Reposted by Richard HammondRichard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 05/12/2025Yay! The launch of a new overnight flat-bed sleeper bus service in Europe - between Amsterdam and Zurich, and Zurich and Barcelona. Rhiannon Batten reviews it in The Guardian www.theguardian.com/travel/2025/... 033
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 05/12/2025Yay! The launch of a new overnight flat-bed sleeper bus service in Europe - between Amsterdam and Zurich, and Zurich and Barcelona. Rhiannon Batten reviews it in The Guardian www.theguardian.com/travel/2025/... 033
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 29/11/2025"Look outside, hear the thunder, feel the rain: in the real world, change is happening" @fionaharvey.bsky.social in The Guardian www.theguardian.com/environment/...theguardian.comBeyond the negative headlines, some truly good things came out of Cop30In this week’s newsletter: Ultimately, climate progress will come from real-world action, and this year’s summit made some promising strides on that front 085
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 17/11/2025Chancellor Rachel Reeves "could allow holiday tax on English hotel and Airbnb stays", a move that would give mayors powers to raise funds through levies, but industry says "it will ramp up prices and inflation", reports Lauren Almeida in the Guardian www.theguardian.com/business/202...theguardian.comReeves could allow holiday tax on English hotel and Airbnb staysMove to give mayors powers to raise funds through levies, but industry says it will ramp up prices and inflation 120
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 05/11/2025Spain's Secretary of State for Tourism, Rosario Sánchez Grau launching Spain's tourism strategy to 2030 this morning at World Travel Market #wtm #wtm2025 #wtmlondon 021
Reposted by Richard HammondGreen Traveller Media @greentraveller.bsky.social · 23/10/2025New! The Autumn issue of The Green Traveller e-mag has landed, packed with ideas for great trips, including hiking in Herefordshire, wildlife watching in Gran Canaria, island-hopping across the Ionian Islands & community-based conservation in Saint Lucia issuu.com/greentravell... 041
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 23/10/2025Is there really a future in green travel? I discuss this with @simoncalder.bsky.social on his Independent Travel Podcast. We talked about family travel to Europe on Flixbus, and the opportunities that increased competition could create for the UK's rail network shows.acast.com/green-list-t... 051
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 09/10/2025Significant announcement from Intrepid regarding changes to its Climate Action Plan that will reverberate across the industry, incl "a new lifecycle target that takes full accountability of our total emissions, including customer flights to and from our trips" www.theguardian.com/business/202...theguardian.comTour operator Intrepid drops carbon offsets and emissions targetsFirm will instead invest A$2m a year in ‘climate impact fund’ supporting renewables and switching to EVs 011
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 29/08/2025We travelled by FlixBus coach to the French Alps to hike a section of The Grand Tour de Tarentaise trail, which caters for both experienced hikers and first-timers, with cosy mountain refuges offering the perfect place to recharge www.theguardian.com/travel/2025/...theguardian.com‘It feels as though the mountains are ours alone’: family-friendly hiking in the French AlpsThe ‘wonderfully wild’ Grand Tour de Tarentaise trail caters for experienced hikers and first-timers, with cosy mountain refuges offering the perfect place to recharge 031
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 26/08/2025What is Community Tourism and how do you measure it? Find out in the latest episode of It's a Journey Podcast with guests Manisha Pande, MD of Village Ways in India, and Kelly Galaski, Head of Impact at the non-profit organisation Planeterra www.itsajourney.fm/podcast-epis... 011
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 29/07/2025Can train travel in Europe be a practical, affordable, low-emissions alternative to air travel? The next episode of It's a Journey podcast has dropped with @seatsixtyone.bsky.social Björn Bender CEO of Rail Europe & Sarah Fussey Marketing Director of Inntravel www.itsajourney.fm/podcast-epis... 010
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 17/07/2025Plans for direct train to Berlin in new UK-Germany treaty, reports Jennifer McKiernan and Becky Morton for the BBC www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...bbc.co.ukPlans for direct train to Berlin in new UK-Germany treatyIt comes as Friedrich Merz makes his first official visit to the UK as German chancellor. 010
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 15/07/2025New! Episode 2 of It's a Journey Podcast has dropped: Costing Nature - can doing the right thing by people and planet also make commercial sense? With guests James Thornton, CEO of Intrepid Travel and Siddarth Shrikanth, author of 'A Case for Nature', listen here: www.itsajourney.fm/podcast-epis... 010
Reposted by Richard HammondRichard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 02/07/2025Just dropped! Thrilled to launch a new podcast — It’s a Journey: A sustainable travel podcast for the travel industry that I'm co-hosting with Holly Tuppen featuring guests from across and beyond the travel industry. Sponsored by Lemongrass www.itsajourney.fm 2114
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 02/07/2025Just dropped! Thrilled to launch a new podcast — It’s a Journey: A sustainable travel podcast for the travel industry that I'm co-hosting with Holly Tuppen featuring guests from across and beyond the travel industry. Sponsored by Lemongrass www.itsajourney.fm 2114
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 29/05/2025German open-access operator FlixTrain has announced that it's to invest up to €2.4bn in a fleet of 65 new inter-city trains, reports Mark Simmons for International Rail Journal www.railjournal.com/fleet/flixtr...railjournal.comFlixTrain announces €2.4bn new fleet investmentGerman open-access operator FlixTrain has announced that it is to invest up to €2.4bn in a fleet of 65 new inter-city trains. 000
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 01/05/2025My latest 60-sec interview with a prominent person in the travel industry, answering the question: "What is the one thing you'd change given the climate and nature emergencies?" 🙏 Thomas Power, co-founder & CEO Pura Aventura 010
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 01/05/2025Packed house at #SpainTalks, the flagship forum of the Spanish Tourist Office in London where keynote speakers and panellists from Spain and the UK travel industry come to explore sustainable travel strategies in Spain and beyond socialnewsroom.spain.info/spain-talks-... 000
Reposted by Richard HammondShafik Meghji @shafikmeghji.bsky.social · 02/04/2025An action shot from last night’s panel discussion at the Inspire Global Media Awards. Really enjoyed chatting to @karennedwards.bsky.social, Pippa Jacks & @richardgehammond.bsky.social about progressive travel storytelling. Congratulations to all the winners 🎉 #IGMAs #positiveimpacttorytelling 162
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 04/03/2025My latest 60-sec interview with a prominent person in the travel industry, answering the question: "What is the one thing you'd change given the climate and nature emergencies?" 🙏 Bruce Poon Tip, founder of G Adventures 041
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 21/02/2025St Pancras plans for direct trains from UK to Germany, reports Charlotte Edwards for the BBC www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...bbc.co.ukSt Pancras plans for direct trains from UK to GermanyThe London station's owner and Eurotunnel hope to expand routes to Cologne, Frankfurt and Switzerland. 021
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 21/02/2025Why travel brands need to consider video marketing, post by me for Lemongrass PR's Insight series www.lemongrassmarketing.com/insights/vid... 031
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 21/02/2025Fab couple of days of 25 x 15-min meetings at TravMedia's #IMM2025 hearing from tour ops & tourist boards near and far about the latest sustainable tourism initiatives. Always love walking past this beauty on the way in 000
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 16/02/2025The Man in Seat 61's dream list for re-instated train journeys. It's a look back at great train journeys that no longer exist, but could it also be a glimpse of the future? www.greentraveller.co.uk/post/the-man... 000
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 13/02/2025Why travel brands need to consider video marketing, post by me for the Insight series @lemongrasspr.bsky.social www.lemongrassmarketing.com/insights/vid...lemongrassmarketing.comWhy Travel Brands Need to Consider Video MarketingVideo is a powerful tool in travel marketing, offering a unique way to engage audiences and inspire bookings. Richard Hammond highlights how video is an affordable, versatile asset for content marketi... 000
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 12/02/2025Eurostar resumes direct trains from Amsterdam to London, with an early morning train added to the timetable, leaving at 6.40am and arriving in to London at 9.57am www.dutchnews.nl/2025/02/euro...dutchnews.nlEurostar resumes direct trains from Amsterdam to London - DutchNews.nlDirect Eurostar trains from Amsterdam to London resumed on Monday following the opening of a UK border checkpoint at the Dutch capital’s main railway station. The service was suspended last June after... 001
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 22/01/2025Snowshoeing at twilight in the forests above Les Arcs in the French Alps, on a snow-train-to-the-Alps trip with Inghams 040
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 18/01/2025All aboard the snow train to the French Alps 250
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 16/01/2025Loved filming this TV ad for the clever folk at Simpson Travel youtu.be/vHpHuxqLAx4?...youtu.beSimpson Travel: Because your time is precious.YouTube video by Simpson Travel 110
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 15/01/2025Simpson Travel first villa operator to sign safer tourism pledge, reports Phil Davies in Travel Weekly travelweekly.co.uk/news/tourism...travelweekly.co.ukSimpson Travel first villa operator to sign safer tourism pledge | Travel WeeklyCollaboration underlines commitment to health, safety and risk management 000
Reposted by Richard HammondGreen Traveller Media @greentraveller.bsky.social · 10/01/2025The Big Rail Sale is back! Starts this Tuesday 14 Jan – make the most of up to half price discounts on over 2 million tickets for journeys made between 17 January and 31 March 2025 across Great Britain www.greentraveller.co.uk/post/rail-sa... 012
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 10/01/2025Beautiful morning up here on the Mendips 020
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 01/01/2025Walking the Derwent Valley Heritage Trail for 5 days over New Year 040
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 21/12/2024Introducing a new video series where I ask leading lights in the tourism industry to explain in less than 60 secs the one thing they'd change to address tourism's impact on the climate and nature emergencies. First up is Al Judge, founder of AliKats Mountain Holidays and President of Montagne Verte: 021
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 21/12/2024Flixbus - the budget, low-carbon, city-to-city transport revolution that is sweeping across Europe, dozens of them lined up here at Paris Bercy coach station as we made our way from London via Paris to Geneva en route to the Alps 001
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 14/12/2024On a snowy adventure - taking the overnight Flixbus from London Victoria to the French Alps - a low carbon route to the slopes 182
Reposted by Richard HammondGreen Traveller Media @greentraveller.bsky.social · 11/12/2024New low-cost, high-speed train connecting Barcelona to Malaga launches this Sunday. Tickets for the 5hr 50min trip are on offer from €22.20 one way www.greentraveller.co.uk/post/new-low...greentraveller.co.ukNew low-cost high-speed train connects Barcelona to MalagaA new rail service between Malaga and Barcelona launches this Sunday, 15th December, connecting two of Spain's most popular cities in 5 hours, 50 minutes. Tickets are on offer from €22.20 one way.The ... 053
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 07/12/2024FirstGroup acquires London – South Wales 'open access' business for London to Carmarthen and plans Lumo service between London and Devon, reports Railway Gazette www.railwaygazette.com/uk/firstgrou...railwaygazette.comFirstGroup acquires London – South Wales open access business and plans Lumo to DevonUK: FirstGroup has bought Grand Union Trains GWML Holdings Ltd, which holds track access rights to launch an open access passenger service between London and Carmarthen. 000
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 02/12/2024Benidorm announced as European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism 2025 smart-tourism-capital.ec.europa.eu/benidorm-202...smart-tourism-capital.ec.europa.euBenidorm - 2025 European Green Pioneer of Smart TourismBenidorm, Spain, is integrating environmental conservation, economic stability, and social enrichment into its tourism strategy. The city's commitment to green practices is improving the overall visit... 021
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 02/12/2024London to Edinburgh journey by train could be faster than flying, thanks to planned upgrades to the north-eastern rail line, reports William Mata in The Standard www.standard.co.uk/news/transpo...standard.co.ukLondon to Edinburgh train upgrades could make rail faster than flyingProposed improvements and efficiency measures aim to cut 20 minutes from the journey 010
Reposted by Richard HammondAdam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 27/11/2024Good NYT piece as UN plastic pollution treaty talks resume. Documents leaked from an industry group show how plastics companies are pushing back against a “tide of anti-plastic sentiment.” www.nytimes.com/2024/11/27/c...nytimes.comInside the Plastic Industry’s Battle to Win Over Hearts and MindsDocuments leaked from an industry group show how plastics companies are pushing back against a “tide of anti-plastic sentiment.” 172
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 24/11/2024Millions of tourists in the UK could be asked to pay local visitor levy, reports the Guardian www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/...theguardian.comMillions of tourists in UK could be asked to pay local visitor levyCouncils, politicians and campaigners hope a ‘tourist tax’ would raise money to fund services in areas affected by high visitor numbers 010
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 23/11/2024The other side of the mountain - article and video by me on a week of outdoor adventure in the Haute Alpes with Undiscovered Mountains www.greentraveller.co.uk/post/the-hau...greentraveller.co.ukAlps Family Activity HolidayRichard Hammond and his family take the train to a lesser-known region of the French Alps to try out a series of outdoor mountain activities 110
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 19/11/2024All aboard the train in Spain - article by me on how Spain is embracing the rail renaissance given the ‘open access’ liberalisation of the European rail network www.greentraveller.co.uk/post/all-abo...greentraveller.co.ukAll aboard the train in SpainTrain travel in Spain, including high speed networks and other long distance rail services 1153
Richard Hammond @richardgehammond.bsky.social · 16/11/2024First Bus signs five-year partnership with Flixbus, boosting daily services across the South-West of England and expanding routes in northern cities including Leeds, Manchester, and Newcastle www.greentraveller.co.uk/post/firstbu...greentraveller.co.ukFirst Bus signs five-year partnership with FlixbusFirst Bus, one of the UK’s leading bus operators and global travel tech company FlixBus, 051