The meaning of luxury is evolving. Today, it is no longer just about where you go, but the way we experience a destination – and the impact you leave behind. As travellers become more mindful of their footprint, conscious travel is quietly emerging as the new benchmark. Mallika Sheth, co-founder of TealFeel, a conscious luxury travel company, offers a perspective on this shift, one that blends refinement with responsibility.
1. Luxury travel has evolved significantly over the past decade. How would you define ‘conscious luxury travel’ today, and how is it different from what we earlier understood as sustainable travel?
Sustainable travel was traditionally viewed as any aspect of travel that did less harm. From rustic lodges or hotels focused on preserving their ecosystem to carbon offsets to recycling resources locally, it was viewed as an alternative mode of travel where the prefix “eco” did the job of defining the type of travel.
Sustainability was also often an added covering, sometimes even perceived as a compromise.
Conscious luxury travel today is more holistic, encompassing the culture, people as well as the sights of the destination. Travel in this genre is more thoughtful, intentional and aimed at serving a larger purpose than merely visiting another place. This larger purpose can be educating oneself about local culture, supporting local communities through choices of hotels, sightseeing, cuisine and shopping and respecting the ecosystem by doing less damage while visiting. Visitors return with having made a deeper connection to the environment and destination. And luxury gets redefined as adding value through genuine respect to the world around us.
At the same time, the industry has stepped up. Hotels, lodges, and destinations are investing in renewable energy, conservation, community engagement. It takes significant investment, creativity and commitment to be flagbearers of the change they’re determined to make. What was once optional is now expected because the value isn’t seen, it’s felt.
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2. You often speak about how small choices can shape an entire journey. How can small decisions made by travellers transform a trip into a conscious travel experience?
I would love to say that we have clients who call us and say design a “conscious travel holiday”. What happens instead is that clients appreciate the small, inclusions we weave into an itinerary and then realise the conscious travel experience we intended all along.
It’s often the smallest choices that have the most meaningful impact. Choosing a lodge that genuinely supports local communities, visiting a destination in its shoulder season, or opting for experiences that are rooted in local culture rather than staged tourism—these are subtle shifts, but they completely change the story of a journey.
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For us, it’s about guiding clients without overwhelming them. A single well-informed decision can ripple through the entire itinerary, turning a beautiful holiday into something far more purposeful and memorable..
3. How has the mindset of the luxury traveller changed in recent years when it comes to responsibility and impact? How do habits influence conscious travel?
There is a seismic focus on regeneration, sustainability and even longevity. In every single aspect of life. Also, today’s luxury traveller is environmentally more aware, well-informed of global challenges, and increasingly conscious of their impact on the planet. There’s also a generational element – younger travellers and even children are influencing family decisions with a strong sustainability lens.
The travel industry, as most industries are, is also naturally absorbing a lot of these macro societal and global changes. Conscious travel, therefore, is an extension of this broader outlook.
While of course it’s unfair to assume that the way we travelled in the past wasn’t purposeful nor that it didn’t respect local communities. Of course it did. But the intention behind most travel now is more purposeful and specific. There is also a noticeable shift from consumption to connection. Luxury travellers today are less interested in simply ticking off bucket lists but more focused on how they experience places.
They’re asking different questions—about where their money goes, about authenticity, about source of materials, about ways to slow down, about impact. There’s also a deeper desire for meaning, whether it’s through wildlife conservation, cultural immersion, or simply slowing down and engaging more thoughtfully with a place.
In many ways, travel is becoming more reflective of who you are, rather than just where you’ve been.
4. When a traveller thinks of conscious travel, carbon credits are the first thing that comes to mind. How has this evolved, and why do you think carbon credits are still a part of the psyche today?
Carbon offsets were, in many ways, the starting point of sustainability in travel. They were very valuable in introducing the idea of responsibility. Today, in my opinion, they continue to retain a part of the equation, but they’re not the full solution. They address impact after the fact, compensating for a necessary environmental indulgence. But carbon credits alone aren’t going to protect our planet.
Simply put, carbon offsets are about compensation whereas conscious travel is about mindful consumption – both are needed to ensure genuine sustainability.
It’s about rethinking the journey itself—where you go, how you travel, who you support, and what experiences you prioritise to make your trip more respectful, pleasurable and meaningful. It’s about being proactive. Mindful consumption, in small or large measures, across our daily lives and when we travel – that’s what leads to sustained protection of the planet.
We believe the real shift happens when sustainability becomes part of the design process, making us better consumers, rather than compensating for indulgence at the end.
5. When curating journeys at TealFeel, what principles guide your itinerary curation?
We design with three core principles: intention, balance, and respect.
Intention in choosing partners that align with our values. Wherever possible we work with local hoteliers, guides and travel partners who bring our clients a safe, curated, well rounded immersive experience.
Balance is about creating journeys that are indulgent yet mindfully curated. We’re not patronising and we’re certainly not imposing our views. This is our client’s trip – their preferences guide our design. Therefore, our design is unhurried, organic and intensely personal. We also believe in redistribution of tourism when and where possible. Popular destinations often bear disproportionate environmental and cultural strain, while equally compelling regions remain under-visited. Yes, the iconic sights of the world will continue to be visited as they should be. No traveller should be deprived of that pleasure. However, with increased knowledge and awareness, we can guide travellers to enjoy these at alternative times and get a richer experience.
And respect—for the environment, for local communities, and for the cultural fabric of a destination. We’re huge supporters of community-owned restaurants and boutiques, and local shops. Where possible, we always share extensive lists of these with our clients, encouraging them to step away from tourist traps and eat and shop as regionally as possible.
As passionate travellers ourselves, we know that trips should feel easy and comfortable. In our design we ensure that every journey feels seamless and intuitive, serving both the traveller and the destination with equal ease. That, to me, captures the essence of TealFeel. It’s not about imposing a philosophy or labelling a journey. It’s about gently guiding travellers toward experiences that at the time felt extraordinary but had a lasting deeper meaning at its core.
6. Looking ahead, how do you see conscious travel shaping the future of luxury?
Conscious travel will soon cease to be a differentiator—it will become the default expectation.
Luxury as a whole is already being redefined. It is no longer about excess and exclusivity but about awareness, responsibility, access and depth of experience. Travellers will continue to seek experiences that are not only exceptional but also consequential, and they will start to expect more accountability and authenticity from the places they visit.
In many ways, we’re just at the beginning of this shift. The future of luxury travel will be quieter, more thoughtful, more respectful and far more connected—to people, to places, and to purpose.
TealFeel, founded in 2023, is a conscious luxury travel company born out of TravelK. Co-founded by Mallika Sheth and her partners, Karen Mulla and Karl Vazifdar, the company reflects a shift toward more purposeful travel experiences. TealFeel curates journeys that are dedicated to conservation, environmental sustainability and personal wellness. Mallika is passionate about championing awareness and responsibility in travel and TealFeel is redefining what conscious luxury travel looks and feels like today.
