The key differentiators of BRIDGES for Conscious Travel 2025 were the App-based format for meetings and engagement designed by Cvent, as well as RARE India’s collaboration with NettZero to make BRIDGES for Conscious Travel 2025 a carbon neutral conference, which is a first for any travel trade event in the country. NettZero worked with RARE India in 2024 as well for carbon accounting of the conference wherein the conference’s carbon footprints were about 66 tonnes and to offset them, RARE India bought carbon credits to make it a carbon neutral event. The organization plans to continue this practice this year as well.
Regarding the conference, Shoba Rudra, Partner & Founder, RARE India, “With its colour, art & craft traditions, culture and diversity, BRIDGES for Conscious Travel 2025 aims to be a stellar Experiential Tourism conference to entice international audiences as well as inspire the fraternity often caught in the hum drum of operations. This conference is my obeisance to the industry which has opened this university of learning and personal growth for me.”
The conference served as a platform for meaningful conversations, partnerships, and knowledge exchange. Amita Baig, Former Executive Director of World Monuments Fund India, kickstarted the conference with an insightful talk on ‘Conserving India’s Heritage’. Several conversations were also held during the 3-day long conference on topics such as ‘Can Sustainability Drive Business Growth?’, ‘The Changing Dynamics of Experiential Travel’ and ‘The Next Gen in Travel’.
BRIDGES for Conscious Travel 2025 received a tremendous response from participating hoteliers as well as visitors from the travel trade. Sahaj Sharma of Dhyaana Farms in Ellora said, “BRIDGES, as the name says, really worked like a bridge to connect us with so many wonderful FTOs and DMCs. We met a few people who didn’t know about Ellora and after our conversation they said they would like to include it in their new trips. There were also several people who said it is their favourite UNESCO site and they would love to work with us to curate itineraries focused on Ellora.”
According to Ajay Pradhanang from The Nanee in Bhaktapur, “Bhaktapur is usually a day tour from Kathmandu but we are promoting it as a 2- or 3-night destination where guests can enjoy certain experiences that engage the local community. In this way, they will end up giving back to the community. The conversations we had at BRIDGES this year were fantastic. That’s mostly because the quality of foreign tour operators who visited the conference was superb. They connected instantly with what we were trying to tell them about the destination because they share the same basic principles.”
Tejini Kariappa, the Founder & CEO of Halli Berri Coffee and Cottages, was thrilled with her first ever participation at a RARE event. She said, “For the longest time, I was a standalone boutique property owner, different from everybody else around me. But, after meeting all these wonderful people at BRIDGES, I feel like I found my tribe! Even though it is my first time participating at BRIDGES, I feel taken care of and part of a big community.”
Jaideo Rathore, the owner of Ikaki Bagh in Jaipur, said, “Since all the appointments at the conference were scheduled via an App, it made the conference very well structured where we could have fruitful meetings with the FTOs and DMCs. Moreover, the sessions have been very good and I particularly loved the Indian School of Nature session. I found it very helpful because if we start quantifying sustainability, we will be ensuring that in future people will be travelling guilt-free.”
Gary Tree, Travel Consultant at UK-based Kerala & India Connections, said, “It’s a great conference with lots of interesting properties, destinations, ideas and thoughts on responsible travel and how to implement that into tours. I specialise in South India and at this conference I discovered a very interesting property in Chikmagalur called Halli Berri. I also met the owner of the lovely Dhyaana Farms in Ellora. I am excited to head back to UK and start using them in my tours.”
According to Nardia Sullivan, Head of Sustainable Travel and London-based Wild Frontiers, “Being at BRIDGES and hearing what everyone is doing in India at all the properties that are represented at this conference is amazing. When you talk about tourism being a force for good, at BRIDGES you can see that it really is. I have spoken to a lot of people about their stories, everything from their family heritage to what they do within the communities. When I go back, I will tell those stories to our clients because I think that’s really what people want to hear.”
The third edition of the RARE Conscious Travel Awards were also announced during the conference. Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge from Nepal won the ‘A Hero’s Journey – Individual Crusader’ Award, Bagh Villas in Kanha won the ‘A Hero’s Journey – Hotel’ Award, and Bera Safari Lodge in Jawai was announced the winner of the ‘Best RARE Hotel’ category. Mrinalika and Akshita BhanjDeo of Belgadia Palace in Mayurbhanj were declared the ‘Best RARE Hoteliers (Owners)’ for 2025 while Shahpura Bagh won the ‘Best Destination Story’ award this year. All the awardees were presented handmade colourful Ganjifa plaques by Sawantwadi Palace Laquerworks.
At BRIDGES for Conscious Travel 2025, the Indian School of Nature launched their carbon neutral itinerary for tour operators. Regarding this newly launched product, Ram Pratap Singh, the Founder of Indian School of Nature, said, “The carbon neutral itinerary is a tool kit, which will help tour operators design and tabulate the carbon footprints of any tour. At the back end of this tool is the carbon balance sheet toolkit for lodges and hotels. Once this data is available to tour operators, they can let guests know what the carbon footprint of that particular tour is and how to reduce those footprints to make it a carbon neutral itinerary.”
Gujarat Tourism, a gold sponsor, enabled BRIDGES for Conscious Travel 2025 to run two curated study programs for international agents to the princely estates of Gujarat, as well as the wilderness and crafts centres of the state. Another wonderful initiative was a three-day festival, The Chhau at The Belgadia Palace, to celebrate and promote the performing art of Chhau Dance from three regions of Bengal, Odisha and Mayurbhanj, which continued towards Bhitarkarnika and Ganjam.
Another major highlight of BRIDGES for Conscious Travel 2025 was the showcase of the arts, crafts and performing arts of different regions of India. This included Phad painting demo by Vijay Joshi, courtesy Shahpura Bagh; performance of Koodiyattam – a 2000-year-old Sanskrit theatre – by Kalamandalam Sangeetha and her ensemble, courtesy Livescapes by The Blue Yonder; The Art Walk with MeMeraki, India’s culture tech for heritage art; Zardozi Demo, courtesy Trocals-Travel With Locals; a Pichwai workshop by Shan Bhatnagar, Co-Creator and Designer of Laalee Jaipur; and morning raagas under the Ficus Tree.
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