BGTW Better World Symposium 2026

The BGTW Better World Symposium is our annual London conference focused on sustainability, inclusivity and ethics in travel media. Our 2026 edition was supported by Minimal Impact Expeditions and The Datai Pledge. Listen to the podcast recordings now.

date_range

Monday 19th January 2026

Symposium 10am – 6pm
Networking from 6pm

map

London Canal Museum

Kings Cross, London
Green Business Tourism Scheme: Silver Award.

confirmation_number

Tickets - Sold Out

Members; Complimentary
Non-Members; From £49

An editorially independent symposium for a Better World

Curated by the British Guild of Travel Writers to inspire future impact by you, the BGTW Better World Symposium is more than another sustainability conference. It’s our forum for discussion and debate. For questions and solutions. A series of sessions and inspiring talks all striving towards a Better World for travel media, tourism businesses, and the industry as a whole.

For the 2026 edition of the BGTW Better World Symposium, we went bolder to inspire more answers. Over 20 BGTW members and guest speakers, across six panels and a keynote, discussed everything from equitable incomes and inclusivity to niching down for purpose and solutions-led storytelling. For the first time, we opened the conversation to non-members – thank you to the nearly 90 attendees who registered to join us.

Now, we’re delighted to share the panel recordings with you, our industry friends. These conversations are far too important to be confined to a single day or room, and the British Guild of Travel Writers is proud to offer these recordings for free as our gift to the industry. Thank you to our Symposium partners, Minimal Impact Expeditions and The Datai Pledge, for supporting us and allowing us to make these recordings available.

Panels & Recordings

Minimal Impact Expeditions

BGTW Better World Supporter

Amid growing concern for fragile polar ecosystems, Minimal Impact Expeditions was created to set a new standard for low-impact travel. Launching their first voyages in 2026, Minimal Impact Expeditions offers a new standard of polar travel for guests seeking rare, high-comfort, low-impact experiences in pristine environments.

Guided by a hand-picked team of naturalists, scientists and historians, each voyage adapts in real time to ice, weather and wildlife for truly exploratory landings. Central to the experience is the Captain Arctic, the world’s first modern near-zero-carbon luxury polar expedition ship; silent, vibration-free, wind- and solar-powered, electrically propelled and carrying just 36 guests for an intimate, minimal-impact journey.

Learn More about Minimal Impact Expeditions

The Datai Langkawi

BGTW Better World Supporter

In 2020, The Datai Langkawi launched its environmental, community and conservation impact initiative, The Datai Pledge. It is founded on the belief that travel has the potential to be transformative; not only for the traveller but also for the host community.

The Datai Pledge’s vision is to integrate conservation and sustainability into the business operations, company ethos and guest experience of The Datai Langkawi and future properties, to protect and help regenerate the rich biodiversity and enable the local community to thrive. The Datai Pledge is working towards this goal by developing a robust programme with local non-governmental organisations, social enterprises and community partners. Elevating its aim to inspire positive impact across the industry and beyond, The Datai Pledge and The Datai Langkawi partnered with UN Tourism and the University of Oxford to support their development of a blueprint for an industry-wide Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) framework for sustainable tourism in 2024.

Learn More about The Datai Pledge

Panels, Speakers and Keynote

Sustainability. Ethics. Inclusivity. Responsibility.

Please scroll down to learn more about each panel, meet our inspiring panellists, and listen to the recordings. The Better World Travel Media Symposium sessions are also available on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Podcasts, Spotify, and the BGTW’s Acast Account. Don’t forget to subscribe.

Please note that the views expressed in these podcasts are those of the individual panellists and do not necessarily represent the positions or policies of the BGTW, its symposium partners, or the speaker’s employers.

We look forward to seeing you at the next BGTW Better World Symposium in January 2027.


Panel: What will travel storytelling for a Better World in 2026 look like?

We’ve all seen the plethora of best-of lists and trend reports, but what is the reality for travel media in 2026? AI is unavoidable, buzzwords greenwash multiple marketing releases, and sustainability is becoming a scalable selling point – but does it always translate on the ground?

In this panel, BGTW authors, writers and photographers will discuss their thoughts, concerns and ideas for the year ahead through a mindful lens, setting the stage for the deeper-dive panels to follow. One thing is clear in 2026: in an age of AI slop and SEO, storytelling has never been more important.
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

PANELISTS:
Moderator: Chris Coe

Moderator: Chris Coe

BGTW 2025 Chair & Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) Founder
Karen Edwards

Karen Edwards

Responsible Travel Writer
David Lindo

David Lindo

Broadcaster, Writer, Educator and Bird Tour Leader
Shafik Meghji

Shafik Meghji

Author & Journalist

Panel: Can luxury travel pioneer ESG initiatives?

Is ‘sustainable luxury’ an oxymoron? In this panel, aspiration meets action as experts from expedition cruise ships, an environmental consultancy, and hotels and restaurants share how technological innovations and new ways of thinking are improving tourism. Luxury travel and hospitality that’s been thoughtfully planned from the outset can enrich ecosystems, encourage biodiversity, champion cultural conservation and strengthen locals’ wellbeing.

Rooted in circularity and community empowerment, the right measurable solutions are changing the way we, and our readers, will enjoy travel and hospitality in the future. However, substantial investment is required to fund ‘proof of concept’ ideas that will lead to benefits for our wider society. There are plenty of visionary changemakers and reasons to be optimistic, but it’s vital we ask hospitality businesses the right questions to inform, not just inspire.
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

PANELISTS:
Moderator: Alicia Sheber

Moderator: Alicia Sheber

Travel & Hospitality Writer
Heather Thorkelson

Heather Thorkelson

Founder, Minimal Impact Expeditions & Polar Tracks Expeditions. Vice-chair, Polar Tourism Guides Association
Paul Brackley

Paul Brackley

Founder, Kinsfolk & Co
Ricardo Moreira

Ricardo Moreira

Managing Director, XCO2

Panel: How can your words, work and imagery be more inclusive?

The best way to ensure our industry becomes more inclusive? Ask publications to platform diverse voices to support our colleagues. But that doesn’t mean all travel writers and media can’t be mindful of how to make their work more inclusive, including accessibility, religious considerations, solo women travellers, and the LGBTQIA+ community. We’ll unpack what “inclusivity” actually means today, share ideas on what is and isn’t appropriate to pitch as an ally, and discuss what more needs to be done across the industry.
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

PANELISTS:
Moderator: Rashmi Narayan

Moderator: Rashmi Narayan

Travel Writer
Uwern Jong

Uwern Jong

Editor-in-Chief of OutThere & Icons of Inclusion Founder
Debbie North

Debbie North

Writer, Disability and Access Ambassador for the Countryside, & Founder of Access the Dales
Shebs Alom

Shebs Alom

Presenter, Writer & Editor

Panel: Could that become your new sustainable niche or next feature?

Is niching down and becoming an expert voice the future of sustainable, responsible and profitable travel writing? With more travel writers needing a secondary beat, be it in conservation, lifestyle or others, the answer would seem like yes.

In this panel, three writers will discuss how they have taken personal passions – spanning second-hand shopping, regenerative farming, and wildlife charity conservation – and turned them into features, reports and books, all with a link to travel, while making a difference. With insights on using trends, news and personal knowledge to spot and report on greenwashing, conservation and “easy win” sustainable steps, and their own paths to becoming go-to experts, we hope the conversation will inspire you to find a new angle to your responsible travel reporting.
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

PANELISTS:
Moderator: Nathan James Thomas

Moderator: Nathan James Thomas

Author & Intrepid Times Editor
Caroline Mills

Caroline Mills

Author, Writer & Small Farm Owner
Holly Budge

Holly Budge

Writer & Founder, How Many Elephants NGO
Sarah Rodrigues

Sarah Rodrigues

Journalist & "Thrift Tripper"

Panel: How to craft positive, community-friendly approaches to tourism storytelling?

SEO, social media and AI have changed the travel media landscape, with low-quality content fuelling overtourism, gentrification and commodification of culture and nature all over the world, from Santorini to the Serengeti and from Barcelona to Byron Bay. It doesn’t have to be like this.

In this session, we’ll share some examples of high-quality features, publications and campaigns that champion sustainable cultural encounters and outdoor experiences. We’ll weigh up their positive impact on local people, wildlife and the environment, and discuss why the time is right for a sense of social responsibility to be woven into all destination reporting.
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

PANELISTS:
Moderator: Emma Gregg

Moderator: Emma Gregg

Journalist, Author & Photographer
Sue Watt

Sue Watt

Travel and Conservation Writer
Holly Tuppen

Holly Tuppen

Travel Writer, Sustainability Expert & It’s a Journey Co-host
Flavio Zappacosta

Flavio Zappacosta

Antor Vice Chair & Head of ENIT UK

Panel: Money! How can the industry be sustainable if our income and tourism budgets aren’t equitable?

Budgets, whether commissioning or PR, can dictate the travel narrative. For travel media, stagnant pay rates and an ever-growing number of unpaid publications are making the industry unsustainable. And for destinations and PRs, budget cuts – or indeed no budgets – and SEO-chasing publications often shape which places receive coverage. Conversations and collaborating on solutions are the only way we will address these concerns.

In this panel, we will discuss the funding, resources, and solutions available to the media to ensure they can continue doing what they love. In what ways can PR agencies and freelancers work better together to support the industry? How can World Bank funding and partnerships with organisations such as Travel by B Corp and the Conscious Travel Foundation help make the industry more equitable for destinations? From certifications to collaborative podcasts, this panel puts the often-avoided subject of money centre stage.
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

PANELISTS:
Moderator: Meera Dattani

Moderator: Meera Dattani

Journalist & Executive Editor at Adventure.com
Jem Collins

Jem Collins

Founder and Director, Journo Resources
Sophie Ibbotson

Sophie Ibbotson

Founder, Maximum Exposure & Travel Writer
Abi Best

Abi Best

Managing Director, Lemongrass Marketing

Keynote: Solutions-led Storytelling, with Juliet Kinsman.

Presented in Partnership with The Datai Pledge

Juliet Kinsman brings a unique perspective to writing sustainability: with years as a travel editor and journalist and sustainability copywriter, she shares tools for solving local and global challenges through the stories we tell. With 30 years’ experience spanning broadcasting, publishing, and sustainability consultancy, she challenges how the term “storytelling” has been co-opted by marketing departments.

Juliet addresses journalism’s economic reality head-on: original creative writing isn’t adequately rewarded, so how can writers make the most of commissions? Her answer lies in ‘brand journalism’ — bridging authentic reporting with commercial sustainability while maintaining the same values and due diligence. By adding the magic of personal perspectives that convert understanding into genuine appreciation, journalists can demonstrate what solutions-led storytelling looks like, using their platforms not merely to report, but to inspire meaningful action.

Listen to the Podcast

Listen to the Previous Edition's Podcasts

The first BGTW Sustainability Symposium was held in October 2024 in collaboration with Destination Canada, and hosted by AHEAD’s European Special Award for Sustainability, Hyatt Place London City East.
Hear the Panels

Partner with The BGTW Better World Symposium in 2027

Are you a brand or destination passionate about sustainability, ethics and inclusivity in travel media? Support the next edition of the BGTW Better World Symposium in January 2027.
Get in touch

Become A Member

Join the BGTW to be part of the UK’s only accredited travel media association and enjoy benefits including profile listing, a press card, exclusive discounts, and multiple annual networking and skills development events. Members are offered complimentary tickets the Better World Sympsoium.
Why Join?