Avanti Destinations has earned B Corp certification across its three main offices in Portland, Barcelona and Manchester, meeting third-party standards for social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency.
For travel advisors, the certification adds another layer to Avanti’s growing sustainability efforts, including its Footprints program, which now identifies more than 2,000 sustainable accommodations, transfers and tours available through the company’s advisor portal.
“I am proud that we are one of only a handful of tour operators headquartered in the U.S. to receive certification,” said Paul Barry, CEO of Avanti, in a press statement. “B Corporation standards are in alignment with our company values, and they give us a framework not only to do good now, but to continue to do even more good in the future.”
More Sustainable Products for Advisors
Its Footprints program, launched in 2025, gives advisors a way to identify suppliers making a significant commitment to sustainability. Products that meet Avanti’s criteria are marked with a green three-leaf logo in the advisor portal.
More than 2,000 products have now received the Footprints designation. Avanti fact-checks supplier responses to a detailed sustainability survey before awarding the designation.
“We interpret sustainability to include steps that protect the environment and support local and indigenous communities,” said Alison Atkinson, Avanti’s Commercial Director in Barcelona and head of the company’s sustainability and B Corp certification team.
For advisors, the program can make it easier to incorporate vetted sustainability options into customized itineraries without having to research every supplier independently.
What B Corp Certification Means
B Corp certification evaluates companies across five areas: governance, workers, community, environment and customers. Companies must achieve a minimum score of 80 points and recertify every three years at a higher level than their previous certification.
Avanti’s audited score was 81.1, compared with an average score of 50.9 for companies undergoing the assessment, according to Atkinson.
The certification process also prompted Avanti to formalize and expand some of its sustainability policies, including an animal welfare policy designed to ensure supplier experiences do not harm animals or wildlife.
A Focus on Local Communities
Avanti says its approach also recognizes the environmental impact of international travel, particularly long-haul air travel.
“Because we sell international travel, advisors’ clients travel overseas on planes,” Barry said. “Even if these clients take walking tours, cycling, or hiking tours, travel by train, and stay in environmentally-conscious hotels, jungle lodges, or eco-resorts once they reach their destinations, long-haul air makes their carbon footprint large.”
Rather than focusing solely on reducing that footprint, Barry said Avanti emphasizes what the company calls “symbiotic” tourism, with an emphasis on supporting the communities travelers visit.
“Since we cannot change that—we focus on something we call ‘symbiotic’ tourism, working hard to benefit the local communities where our travelers go,” Barry said. “Many of our suppliers are involved in sustainability initiatives, such as wildlife protection, supporting local businesses, or community-building.”
For more information, visit book.avantidestinations.com.
