The Intrepid Sustainable Travel Champion of the Year

Karen Simmonds, chief executive and founder, Travel Matters

Karen Simmonds is a name synonymous with sustainable, responsible travel, and 2023 was no less busy a year than when she founded her agency Travel Matters in 1999. Judges noted many standout activities, including her sponsorship as a Sustainable Consultant by Tokyo Regional Tourist Board to discuss with local stakeholders how to develop responsible travel.

Karen is a regular on sustainability panels and forums throughout the industry to discuss and advise on long-standing issues surrounding responsible travel, but she’s also an instant reactor to the here and now. Last September, she organised an appeal for Moroccan charity Education for All after the devastating earthquake 45 miles south of Marrakech, raising over £1,000 by fundraising within her client base.

For every holiday booked, Travel Matters plants a tree with their partners, Trees for Cities. Karen is firm in her resolve that to promote sustainable travel authentically, she and the Travel Matters team and their supplier partners must lead from the front, encouraging sustainable behaviours from their valued clients.

Karen and her agency have been long-standing campaigners for promoting responsible tourism, with their “Make Travel Matter” campaign launched in 2009 now a trademark. But Karen and the team have not taken their foot off the gas. An increased workforce hired during 2023 has been enabled with the tools to sell responsible travel, and in May, Travel Matters became a B Corp Certified travel agent.