Guests staying at voco hotels across Australia and New Zealand can now ride in style and sustainability with complimentary access to Wyld Bikes – bicycles handcrafted from one of the most sustainable materials on the planet – bamboo.
“We are hugely proud to be partnering with Wyld Bikes, who share our mission to create a positive impact in working toward a more sustainable future,” said Dean Jones, vice president of commercial, IHG Australasia, Pacific & Japan.
Connected by a shared ‘tread lightly’ philosophy, voco is proudly the first accommodation partner of Wyld Bikes.
From the vineyards of the Hunter Valley to the sandy Gold Coast, Brisbane, and the streets of Melbourne and Auckland, guests are encouraged to explore the local communities at voco destinations.
The Wyld Bike journey begins in Ghana, part of the Ghana Bamboo Bike Initiative, which designs and builds bamboo bicycles and supports the local community by creating job opportunities. The bike parts then arrive in Australia, where young Australians assemble them through project-based mentorship.
“Increasingly, people are leaning into this movement towards supporting responsible, ethical, and sustainable businesses that influence positive change,” said Natalie Simmons, co-founder and chief operating officer at Barefoot Citizens, the visionary group behind Wyld Bikes.
Wyld Bikes sources its materials from the Ghana Bamboo Bike Initiative, which addresses poverty and climate change.
The Wyld Bikes “Tread Lightly. Doing Good for People & Planet” philosophy perfectly aligns with IHG Hotels & Resorts’ commitments to delivering True Hospitality for Good and our Journey to Tomorrow.
In addition to these modern, sustainable rides, voco hotels collaborated with Australian environmentalist and model Laura Wells to create a “Tread Lightly” guide with tips for eco-conscious travel. The guides, along with the bikes, are available for guests at voco properties.
“With travel high on the agenda again, people are genuinely more conscious of their footprint and impact on the planet and communities. And after the past two years of border closures, we got very good at discovering the gems at our doorstep – especially when it came to supporting local businesses, exploring local parks, lesser-known beaches, or connecting with the communities around us,” said Jones.
“The Wyld Bikes are bringing back the joy in a new way while also helping us travel responsibly… plus they’re refreshingly comfortable for those of us who haven’t been on a bike for some time!”
