Costas Christ

Honorary Director

Costas Christ is an award-winning editor and columnist for National Geographic Traveler.  He is one of the world’s top sustainable tourism experts, whose work has taken him to more than 130 countries across six continents. Costas is also a Contributing Editor and the Go Green Luxury Travel Columnist for Virtuoso Life, the largest  luxury travel network in the world. Costas is the Chairman of the National Geographic Travel World Legacy Awards and the Virtuoso Sustainable Tourism Leadership Awards which recognize sustainable tourism best practice resorts, hotels and destinations.  He serves on the board of directors of World Travel Market – World Responsible Tourism Day and is the former Senior Director for Ecotourism at Conservation International.

In 2012, Costas was recognized  with Sir Richard Branson, Ted Turner, Jane Goodall,  Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr Sylvia Earle, as one of 50 Global Visionaries working to save the planet. NBC Today Show said: “For the past 30 years, Costas Christ been at the leading edge of the green travel movement, since way before it was ever called green or even a movement.” Costas‘ travel articles and essays have appeared in many of the world’s leading publications, including the New York Times, International Herald Tribune, and Sunday Times of London. He frequently appears on television and radio to talk about the world’s best hotels and travel destinations, with appearances on Travel Channel, Good Morning America, CNN International, BBC World, ABC News, National Geographic Channel, National Geographic Weekend and National Public Radio, among others.  

Costas is one of the pioneers of ecotourism, helping to officially define the term for the first time and serving as a founding member and former Chairman of The International Ecotourism Society.  His column in National Geographic Traveler has won the NATJA Gold Prize and Bronze Prize for best travel writing in North America for last three consecutive years ( 2011, 2012 and 2013). He received the Travel Visionary Award from the International Hotel and Restaurant Awards, and Costas was also nominated for the Heinz Award, among the most prestigious United States awards given to an individual for their outstanding work supporting conservation, cultural heritage and the arts. When not traveling, he lives on an organic blueberry farm along the coast of Maine.

Costas Christ

Costas Christ