setting more ambitious reduction targets moving forward. Additionally, while our energy savings have been significant, we plan to refine our monitoring systems to ensure we continue to meet our annual reduction goals.
We also invite collaboration with our partners, customers, and the wider community to share ideas and feedback on how we can improve. In the spirit of transparency and continuous improvement, our long-term goal is to become a Travelife Certified company, ensuring that our practices meet the highest standards of environmental, social, and economic sustainability.
We understand that we cannot achieve these goals alone, and we encourage our partners to join us on this journey toward a more sustainable future. The ripple effect of our efforts coupled with our partners' environmental efforts and corporate social responsibility initiatives, ensures that together we continue to create a positive impact.
Sustainability Policy
Our sustainability policy is divided into 10 themes. Each theme consists of a set of principles and practical actions and goals accordingly. For a more detailed look at the company's policy, click here.
TravelLife Sustainability Report
More info on the criteria used in our Sustainability report, can be found below:
References
ELKINGTON, J., 1998. Cannibals with forks: The triple bottom line of 21st century business. Gabriola Island. BC: New Society Publishers.
SHERMAN, W.R., 2012. The Triple Bottom Line: The Reporting Of Doing Well & Doing Good. Journal of applied business research, 28(4), pp.
673.