RARE concludes BRIDGES for Conscious Travel 2025
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Partnered with NettZero Environmental Advisory Technologies Pvt. Ltd. to make BRIDGES for Conscious Travel 2025 a carbon neutral conference.
BRIDGES for Conscious Travel 2025, hosted by RARE India, brought together 55 hotel exhibitors, 6 museum of stories, 2 NGOs and experience providers speaking with 51 foreign tour operators (FTOs), 221 destination management companies (DMCs), inbound and domestic operators under one roof.
The key differentiators of BRIDGES for Conscious Travel 2025 reported to be app-based format for meetings and engagement designed by Cvent, as well as RARE India’s collaboration with NettZero to make BRIDGES for Conscious Travel 2025 a carbon neutral conference.
Regarding the conference, Shoba Rudra, Partner & Founder, RARE India, "With its colour, art & craft traditions, culture and diversity, BRIDGES for Conscious Travel 2025 aims to be a stellar Experiential Tourism conference to entice international audiences as well as inspire the fraternity often caught in the hum drum of operations. This conference is my obeisance to the industry which has opened this university of learning and personal growth for me.”
The conference aimed to serve as a platform for meaningful conversations, partnerships, and knowledge exchange. Amita Baig, Former Executive Director of World Monuments Fund India, kickstarted the conference with an insightful talk on ‘Conserving India’s Heritage’. Several conversations were also held during the 3-day long conference on topics such as ‘Can Sustainability Drive Business Growth?’, ‘The Changing Dynamics of Experiential Travel’ and ‘The Next Gen in Travel’.
The third edition of the RARE Conscious Travel Awards were also announced during the conference. At BRIDGES for Conscious Travel 2025, the Indian School of Nature launched their carbon neutral itinerary for tour operators. Gujarat Tourism, a gold sponsor, enabled BRIDGES for Conscious Travel 2025 to run two curated study programs for international agents to the princely estates of Gujarat, as well as the wilderness and crafts centres of the state.
Another initiative was a three-day festival, The Chhau at The Belgadia Palace, to celebrate and promote the performing art of Chhau Dance from three regions of Bengal, Odisha and Mayurbhanj, which continued towards Bhitarkarnika and Ganjam. Another highlight of BRIDGES for Conscious Travel 2025 was the showcase of the arts, crafts and performing arts of different regions of India. This included Phad painting demo by Vijay Joshi, courtesy Shahpura Bagh; performance of Koodiyattam - a 2000-year-old Sanskrit theatre - by Kalamandalam Sangeetha and her ensemble, courtesy Livescapes by The Blue Yonder; The Art Walk with MeMeraki, India’s culture tech for heritage art; Zardozi Demo, courtesy Trocals-Travel With Locals; a Pichwai workshop by Shan Bhatnagar, Co-Creator and Designer of Laalee Jaipur; and morning raagas under the Ficus Tree.