YAANA Ventures and Khiri Travel Pick Up Two Awards

It was a good night for YAANA Ventures companies at the 27th Annual TTG Travel Awards 2016 in Bangkok, 29 September.

TTG – Awards – Bangkok – 2016 – Sustainable

Newly formed YAANA Ventures won “Most Sustainable Travel Company.” Khiri Travel won “Best Travel Agency – Indochina.”

Receiving the sustainable company award on stage, Niemeijer told the audience of 450 travel trade professionals: “There never has been a time when a focus on sustainability is more important. Business can no longer afford just to be about financial gain, or even client satisfaction. The focus has to be equally on communities and the environment.”

Khiri Travel CEO Richard Brouwer accepted the best travel agency, Indochina, award on stage and thanked TTG Asia readers.

TTG – Awards – Bangkok – 2016 – Sustainable

Niemeijer launched Khiri Travel in 1993 and grew it into a leading and highly respected Asian DMC with a strong focus on sustainable and responsible tourism.

In March this year, Niemeijer relinquished the Khiri Travel CEO position to set up YAANA Ventures, which has since invested in a continuously growing stable of innovative and responsible travel and hospitality companies such as GROUND (educational travel for young people and companies), Anurak Community Lodge (a new eco-resort in Khao Sok, southern Thailand), Grasshopper Adventures (bicycle tours in Asia) and Banteay Chhmar Tents in Cambodia. Each entity is firmly committed to sustainable tourism practices.

TTG – Awards – Bangkok – 2016 – Sustainable

Organized annually by TTG Asia, the TTG Travel Awards honor the best of the best in the Asia Pacific travel trade. “It marks a time for the industry to recognize the exemplary organizations that raise the bar of excellence,” said TTG.

Voting for the TTG Asia awards is done annually online by readers of TTG Asia’s assorted travel trade publications. The Outstanding Achievement Awards, including Most Sustainable Travel Company are made by TTG Asia’s editorial team.

Khiri Travel CEO Richard Brouwer said: “Khiri Travel is honored to be hailed as the best travel agency in Indochina. Khiri continues to stretch its wings in its other destinations such as Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives by using the same sustainable Khiri values to create memorable high quality travel experiences, all with an emphasis on authenticity in those destinations too.”