All agencies recommended on our platform are Evaneos Better Trips Verified. This means that each agency has passed our rigorous selection criteria, maintains a minimum score within the Evaneos Better Trips Index, and continues to follow our Code of Conduct with no evidence of non-compliance.

XYZ

Fewer than X% of travel agencies in the world carry a credible sustainability certification. Earning a certification is not easy; so you can be confident that the agencies that have actually done the work to get certified are truly at the vanguard of what it means to deliver tourism responsibly. Trips sold by certified agencies produce more than 5x more profit for local economies and these agencies also meet high quality standards in terms of customer service.

Showing support for today's certified agencies is an important first step in raising standards across the tourism industry.

It is important to note that not all certifications are equal. When you see the "Eco-Certified" label on one of our agencies you can be confident this agency has a recent certification* with high standards and formal external audits such as with Travelife, TourCert, and Rainforest Alliance.

It is also important to note that the lack of an "eco-certified" label does not necessarily mean an agency is less focused on responsible travel. In fact, many of our most impact focused partners (particularly when they are very small agencies) opt not to invest the time and money in a formal certification process and prefer to focus all their resources closer-to-home.

*certified or re-certified within the last 3 years.

Today, about X% of our global network of partner agencies are locally owned*. This might sound low, but we're actually really proud of this number. Consider for example that 90% of hotels in Costa Rica are owned by international businesses and XYZ second fact. In our search to connect you with the world's best local experts we always give preference to qualified locally-owned businesses when possible.

That being said, please remember that local ownership is not the same thing as local expertise. While not every Evaneos agency is locally owned, you can be confident that each Evaneos agent (is based in the destination??? and) has detailed and personal destination expertise. This local knowledge sits at the heart of our their ability to deliver trips that are better for you and better for the people and places you'll visit; Evaneos agents know what the guidebooks don't and can help you avoid over-crowded tourist traps while ensuring your memories aren't coming at the expense of local communities and ecosystems.

*we define local ownership as being majority owned by individuals who are both citizens and current residents of the destination