As award nominations continue to roll-in this season (we were shortlisted for two awards by Virtuoso: the Sustainable Travel Leadership Award and the Destinations Experiences Partner of the Year), we’re excited to announce that we’ve been nominated for not just one but TWO awards by PURE Life Experiences.
PURE Life Experiences is a global community of the travel industry’s most innovative high-end suppliers, accomplished Private Travel Designers, and internationally renowned media. Each year this community gathers together in Marrakech to re-imagine the role of high-end, experiential travel to positively impact conservation efforts and transform lives.
The PURE Awards are a celebration of the community and an expert judging panel, featuring renowned, experientially minded travel journalists, has whittled down over 200 entries to create the final shortlist.
The first of our two nominations is for founder and CEO Mei Zhang. She is shortlisted for the Contribution to Experiential Travel Award, an accolade that recognizes an individual whose efforts have directly influenced the development of the experiential travel movement – a true maverick whose commitment, curiosity and daring sets new standards for the industry at large.
Why was she nominated? For the past 17 years, Mei has been a leader of experiential luxury travel. Last year, her book Travels Through Dali: with a leg of ham took her love of her home province’s food and culture and shared it with the world. She continues to be at the vanguard of preserving culture and showing the real China to our clients.
Next up, our Travels Through Dali: with a Leg of Ham journey was nominated for the Transformational Travel Award. In searching for the perfect nominees for this award, PURE’s esteemed board of judges was looking for an immersive, perspective-shifting itinerary that challenges and inspires the sophisticated traveller on a deeply personal level, creating emotion through the powerful medium of storytelling and transforming their life for the better.
Why was this itinerary nominated? Our Travels Through Dali: with a leg of ham itinerary takes our guests into the local kitchens and artisanal workshops of Mei Zhang’s home province of Yunnan. This is a journey close to our hearts and was honored by PURE because you can truly partake in the communities you’re visiting. You’ll learn the process of curing traditional Dali ham and witness master artisans work on their craft – all while getting a deep insight into the changes contemporary China is undergoing.
Now, everyone in the community can vote for the winners. If you love our work, please take a second to vote for us. Winners are announced on Tuesday 12 September at the PURE Awards party, hosted at Sofitel Marrakech.
If you’re attending PURE 2017, our Director of Leisure Jenny Zhao would love to meet you. Feel free to e-mail her at jenny@wildchina.com to book an appointment.
