Dear Franziska, thank you for your time! First of all, can you tell us more about you and what inspired you to found Good Travel?
Franziska: First of all, of course, being a passionate traveller myself. I love travelling, discovering new places and getting inspiration from these. And as it happens, normally you spend a lot of time looking for the right accommodation – often without the desired result. And when you’ve actually found a really great accommodation, you wonder why there are not more of them, or where you can find them. Especially in German-speaking countries, we have seen a big gap in this area. So this led us, my partner Judith and me, to the decision to start Good Travel…
How did your own sustainability journey start? And what has been your biggest learning so far?
Franziska: I think it started with having my kids or maybe even before that. We live in Berlin so there was already a community that was engaged in sustainability way before it became mainstream. And of course, becoming a mother myself, even enhanced my desire to live more sustainably - in every aspect. And I’d say my biggest learning so far has been that it is always the person that makes the difference. Every one of us can have an impact - far bigger than the actual “doing”, but by being a role model and inspiring others.
You know, Franziska, that we truly love your approach: “Good places for Good people.” Can you tell us more about what makes a place a good one for you?
Franziska: This ties into my previous answer: I truly believe that people make the difference. And "Good Places for Good People" includes the idea that both our hosts and Good Travellers share a value system and appreciate each other’s commitment.
At MAp we are specialised in supporting independent hoteliers to become more innovative and sustainable, also through crafting unique hotel concepts and brands. What are your thoughts and observations on sustainability in the hospitality industry? What do you believe the future holds for the industry?
Franziska: I think that sustainability will become the new standard in the hospitality industry. Alone the costs will be reason enough for many to think about green energy and similar. With this, the greenwashing practices will become more common as well. And this will be a challenge for us travellers: how to differentiate between good marketing and real commitment? In a lot of cases, this will be only visible when being a guest.
Do you have any recommendations for independent or boutique hoteliers on how they can start and / or advance their sustainability journeys?
Franziska: For me, authenticity is the key. So a hotelier should always start with measures that are heartfelt concerns. For example, starting to grow their own vegetables, including locals in activities for hotel guests, reducing costs by getting solar panels for the pool heating, etc.
What’s your biggest wish for the future?
Franziska: That travelling does not become a privilege for rich people only. Travelling, seeing other countries, getting to know other cultures, is always horizon-expanding. I really hope that our kids won't have to travel virtually only.
As always, our final MAp meets question: what makes a hotel experience a truly outstanding one for you personally?
Franziska: Sleeping well, eating well, a peaceful view and a host that makes me feel welcome :-)
Coming soon
BOOK: Good Places for Good People
Together with CONBOOK Verlag, Good Travel is publishing its first book, which is now available for order and will be available in stores from May #onwards. With over 200 pages, the book spotlights 50 handpicked travel destinations and sustainable accommodations in Europe that provide a special holiday feeling and do good too.
About Good Travel
Good Travel was founded in January 2016 by Franziska Diallo and Judith Hehl in Berlin to address the growing demand for environmentally- and socially-responsible vacations and to fill this gap in the market with a hand-picked selection of sustainable accommodation.
Good Travel's unique selling proposition is that sustainability does not have to mean doing without and that style and enjoyment should not be neglected. With Good Travel, they want to raise awareness for sustainable tourism. They want to make sustainable destinations more attractive. The more people develop an awareness of sustainable practices in vacation accommodations and then demand them, the more willing the industry will be to implement sustainable practices.
From old farms to cottages and design hotels to tiny houses, tree houses and yurts, Good Travel presents a colourful selection of sustainable vacation destinations in a variety of price segments. The journey already begins with the search - through pictures and descriptions that invite you to dream and plan. They see themselves as impulse givers: They inform and inspire both on the offer and demand side. They want to show the hosts that a sustainable positioning in the tourism industry brings a decisive competitive advantage. For them, sustainable travel is the new, contemporary travel.
On their blog, which they completely redesigned this summer, they also write about general sustainability topics in addition to sustainable travel. Because for them, sustainability is a matter that affects all areas of life. They want to inspire you to make your everyday life more sustainable.
About Franziska:
Franziska Diallo is the founder and commercial head of Good Travel. After five years at eBay, she worked as a freelance consultant for various Berlin start-ups until 2015. Surrounded by many inspiring ideas and concepts, Franziska also began to question the meaning of her own activity.
As a passionate traveller, a vacation in Morocco then provided inspiration for the founding of Good Travel. There, the family stayed in a small family-run boutique hotel that prepared meals exclusively with ingredients from its own small fruit and vegetable plantation and supported various social projects in the village. Where can you find more of these special places? Diallo asked herself, thinking that these sustainable and inspiring places should have their own portal.
ke time for prosecco