Episode 61- Dayana Brooke, The Sustainable Traveller
Travel should include looking for better ways to experience the world while producing a low carbon footprint and positively impacting the planet by leaving the environment in a better place than you found it.
Together we can make a difference in the travel and tourism industry by creating a positive and sustainable impact on our planet.
When Christine first heard her guest share the story of her path in the tourism industry and how that led her to be a sustainable travel advocate, Christine was inspired. It was something that really resonated with her so much that she reached out to ask if she would share this inspirational journey and guide other businesses and travelers who are navigating the travel industry.
Christine’s guest today is one of the most compassionate, driven people you’ll ever meet. Dayana Brooke is not just a fierce businessperson and the face of two ventures, The Sustainable Traveller and Positive Environment. She is an optimist, vegan & runner.
After completing a Bachelor’s in Geosciences, Dayana turned her love for geology and travel into a successful career, and later a thriving business—one that focuses on environmental protection. Today, her pursuit of a Master’s in Sustainability program underscores her commitment. Her growing acumen in sustainable travel and her masterful ability to effect change have converted travelers, collaborators, and enterprises worldwide to make a conscious shift.
Dayana has positioned her business to help others incorporate small yet powerful changes to reduce carbon emissions and wastage through sustainable travel to fight the climate crisis.
From what started as a need to change the way we travel, to creating an online marketplace and platform to ultimately a company, The Sustainable Traveller has grown tremendously in the past five years.
After 20 years of experience booking worldwide travel, Dayana knew it was time to book and travel differently. More importantly, Dayana wants to help and encourage others to realise travel rewards for the traveller and everyone along the journey.
In our conversation, we discuss her journey to sustainability and why this is so important to her. She gives us tips on how to start our own sustainability journey and ways we can get involved as travelers and as an industry.
We also talk about how we can meet people where they're at on this journey, and how we can take a dip, become immersed or fully dive into this process.
Tune in to hear how this visionary has a blazing reputation of disrupting the travel industry and challenging obsolete narratives with her expertise.
In this episode, Christine and Dayana chat about:
How travel and business aligns with Dayana’s values
The impact travel has on children and the impact experiencing the world has on their mindset
Three principles of sustainable travel
What is value driven travel?
The importance of talking about sustainable products and experiences during travel
Why storytelling and transparency is important for all travel companies
Different ways to explore sustainably friendly travel experiences
Ways to make sustainable travel and tourism more accessible to everyone
Why it's important for travel companies to share travel strategies with consumers as a way of telling the story of the destination
Resources & Links Mentioned in the Episode
Learn more about Dayana at www.dayanabrooke.com
Checkout The Sustainable Traveller at www.thesustainabletraveller.com
Follow Dayana Brooke & The Sustainable Traveller on your favorite social platform:
Instagram @thesustainabletraveller
LinkedIn Dayana Brooke - Sustainability Advisor, Advocate and Educator
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About the Soul Of Travel Podcast
Soul of Travel honors the passion and dedication of the people making a positive impact in tourism. In each episode, you’ll hear the story of women who are industry professionals and seasoned travelers and community leaders who know travel is more than a vacation. It is an opportunity for personal awareness and it is a vehicle for change. We are thought leaders, action takers, and heart-centered change makers.
The guests work in all sectors of the tourism industry. You'll hear from adventure-based community organizations, social impact businesses, travel photographers and videographers, tourism boards and destination marketing organizations, and transformational travel experts. They all honor the idea that travel is more than a vacation and focus on sustainable travel, eco-travel, community-based tourism, and intentional travel.
These conversations are meant to educate, inspire and create community. They are directed to new travelers and seasoned travelers, as well as industry professionals and those who are curious about a career in travel.
If you want to learn about new destinations, types of travel, or how to be more intentional or live life on purpose, join Christine Winebrenner Irick for soulful conversations with her community of fellow travelers exploring the heart, the mind, and the globe. These conversations highlight what tourism really means for the world.
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Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor.) Dayana Brooke(Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing and production by Rayna Booth.
Transcript
KEYWORDS
travel, traveler, sustainability, conversations, journey, business, people, experiences, sustainable, tourism, book, community, share, thinking, children, find, grateful, pledge
Christine Winebrenner Irick 00:08
Thank you for joining me for soulful conversations with my community of fellow travelers, exploring the heart, the mind and the globe. These conversations highlight what travel really means for the world. Soul Of Travel honors the passion and dedication of the people making a positive impact in tourism. Each week, I'll be speaking to women who are tourism professionals, world travelers and leaders in their communities will explore how travel has changed them and how that has rippled out and inspired them to change the world. These conversations are as much about travel as they are about passion, and living life with purpose, chasing dreams, building businesses, and having the desire to make the world a better place. This is a community of people who no travel is more than a vacation. It is an opportunity for personal awareness, and it is a vehicle for change. We are thought leaders, action takers, and heart centered changemakers I'm Christine Winebrenner Irick. And this is the Soul Of Travel.
Dayana Brooke is a sustainable travel advocate, consultant and educator based in Australia. She helps Travel and Tourism professionals transform and promote themselves as sustainable travel operators. She believes it is a privilege and a responsibility to travel sustainably with respect, compassion, and empathy. She enjoys working with travel operators, hotels, resorts and destinations to offer recommendations on how they can implement eco-friendly features and policies. She is such a passionate advocate for sustainability and believes that by generating thoughtful discussions, raising awareness, and through online collaboration and an education platform, she can work to create a sustainable travel narrative. In our conversation, we discuss her journey to sustainability and why this is so important to her. She gives us tips on how to start our own sustainability journey and ways we can get involved as travelers and as an industry. We talk about how we can meet people where they're at on this journey, and how we can take a dip, become immersed or fully dive into this process. Join me now for my soulful conversation with Dayana Brooke.
Welcome to this episode of the soul of travel podcast. I am so happy today to be sitting down with Dayana Brooke, and she is joining us in the early hours of her morning from Australia. So I'm also really grateful, grateful for that sacrifice to be here. So welcome, Dayana. I'm happy you're here.
03:15
Thank you. Yes, it's quite early. I'm an early riser. But I did get up a little bit early for this. So thank you. I really am looking forward to it.
Christine Winebrenner Irick 03:25
And I'm really excited. We had the privilege of connecting a few weeks ago after kind of finding each other on LinkedIn. And Deanna shared her story of her path in the tourism industry and how that led her to being a sustainable travel advocate. And it was something that really resonated with me. And so I reached out to her to ask if she would share this journey on solid travel as kind of an inspiration and perhaps a guide for other businesses and travelers who are kind of navigating that during this time. I feel like a lot of people are looking towards sustainable travel as a way to meet the needs that we're seeing in the industry.
So I'm really excited to bring that to this conversation. I know, to just share a little bit of your background, you worked in the tourism industry for about two decades. And you're working booking family trips and corporate travel groups. And then when we spoke, you mentioned that in around 2016, you just kind of had this nagging feeling that had been sitting with you and just really realized that your travel company was contributing to this climate crisis and decided that you needed to really direct yourself towards this path of becoming a sustainable traveler after 20 years in the industry.
And I think that's really so exciting for people listening because I think maybe sometimes we think we can't change if we've been on this path for so long. So we're gonna definitely explore how You did create that shift. But would you begin just by sharing a little bit about your path in the tourism industry? And then how has that led you to where you are today?
05:10
Yeah. So you really summed that up? Well, so yes, basically, I found myself in the travel and tourism industry almost 20 years ago. It's a passion that I've always had and actually came about as a child. So I just remember being born in Australia, my parents from Chile and South America. And we, every now and again, every few years, our summer holidays were spent in Chile and Chile is one of those, you know, geologically blessed countries that it just has every kind of geological geographical feature you can imagine. And I was just in love, I was in love with this country, or the volcanoes and the wilderness and the landscape and everything and so that over time, that will, that led to sort of an increase, I guess, awareness of the environment and of nature, from really, really early age. And I ended up pursuing a Bachelor degree. I should say geosciences. But then I ended up finding myself in the travel and tourism industry. I just had this passion for traveling, exploring adventures, and ended up finding my sort of path in the travel industry over 20 years ago. And like you said, I booked travel for corporations, musicians and entertainers, and all sorts of different people.
But I found that as my life was sort of becoming more aware of nature and the climates, I was leading a much more plant based life, I was minimizing my own, you know, things in my life, and I was just at odds with my my business, which was literally directly contributing to the climate change and the climate crisis that we're facing. So I literally made a pivot. In my business I, I literally did one and stopped what I was doing, and turned towards making it more sustainable. And the biggest part of that journey was having that courage and that confidence to go, actually I can, I can make a difference. And I will start asking, you know, my travel industry suppliers, what is their hotel doing, you know, about the environment? What is that tour experience doing for the environment. So, it was having that confidence, really, that was very difficult in the beginning. And I think that's what a lot of people may struggle with is realizing that you can make that difference, you just got to, you've got to believe in it. And you've got to make those first steps. And those first steps have now led to six years of having a travel company that advocates for sustainability. I, you know, I do that as well. Everything I share is about, you know, showing people how they can make little changes to big changes, and everything adds up and everything makes a difference. So yeah, it ended up being for me, I'm always saying, I'm really grateful that you know, I have a lifestyle and a business that's very much aligned with my values. And I try and do that every day. So yeah,
Christine Winebrenner Irick 08:09
yeah, I think that's one thing that is, I find it to be really fulfilling about this segment of the tourism industry is it seems like it really allows for that alignment. And it also allows for being immersed in a culture of people who are having that same conversation, which I think is really rich and valuable and not seen in a lot of other parts of, you know, the industry or in other industries in general. And I just am grateful for that all of the time to be able to sit down with someone like yourself and just kind of dive into these topics that might normally be overwhelming or too personal, or, you know, we separate our personal journey from our professional journey. I just love that this gets to be a space where all of those things are important. And I know for you, we also had talked about this when we initially connected but part of that and speaking of like this personal and professional stepping into the role of a parent is often something I think, especially for women that like shifts that perspective, or maybe starts like raising some of those flags of awareness of like, are we fully living this life that we want for ourselves and for our children? So I was just wondering if maybe you could walk us through some, what that meant for you and how that plays out in your business and your values.
09:42
Yeah, certainly for me. Yeah, my children, again was another moment where it just sort of amplified even more the need to do things better. I realized, yeah, very early on. Firstly, children come with a lot of things you're expected to you know, get all this stuff. If I should say, or things or whatever you like, and then you soon realize that you don't actually need all those things. And you know, but there's a lot of waste as well that comes with those initial first years. And then, after looking at, I guess, at that, and then realizing that, that's when it sort of really started to hit me that my children, our children, everyone's children are literally inheriting a future that, you know, we impact every day. And so I was very much aware that I wanted to do everything I can to ensure that, you know, they inherit a planet that's still livable, it still has all these amazing, beautiful wildlife animals that we were fortunate to grow up with, and they still live on the planet, you know, in as much wild spaces as possible.
And so seeing that the climate was changing is changing. And, you know, we've got oceans, you know, constantly being polluted, and lots of plastic use, it made it even more aware that, yeah, we really, really need to stop what we're doing, and really look at doing things differently. And like I was saying before, for me, I've always embraced travel, and what travel does in terms of your perspectives in life and on the planet, and also being aware of other people and their cultures and how they live. And so I wanted to also realize, also have those experiences with my children, because I know how impactful they are, I know how much they stay with you for the rest of your life. And so, you know, I want to share that with them as well. And yeah, so that's why I traveled tourism, it's so important to have that ability to connect with people. So initially, you know, I may have looked at it from an environmental perspective to start with, but then as you look more into what sustainable travel is, it's more than just connecting with other people, it's also ensuring that you can help support their livelihoods and their communities. And I just wanted to share that as well, you know, with my children and show that there was still there, but definitely, my children do inspire me, I don't often talk about them, but they do inspire me all the time.
And I'm so grateful for that. I bring them along on this journey as well, they're very aware of what I do and what this means, you know, and how they can be a part of it as well, because they love sharing their experiences, you know, in a class news update or with their friends and things like that. So yeah, look, it's one of those interesting things that when I was working in corporate travel, there was quite the stigma about being a parent, especially about being a mother. So I was always sort of mindful about not sharing too much about that. But to be honest, it is a real big part of me being a parent, and what I do and why I do it. So yeah, it's, it's really insightful. And it's also, you know, they're dependent on us to do the right thing. And I think you can see that as well, with all the student strike movements that they now wear, why are you not doing anything about this, you know, and then, you know, they have their rights to say that, because we really need to be doing more,
Christine Winebrenner Irick 13:00
I think that it has added such an even deeper meaning to my own personal travels, and then also in what I want to create, because it shifts that lens from being about this kind of personal experience into this more widespread, which then also brings in the layers of sustainability and impact. And it just kind of, I feel like it just unfolds. And so I think it's been really important in my journey as well. And the conversations that I'm able to have with my children, and their worldview is so different from mine, which I think is just amazing and provides me with like so much optimism for what that can mean and like you I love traveling with them and allowing them to see things but I also love experiencing through them and will be on a hike.
And I remember one time they were really little and I took them on this hike. And we were just on this trail that went out of a parking lot on the edge of a campground. It wasn't anything super spectacular by any means. But we were hiking and my daughter was like, one of them was like, look at the light coming through the leaves. Can you believe the magic? Look at these flowers? Look at the blues, like everything was intoxicating to them. Yeah. And I was simultaneously thinking like anybody who's listening probably thinks I never let my children out of our home. Everything is so amazing. And also I was like how it is magical, like, look at how the light is on those leaves and look at those flowers. And like really, that was kind of a moment when I was thinking like when I'm traveling. Am I being mindful? Am I being present? Am I really like being immersed in a space and appreciating everything that it had to offer and really sort of bring that into My practice of travel which then again, like reconnected me to sustainability and thinking about how all the pieces of the puzzle fit together. So I think,
15:11
yeah, there's a real innocence there with children, you know, and it's just, it's so beautiful because they do see things differently in an odd sort of unbiased way as well. And, you know, you said in the beginning of May, it may not have been too spectacular for you, because that's your perspective now as you've grown, but for them, it's like, wow, this is wonderful. And it gives you that chance to look at that again, in a different way. And you think Yeah, wow, that is, but it makes you very mindful about where you go and you know, who you speak with and you know, how you get there as well that's also important, but they do see things from a different you know, imaginative creative way as well, which you know, you can have what you lose unfortunately, as you get older children have it and it's just such a beautiful thing to see and nurture and, and witness so yeah, that's really really not a lovely story.
Christine Winebrenner Irick 16:01
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Now back to our soulful conversation.
I would love to talk about now kind of moving into talking about that transition in your business. And just kind of I think for both of us, we looked at the beginning of our sustainability journey as how we can make small changes that really create a large impact. And I like to have conversations that allow travelers and businesses to kind of enter where they are so not, not assuming that we all have to become sustainability advocates or that we don't all have all the answers at the beginning. Like this is a journey that we have to work through. And we also know that travelers are really starting to ask for and search for healthier travel options, like options that are more environmentally friendly. And I'm just wondering if you can share a little bit about how you help travelers find that and how you help businesses, you know, begin this journey?
18:19
Yeah, look, it's certainly a journey. And I was at the very beginning of that journey. Like the moment I asked my very first supplier in the travel industry, what is this resort doing for the environment? That was the very first question I asked, and I just knew I had to learn more once. Once I got that response. It wasn't just the response. It was their reaction, they had the biggest smile on their face that they were like, wow, finally, someone is asking us a question we want to talk about. So that was a big step. What a big sort of validation for me that I was on, I was on the right path for me. And you know, it's been an absolute journey of learning. I didn't have all the answers to start with, believe me, I didn't, but I just knew I had to start somewhere. And we've all gotta start somewhere. The last six years have been a journey of just asking and reading and just continually just kind of learning as much as I can. And I've always said that, you know, it's not about knowing all the answers. It's certainly not about being perfect.
My goodness, it isn't, but just start with the little things and go from there. And so for me, the first step was asking that question, and I remember practicing it, I was like, I'm going to ask, I'm going to ask, I was at a an international travel event and I was on the second day of a three day travel event where you have those interviews or meetings with each supplier for like 10 minutes you move to the next and that sort of thing. And I just remember saying right now I'm going to ask I'm going to ask and so it took a lot of courage to meet. It might sound a bit silly now but it's when you're not used to saying something it can be a bit frightening and you don't say it. So I took a lot of courage to just say, you know, what, what is your resort doing for the environment, and it just went from there. And so what I did was to start with something really simple. I actually looked at my business, in terms of paperwork, very simple. So my office, my use of paper, and back then everything was being printed. So whenever you put together an itinerary for someone, you booked airline tickets, everything was printed, you ended up with like a folio of paper sometimes. And so that was the very first thing I did was literally stop printing. And I haven't printed since.
And I slowly transitioned all the clients and their itineraries onto cloud software. So they were all downloading an app. And this was at a time when there was just a few apps at the time. But not many people were using them. So that was one of the first things that was done. And there were some clients who were a little bit hesitant. So it may have got something that they printed, but from my mind, there was no more printing. And I also stopped using those travel wallets, again, something that you would often get when you would book a trip with a Travel Advisor. So those were the very first things I did. And I started to share with my clients at the time, why I was doing this and sort of, you know, getting them on this journey, as well of, you know, looking at reducing the paper use. And for me at the time, that was one of my first sort of things to do. One of your quick wins as you people like to say, look at the things that you can do. And when you feel good about it, you're like, Okay, I did that. That was good. Okay, what else can I do. And that's how you start building that sort of momentum to look further into what other changes you can make. And so for me, I've come to realize that everyone's at a different point in the journey. And that's completely fine. And so I actually ended up realizing that I created some sort of framework, if you want to call it and I call it the dip, immerse, and the dive. And the idea of that is to meet people along the way. So if you just want to be a traveler, who just wants to try a little bit of something, maybe a couple of nights, at an eco hotel, or maybe, you know, try a city tour on a bike, that's a small little thing that you can do. So that's kind of where you could start. And then you may have a client or a traveler, who is going, okay, I'd like to try a little bit, you know, maybe do a week of my two week holiday somewhere and see what we can do in that week.
So that's a client who is willing to try a little bit more. And then you may have a client or a traveler who's like, okay, let's just do this whole thing as environmentally friendly as possible. And so meeting that client, or if you're a traveler, you know, there are experiences, there are ways you can, you can add to your travel experience where you want to be. The idea is just to do something, I always say something is better than nothing. And they all add up to positive things. And the same sort of methodology, I guess, or thinking applies when I am speaking with other businesses. And at the moment, as I no longer book travel, myself, I still am the founder and director of my own company, which offers sustainable travel experiences, I'm no longer booking those anymore. So what I'm doing now is I've turned my attention to helping other travel businesses and also looking at hopefully helping regions as well, communities as well, and getting them on the journey of sustainability. But hopefully very soon we'll be looking at sharing knowledge with other travel advisors, the more travel advisors who can feel empowered to have conversations with their own clients about sustainability, the more we can get more travelers thinking and traveling this way. So there's a real sort of, I guess, for me, I want I'm at a point now where I yeah, I want to be sharing knowledge with as many people as possible. And I'm really excited about that, I think we have such an opportunity to do that. And like you were saying before, there is such a need. Now there is such a want. And so travelers are looking for this, this is what they're seeking, this is what they're searching for, the travel industry needs to meet that and start recognizing that they need to do more. And if they're not, that's fine, we can get started. If they are doing more, make sure that they're sharing that in a very open way with travelers as well. There's just so much that can be done. And this is where the travel industry is going. It needs to go this way. This is where, you know, the world is heading in any way as well. And other industries are so
Christine Winebrenner Irick 24:43
yeah, I think that it's really interesting to think about, like simply, like you said, just asking that first question and really how awkward it feels. I mean, I kind of remember having a similar situation of asking, you know, telling someone but I didn't want to have Any single use plastics on a trip and how that was needed and it was kind of a little bit terrifying, you know? And yes, again, like it's not this huge task but it's uncomfortable the first time because you don't know what kind of response you're gonna get. And then, you know, I also fortunately was met with like this enthusiasm and like excitement for this challenge and thinking about this and then also like sparked in them to say hey, I also know this restaurant locally that does this thing and this, this hotel, and they have this great initiative. And if you're interested in learning more about this, I'm going to look for more things. And so pretty immediately, there was this ripple effect. And so I think that's exciting to see. And then also for me, when I was studying for my master's in sustainable destination management, I felt like the conversations were kind of under the surface with consumers, right? Like, you could have sustainable travel products but like, don't lead with that, like, yes, how they have, you know, you have this great trip, and then kind of like, sneak the sustainability underneath that and let them know about it later or something. But don't that's not the stage you're building your trip upon. And I really am excited to see that it feels like that can be the stage now. Like that can be the value that you're offering. And not just this side, you know? Yeah. I don't know, this lays on the pillow or something.
26:32
Yeah, yeah. So I mean, that sort of still happens. There are some people that will have some tour experiences, I guess, who don't lead with their sustainability initiatives. And I mean, the idea is to go, Okay, we want you to come and experience it, you enjoy it, and then we go, okay, that was a, that was something that's very much a sustainable experience. And you're like, oh, okay, that was great. So that kind of meets the people that you know, who may not necessarily be looking for this, but experience in any way and realize actually wasn't too bad. It was really fun or enjoyable. And, you know, it meant a lot. And, you know, so there's that as well. So I think there is still space for that.
But I think now, I think we need to be more open and transparent about what we're doing. And, yeah, this is what consumers are looking for. And I think that breaks down that barrier of confusion, which is a big barrier. And that's where there's a lot of confusion, that's expensive, that it's going to be inconvenient that, you know, you're gonna turn into some grainy, like, it's just all these different things, you know, and I think, if we can be more transparent about that, and like you said, leave that sort of at France, then we can just kind of Yeah, move move forward. And that's one of the things that I do is I try and I try and be as open and transparent about things. And, you know, when it comes to sustainability and travel, the biggest challenge we're facing is aviation. And you know, I'm open about talking about that, because it's one of those trade offs, you know, you've got to get on a plane most of the time to get somewhere. And for us here in Australia, it's basically, really our only means to get to Europe to get to the states to get to family and friends overseas. And it's something that we need to address.
And we need to include them in the discussions, as we talk about sustainability, travel and tourism moving forward, because it is a means of transport. And there are ways to minimize the use of a plane, if possible. packing light is another one, going as direct as possible, as much as you can, if you can avoid a shorter flight, you know, drive or train. There's just so many little things that you can talk about. But the air being open and transparent, is important and avoids confusion. Yeah,
Christine Winebrenner Irick 28:53
I think it's also I mean, it's, I think it's great that in this time in the industry, storytelling and transparency are all kinds of things that businesses are working to integrate into, you know, how they connect with travelers. And so it does give us space to say, again, like where in the past, we might not have said, you know, here, you could take this flight, but we can reduce our carbon emissions by choosing to fly here and like you said, and then we're going to go ahead and bus here or train here or Yeah, like there's just all these different pieces. And then this educates the traveler who maybe didn't think about that before. I mean, the first time you hear about it, that's the first time that you know, to ask about it the next time and so we share these maybe that might have been like behind the scenes planning tips or strategies, when we just share those that are also creating conversation. And again, I think that travelers and businesses are getting more comfortable with conversations like this Thinking about how we can reframe these things. And like you said, with the E bike, maybe people just wouldn't have thought about that as something that's a sustainable action, right? Like, they just maybe it's fun or, you know, a unique experience. But when you just give them that language, then they are thinking, you know, the next place they go to, oh, you know, that was fun and easy and had a positive environmental impact. Like, yeah, I can do that next time. And, and like you said, then you like, what's the next thing I might do the next day? What else? Can I do better? Yeah. And so I think it gets everybody comfortable in this space. Yeah, exactly. And
30:39
There's going to be some new things now that you, you will be open to trying now that you if you start thinking this way, you, you'll go, okay, you don't need to jump on the plane or Yeah, or, you know, you could look at something else. And so yeah, it's exciting. I think people should see that as something exciting. Especially if you've been a traveler for some time, these are some new things that you could consider doing. And when it comes to bike touring, I think that's really interesting, because there are some companies out there who will cater for all levels of cyclists. So you might not even be a bike rider, but you can jump on an E bike, it's great. It really is. So it's very inclusive, as well. And what I'm sort of really excited to see as well is, you know, more accessibility as well. So I think, like nature trails as well, being more mindful about making sure that their trails are accessible by everybody, as well, which is really good. So there's a real awareness now of travel and tourism being more accessible to everybody. Yeah.
Christine Winebrenner Irick 31:38
Yeah, I think I always kind of put this into a bucket of conscious travel so much like you're saying, like, it's about sustainability, but it's also about inclusivity. And it's also about, you know, all these different pieces, and it's beginning to just look at how everything is interconnected. And yes, once you just kind of pick up and look underneath this rock, and then you're like, oh, wait, now this one and you like, look under the next rock, and all of a sudden, you're uncovering things, and it's magical. And I know it can be daunting, right? Because you're like, oh, wait, I just wanted to like, I just wanted to look at carbon offsetting. And now I'm also looking at Dei. And now I'm also looking at this and it can become overwhelming. And so I think, you know, this, like you were saying kind of this slow entry that slow, where it's really okay to just say, Wait, I'm gonna just peg that for right now. And know, it's where I want to go. But I don't have to be there today. And again, as a traveler and a business.
32:44
Yeah, very small steps. I mean, for some of my clients, when I was booking travel, it'd be something as simple as taking a Tesla transfer to the airport. Like it was just those small, little things. So yeah, you can add something to an itinerary or a travel experience, small, you know, little things, more things are the whole whole experience. But the idea is to try and do something every time you can. Yeah,
Christine Winebrenner Irick 33:07
yeah. And I know, we both believe that travel is really a privilege. And it is our responsibility as travelers to do this. And so I think that it's just so important to give people the tools and the resources that they can use in order to take these steps. I know one thing we've talked about is ways to get involved. And one of those is travel pledges, traveler pledges, there's so many right now that are happening. Would you like to talk a little bit about that? Maybe that's one small, one small step in this journey.
33:43
Yeah, that was actually on my mind a few minutes ago, when you were saying how two businesses can get started. And one of them is making a pledge, or a declaration as a business that you are becoming more well, more mindful. And you just want to be a bit more open about what your company is hoping to do, and what your tour experiences are hoping to do. So a pledge or declarations are really good start, you know, don't feel like you are sort of putting something out there that I'm trying to refer back to a conversation I had where they felt that by doing some sort of declaration that didn't have sort of any weight behind it, they may be sending the wrong message. And I actually say, Well, no, I don't think I don't feel like you are. I think by putting out a declaration or some sort of pledge, you're showing that you know, you are making that first step. You know, you don't have all the answers. And it's not about having all the answers, we really need to get started on just making that first step. And I really do encourage businesses and travelers as well if they want to make their own pledge, but you'll find that quite a few countries have a pledge now. Iceland is one of them. New Zealand is another Palau was the very first one that had a pledge for tourism to sign upon arriving in that country and just to be mindful of the impact while they're there.
And then if you were in that country to be mindful and respectful of cultures and to leave that space All footprint, basically. So you know, I really think it's a great thing to do, or a small thing to do, you don't need to know all the answers, you don't need to make it perfect or have you know, 10 steps or something, just simply saying, Look, we want to do more, we want our business to do more, and we want to share this journey with you, I think that's another great thing that businesses can do. And you'll find that travelers will want to support you, if they know that you're a company that are looking to do better, you'll find that your travelers and your customers will support you as well in that journey. And again, I'll say we don't have to be all perfect with it. Like I said, in my very first steps, I was like, I had that nagging feeling I had to do something, I didn't know what it was. I just knew I had to do something. And it's been a journey ever since. So, yeah, just declaration and pledges. Great. And that's what I've done in my companies. Well, I have put in, and it's a continually evolving thing as well. Like, don't feel like you've done something a couple years ago, and you just kind of leave it there. Always look at it, use it as your benchmark, use it as a way of measuring what you've done and go, Okay, we've done that. What else can we do? And we keep going back to what we said before? How can we do things better? And it builds that momentum? It really does. Yeah.
Christine Winebrenner Irick 36:18
And I think establishing as a business or as a traveler, I guess, establishing that benchmark and understanding like who you are as a traveler as a business now, then you have a way to measure that impact if it's important to you.
36:30
Yeah, exactly. And it's, you know, it's not just environmental and nature, it's also it could have a cultural impact, you may want to support a community, you may want to support a local school and help support some tourism enterprises. But yeah, it's not just an environmental aspect. So for sustainability, the three main principles of it are the environmental aspect. It's also the economic aspects of prosperity, ensuring that you can support livelihoods in the communities. And it's also the cultural aspect as well. So if you find that you've got a passion for the ocean, and you want to help reduce the plastic in the ocean, that's a great one. If you want to support the education of children in a small community, that's something that you could do as well. There's different aspects, it could be conservation, it could be saving the penguins or something, you know, find what, what your agency's as well. And you can align that if you've got a passion of your own, align that with your travel experiences, or the tool company that you have. And then you'll find that you'll start to align your values with your business, and you'll build some positive momentum from that as well.
Christine Winebrenner Irick 37:41
Yeah, I love that. And again, it's kind of inviting you to narrow it down and not, you need to do all the things that you correct, like what am I passionate about, then you're going to be dedicated to that. And, and if it is oceans, because you're a surfer or sweater is like, not something you can stick to. But if you choose to then go a different direction, you're probably not going to stay there. And so I think that is so great. And there's so many travel programs and travel businesses as well that if you are really interested in conserving, like artists and crafts, like you can find a way that you do that through your travels, if you are really interested in language, you know, preservation or if you're interested in I mean, it's endless. I think that's
38:27
the same thing. Yeah, to just stay sane is spot on. Yeah, that's exactly and finding that agency, which is finding your purpose as well. And you'll if you can align that with your business, I mean, you can take it a little bit further as well, if you want to align it with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals is another one alignment with another not for profit, align it with another Alliance, you know, who are doing, you know, reducing plastics in the ocean and things like that, you can do that as well. But yet, there's lots of not for profits organizations out there doing some great things you could align with them.
Christine Winebrenner Irick 39:02
Yeah, the UN Sustainable, sustainable development goals, I think are a great place to get curious. And also figure out what questions to even ask or maybe if you don't know what your values driven travel might look like, you can just look at those goals and say like, Oh, I didn't realize, you know, I'm very interested in gender equality, but I didn't know I could tie that into my travel. That could be my impact. And so again, like it's kind of like we said, like, it's more about asking these questions, getting curious, how can I put that into action? And I think then it becomes so much more personally rewarding and fulfilling as both the brand and the traveler truly, because you're doing this thing that really really means Yeah,
39:49
yeah. Yeah. And getting curious is really important because that's one of my my values as well is is that curiosity and the love of learning so combined, I'm constantly looking at new things and curious about asking those questions and things in, I'm so grateful to hear you speak the way you do as well, because everything you're saying is, yeah, it's it's true. It's just having those curiosities and then inviting other people to have those conversations with you, and you start realizing there's a different side of you as well. And you start opening up more of an awareness. It's really exciting. Yeah.
Christine Winebrenner Irick 40:24
Yeah, I love that. Because I think a lot about how travel allows us to open those doors and uncover those parts of ourselves. But even if you look at it, in this context, just preparing to travel is actually going to create some of that internal dialogue and discovery. And so I think that's really exciting to look at how expansive the aspect of travel can be in your own personal growth. And, again, like we were saying earlier, it starts maybe with self, but then it's gonna ripple out, it's not gonna stay with you as this, like, you know, personal centric focus, it's gonna be more holistic, I did want to make sure that we had time to share you mentioned both that, you know, during this pandemic, you have really focused, or you didn't mention, but I wanted to mention that during the pandemic, you have focus on your master's in sustainability, and you have recently started some new projects, and I wanted our listeners to be able to share in that with you, so if you would just share what you are getting started on and kind of this fun new parts of, of your business and your and your growth as well.
41:40
Yeah, certainly. So like, like all of us in the travel industry, you know, pretty much hit hard by the pandemic. So it was a real struggle. And somehow, you know, that I found an opportunity to go back to university, which I've done this year. So I'm studying for a master's degree in sustainability. And I'm really excited about that, and having some sort of formal education, I guess, behind it. But yeah, that's just opened up a whole other layer of interest and curiosity and learning. So I'm really looking forward to that, and sharing the knowledge that I have with my clients and with travelers and through my business. And from that, as well, I guess it's all connected, it's all that ripple effect, you know, the, you start becoming more aware of what you can do when you start having those comments. It's exactly what you just say you start having conversations with people you probably never would have had. Otherwise, when you have that intent to to follow a different path and a positive with a positive outcome. I found myself in Yes, some new projects, which I'm really excited about.
So I'm becoming a mentor for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tourism startups and enterprises here in Australia. And I'm really looking forward to that to help them set up tourism experiences, indigenous experiences, and there's a real call for that here in Australia, and just everywhere, as well. And if it can be done in a way which benefits everyone, it can be done in a way which is genuine and authentic. It's really heartwarming to do that. So as a mentor, I will be providing them with insights in how to create a tourism experience that a traveler can come and have. And yeah, I'm really excited about that. So that's a new project that's come out of being open to having those conversations with people. So I'm really excited.
Christine Winebrenner Irick 43:30
Yeah. Congratulations. I love that too. And but when it comes to looking at working with indigenous communities, for me when I travel, I mean, that is actually from for me as a young child, that is something that piqued my curiosity or got a hold of me, and I couldn't stop thinking about is I wanted to live with every indigenous community that I ever saw depicted in a movie or a magazine. And I'm like, I want to learn the language. I'm curious about the culture, the dance, the practices, the traditions, and for me, I thought, there's something that I'm not doing and there's something magical within that.
And then, as I've aged, seeing these cultures becoming less acknowledged, and like losing these traditions, as I started to become a traveler, I wanted to look at the ways I mean, for me, one of those things was how can I use travel as a way to preserve cultures and these indigenous identities and so I'm so excited to hear that that's where you're headed because I think it is so important is definitely something that travel has the power to do. And when you start traveling you maybe don't. That's not your first assumption of what you could be doing when you're traveling, but I think it's one of these beautiful layers that can be added to it. And so if anybody else is listening, and you're like, Oh, I I have been curious, but didn't know how to do that. Yeah, yeah, definitely available to you.
45:03
You've said everything spot on for so long it was not acknowledged, unfortunately, in there's so much curiosity there to learn and, and to understand and be respectful of and so that's what I yeah, I'm really excited to be working with tourism startups and enterprise Well, tourism sites which should stay and just helping them, you know, with my knowledge and, you know, to see where, what how they can create an experience that can be shared with with travelers. Yeah, what you said was beautiful. Sorry, I was lost in your words. Once. Okay.
Christine Winebrenner Irick 45:36
Me, yeah. And I think also just this idea that we can build upon our interests and passions and grow as a traveler and grow as a global community, and really just embrace that. So I appreciate that kind of keeps coming back into this conversation. Yeah. permission for travel to drop a journey. Being a traveler in and of itself is a journey like that, really, there's so many possibilities. And this just can continue to unfold and bring new richness to our lives.
46:11
Yeah, exactly. Yeah. And I will look forward to circling back and sharing more of those experiences with you when they become a bit more established. But yeah, when I was given the opportunity, I just said, Yes, please, like, this is what I'd love to do. So I was really, really grateful for that. And it all comes from having those, those initial conversations. Yeah, I've just been open to it. So I'm really, really grateful to hear that as well. Yeah, everything you're saying is beautiful words. Thank you.
Christine Winebrenner Irick 46:39
Thank you so much. Well, as we wind down our conversation, I want to make sure that listeners know where to find you. So if you want to share your website, ways that they can be connected, and then we'll end with a series of rapid fire questions.
46:56
Oh, okay. Well, if you want to connect with me directly, the best place is to find me on LinkedIn. And then there's also a website under my name, www.dayanabrooke.com. And then for any sustainable travel inquiries, or if you've got a potential travel experience you want to talk about and be listed on the platform. www.thesustainabletraveller.com
Christine Winebrenner Irick 47:18
Thank you. And I just wanted to mention for listeners, I'll drop some traveler pledges and links to other things that you've mentioned also in our show notes, so people can find those on my website, if they want to learn more. So our rapid fire questions are just an opportunity for people to get to know you a little bit more as a traveler and it always seems like it just brings something else we can learn about into the conversation. So the first is what is your favorite book or movie that offers you either a travel escape or inspires you to adventure?
47:52
A favorite book or movie? I will have to say anytime I watch David Attenborough is that can that count? It's not a movie, but it's a series. Yeah. David Attenborough. He just brings so much heart and soul and awareness and curiosity to the planet that we live on. So yeah, that always inspires me to do things better.
Christine Winebrenner Irick 48:14
What is always in your suitcase or backpack when you travel?
48:16
I probably would say my little mini iPad. I don't carry a laptop. I just use an iPad.
Christine Winebrenner Irick 48:25
What has been your favorite destination?
48:29
I'm going to go back to my roots. I'm going to say chili. Chili always. Yeah. Feels like a second home for me. So yeah.
Christine Winebrenner Irick 48:37
And where do you long to visit?
48:39
I'm probably going to say Bhutan.
Christine Winebrenner Irick 48:44
That seems like a very magical destination.
48:49
If I ever find myself there, I'll be eternally grateful.
Christine Winebrenner Irick 48:52
Yeah. What do you eat that immediately connects you to a place that you've been?
48:59
I would probably say Indian. Yeah. A plant based on plant based so a plant based curry or his reminds me or naan bread? Yeah. Reminds me of India.
Christine Winebrenner Irick 49:09
Those smells are so lovely. Yeah,
49:11
the spices and everything. Yeah.
Christine Winebrenner Irick 49:15
Who was the person that inspired or encouraged you to set out and explore?
49:20
my dad's I might get emotional here but yeah, I'm he's he's quite intrepid himself in his explorations. I've got many stories. I could share my childhood, my dad. So yeah, it's made me quite Intrepid. Yeah.
Christine Winebrenner Irick 49:35
And if you could take an adventure with one person- fictional or real past or live, who would it be?
49:42
Well, that's a hard one. One person. Oh, I Oh, I've got to my children. Does that count? You can? Okay. Yeah, my children.
Christine Winebrenner Irick 49:54
Yeah, thank you. I I can definitely relate to that. I can't
49:59
I can't Just pick one. No, yeah, that'd
Christine Winebrenner Irick 50:01
be not fair. Don't cause problems forever. Um, well, I really appreciate you for joining me today and talking so honestly about your journey and sustainability and what it means for you and how you hope that impacts others that work with you. Yeah, I really appreciate that.
50:22
Yeah, let's just come to realize that we can make a difference and just start with one single thing. Yeah, that'd be great. That'd be amazing. Thank you so much for this opportunity as well. Thank you.
Christine Winebrenner Irick 50:50
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