I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the travel industry does not care about climate change, and a recent survey highlighted by Travel Weekly and undertaken by the Institute of Travel and Tourism confirms my suspicions.
The survey highlighted that only 34% of travel agencies think travel has a role to play in combating climate change. We won’t mention that the Institute of Travel and Tourism recently held it’s annual conference in Cyprus, why have all those delegates fly instead of holding the event in the UK.
Here is my ten point plan that I’d like to see the travel industry implement to help the environment.
Airlines
» Cut down on glossy in-flight magazines, and move towards recyclable paper.
» Airlines offering consumers the option of offsetting carbon emissions whilst booking
» End paper tickets and booking invoices
Hotels
» Hotels introduce low energy lighting and low-flow shower heads
» Put more pressure on hotels to monitor consumption and use of energy
» More investment in solar energy within hotels
» Use energy-efficient appliances
Travel agencies and Tour operators
» Involvement in projects in-resort to help the local community
» Reduce environmental emissions on travel, i.e. airport transfers
» Downloadable holiday brochures as standard
» Educate travellers to be more environmentally friendly
I don’t pretend to be an environment expert but in the last 12 months I have really changed – I recycle more, turn all equipment off, not just on stand-by, I have less lighting, I don’t waste water and food, and I am more aware of the local community when travelling.
Now it’s your opportunity as a travel consumer to highlight on the comments, your own blog or website, what you would like the travel industry to do, to be more environmentally friendly, and hopefully someone will sit up and take notice.
Related posts
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- Five travel tips for a green Christmas
- Airline industry working towards carbon free flights
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Nathan Midgley | 4 July, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Hi Darren – reposting two pars I wrote in a reply to you over on TW Blog – this is regarding the ITT conf in Cyprus. It’s not a watertight counterargument but it’s something to think about…
Delegates aren’t just paying to go to business sessions. They pay to go away, socialise with contacts and enjoy a destination. So is there a pronounced moral difference between 400 ITT delegates flying out to enjoy an event, and 400 ‘pure’ tourists flying out in the same seats (which they would have done, since this was a scheduled flight) to enjoy a holiday? If the objection is to not-strictly-necessary air travel, it isn’t just the ITT that is guilty.
It would have been smart to have offered a carbon offset on every ITT ticket – I’m looking back through my stuff but I don’t think that was an option.
I predict most of the big conferences will go down that route in the coming years. Not doing so is too much of a PR risk, not to mention morally iffy.
Darren Cronian | 4 July, 2008 at 6:28 pm
@ Nathan
Are you a workaholic? 
Okay, point taken about 400 delegates and 400 tourists, but is it not hypocritical to compile a survey like that when the conference could have quite easily taken place in the UK?
Maybe I am a hypocrite too, because if someone had offered me a cheapo trip to Cyprus to a conference I’d go haha but that’s not the point 
I mentioned carbon offsetting in the post, I’d like to see more airlines offer that as part of the booking process.
Cathy | 4 July, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Darren you have listed 11 points 
Darren Cronian | 4 July, 2008 at 7:13 pm
@ Cathy
Oh yes, well spotted. I don’t know which one to remove so we’ll rename it the 11 point plan
Nomadic Matt | 4 July, 2008 at 9:26 pm
I’m always surprised when airlines still issue paper tickets. I mean even if they don’t care about the enivornment , it still saves them money.
In many 3rd world countries, hotels already make those changes . Not for the environment (though that can be a factor) but because it saves them money and with less disposable income, its more important to save all those pennies.
However, eco-tourism is a growing trend so i wouldnt say the industry as a whole doesn’t care. In fact, i’d say a good portion does care, but they are not in the majority yet.
Nathan | 4 July, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Um… yes. Yes I am.
That’s the point though – if it was a straight business proposition of course you could hold it in the UK. But it isn’t. It’s in this grey area between business meetings (which you can do at home with skype etc) and a big group holiday booking (which you can’t).
So I don’t disagree with you, but I’m not sure something like ITT is the best test case for the point you’re making. Right now there are X thousand people making trips that are pure business, and which could just as easily be done on the net. The ITT conference isn’t quite in that category IMO.
Darren Cronian | 5 July, 2008 at 3:48 am
@ Nathan
Points taken, and even though I was singling out ITT, I was just making a point that a survey (eek not one of them again!) was undertaken by an organisation which flew x amount of people to attend it’s conference.
I am not having a dig at TW, or anyone who attended, but I think the industry needs to be a little more environmentally conscious.
As you mention offsetting carbon emissions would be a good start if these conferences have to take place abroad. Whilst ITT or the airlines have not arranged offsetting, individuals can do this themselves through climate care
Cathy | 5 July, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Low-flow shower heads is a good suggestion. The power showers most hotels have are great, but the amount of water flowing out of them is wasteful.
Darren Cronian | 5 July, 2008 at 2:31 pm
@ Cathy
Good point about power showers, most of the water goes all over the shower, and on the bathroom floor.
What a waste.
Dawn Williamson | 5 July, 2008 at 4:11 pm
It is amazing to me that people don’t realize what they can be doing to save money and still help the environment.
But we live in a wasteful society and it will take a lot to educate people in what they can do to help. Not just the travel industry. Granted there can be a lot of changes done there.
Like everything we need to start in our own homes.
Darren Cronian | 5 July, 2008 at 4:16 pm
@ Dawn
I agree with need to start in our own homes, but do you not think that the travel industry should not be setting an example?
Nick | 7 July, 2008 at 10:42 am
Darren
Travel industry does care, we just not good at promoting it.
Airlines
From June all tickets in the UK are e-ticket, this means all you need is your reference number and ID to catch a flight. But there is a problem with that, would you travel without knowing all your flight details or would you take a print of your booking? Also some customs and immigration require print flight confirmation, plus what UK law requires you have in writing.
Some airlines do offer carbon offsetting such as British Airways.
Travel agency and Tour operators.
E-brochures are now widely available and when possible will become downloadable.
In the mean time we and other agents have signed up to the “Green Brochure Charter” and recycle brochures asking customers to return and recycling the remainder, we have managed to cut brochure waste by 50%. (Did you get anywhere with a recycle bin from your council Darren?)
You also have scream if your green campaign that was run a couple years ago, our targets on this was;
Cut power, we turn off everything when not in use and use energy efficient lighting and equipment. Our electric bill has gone down, even with the price increases.
Recycle, we recycle all metal, paper, card, and plastic where it is possible.
Encourage people to partake in local culture.
All major tour operators offer carbon offsetting and/or a donations scheme to a charity. We find that customer refuse the carbon offsetting at a rate of about 8 out of 10, but only 1 out of 10 for the charity donations.
On top off this you can go on an eco-friendly holiday, just ask your local independent travel agent for them.
As with most things a lot is down to consumer demand, companies can do it but if consumers do not want it where is the incentive to them?
As I said how good are we about promoting this? You work in the industry, how much did you know?
Darren Cronian | 7 July, 2008 at 12:30 pm
@ Nick
I don’t work in the travel industry, so as a consumer knew nothing of the above. You could be right that travel agents do not promote what they are doing about the environment, at a time where people are becoming more environmentally focused you would think that’s the type of thing that would be used towards marketing or promoting the company.
I am glad to hear that you as a travel agency are doing something about the environment, but to be fair your one out of thousands. I wonder if other agencies are of the same thinking as you Nick?
Nick | 7 July, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Darren
The scream if your green campaign has over 1000 company’s involved. The Green Charter has 100’s of shops. The carbon offsetting or charity donation are valid on 90% of holidays bookable. Some companies maybe doing more.
Darren Cronian | 7 July, 2008 at 2:20 pm
@ Nick
Thanks – I’d like to find out what exactly these companies are doing in the scream for green campaign. I’m sceptical but I’d like to learn more. Do you have a contact I could contact?
Julie | 8 July, 2008 at 9:52 am
What about passengers doing their bit too? You may recycle at home, but then when you go abroad, some think nothing of leaving, drink cans, shampoo bottles, packaging, newspapers etc in the bin. Environmental responsibility doesn’t stop when you go on holiday and you should not expect others to do it for you either. On holiday take re-useable containers for shampoos etc and bring them back. Its up to everyone, not just the suppliers and the airports.
PS – Turn your air con off if you are not in your room or if you have your doors open. Use the fans.
Darren Cronian | 8 July, 2008 at 12:22 pm
@ Julie
Yes, I am not putting all the blame on the travel industry because travellers can do much more when they are travelling too. I think it needs to start from the travel industry though who need to set an example.
Julie | 8 July, 2008 at 1:17 pm
I agree it needs to start with the travel industry and the majority do set an example and they do care. As Nick says, they do lots but don’t promote it very well. At the end of the day most passengers don’t care about being green and flight carbon omission, they want it cheap and they want to travel often for as little as possible.
Here is an example. Last year, I sat on a Ryanair flight next to a couple on the way to Spain, staying one night because it was cheaper than traveling to London on the train and staying in a London hotel for the same duration. Is their choice morally right, or should the airline be to blame? It was their 5th short trip that year.
The travel industry do care about climate change and want customers to take an acting role of responsibility, sadly however most travelers (like those I mention above) don’t see it as a shared responsibility.
Rohan | 8 July, 2008 at 10:09 pm
The wife and I are going to Sri Lanka next month to spend a week helping to build a community school, and the other week relaxing on the beach. We find this type of holiday more satisfying then spending it lazying around.
Darren Cronian | 8 July, 2008 at 11:19 pm
@ Julie
All good points, and they will always be consumers who do not give a damn about the environment. As for the example you gave, it’s a good one. The organisation I work for used to fly us down to London, but I started to mention that I wanted to catch the train, because we should be thinking about the environment.
It costs them more, because we have to stay in a hotel overnight, due to the times the train arrives at London Kings Cross, but it is much more environmentally friendly. Small things like this help, but if more companies act the same way, it makes a massive difference to the environment.
@ Rohan
I would love to do that! Who did you book your holiday with? I couldn’t think of anything worse than sat on the beach for two weeks. I like to walk alot, and I find thats the best way to see the destinations as locals see it.
Darren Cronian | 8 July, 2008 at 11:22 pm
Update:
I have invitied a number of people from around the industry, including TTG, Climate Care, and a few bloggers, travel companies and agencies. If you are a holidaymaker reading this then please do comment because it’s important we look at this issue from as many perspectives as possible.
Alex Bainbridge | 9 July, 2008 at 12:09 am
Another point for your plan, Darren
Travel companies should use “Software as a Service” (SAAS) style travel technology rather than run their own (or leased) kit in data centres. This then groups multiple companies into shared resources cutting down on significant power requirements that datacentres have (for example for air conditioning and computer / kit electricity)
Needless to say, my company sells a travel technology system based on the SaaS principle….. so I would say this wouldn’t I….
Darren Cronian | 9 July, 2008 at 12:19 am
@ Alex
Thanks for adding your thoughts on this issue. The organisation I work for (the royal ‘we’) are implementing new technology (servers) which are less power intensive. If I think back 5 years, we’ve really made processes more electronic, less paperwork.
The payroll and HR function was all paper driven until 2004, when we introduced SAP (http://www.sap.com) which has radically changed how the organisation works. So, technology like you mention does help.
Alex Bainbridge | 9 July, 2008 at 12:40 am
Hi Darren,
That isn’t the point I was making. What I was saying is that with conventional travel technology you would have 1000 servers for 1000 companies. With SaaS (Software as a Service) you could run those 1000 companies on 5 servers.
That is 995 servers less that have to be air conditioned, powered, supported etc. Data centres are incredibly power intensive…. so green savings can be big through SaaS
(These numbers are a very simplistic perspective just to explain the point)
However, I expect this isn’t exactly the conversation that consumers are interested in…. but using SaaS travel technology should be high on the agenda of a green IT department so deserves to be on your plan
Darren Cronian | 9 July, 2008 at 12:44 am
@ Alex
Your saying that software can play a part in making green savings? That’s what I was getting at in my comments, that technology (be it software, hardware etc.) can have an help the environment.
Alex Bainbridge | 9 July, 2008 at 12:51 am
Nooooo !
Technology, applied badly, is worse than paper!
Desktop computers require power and are left on overnight
Electrical kit left on standby etc etc
Servers left on 24 hours a day – but only using about 2% of their capacity – a massive waste of power (and still require cooling) ( SaaS uses this spare capacity to serve companies in opposing timezones)
I am not arguing for technology (nor against it really) – but between one kind of software business model vs another – hence my concern that this isn’t exactly the topic for your blog! Consumers couldn’t care less what business model software is sold to travel companies in…. .except that it can have a massive impact on the greenness of the travel companies IT department!
Jessica | 9 July, 2008 at 1:37 am
I think something as simple as more hotels going to a system of only changing towels/sheets if requested and not by default every day would be huge – that’s a massive amount of laundry, and most people probably wouldn’t opt to have all the linens changed daily. Hotels could also provide those little mini shampoos & such only if requested, so as to reduce the amount of plastic (a petroleum product) they’re using (and likely throwing away) every day.
But I also agree with the commenter who said that as consumers we also have a responsibility here – the whole idea of recycling religiously at home and then throwing away bottles and cans without looking for an alternative when we’re on vacation is crazy, and yet we all do it. I’m not suggesting that we all tote trash/recycling around with us for days until we find a recycling receptacle, but many cities around the world make recycling containers readily available these days – we should re-train ourselves to look for them, and then, if we don’t see them, tell someone in the tourism office that we’d like them to add recycling containers in the future.
Otherwise, I like your ideas, Darren.
Nancy Brown | 9 July, 2008 at 5:42 am
I can’t speak for all of California, but I can tell you that a majority of hotel, travel and tour operators on the west coast do care about climate change. I write a travel column for a Northern California newspaper and a travel blog hosted on Bootsnall.
My readers ask about eco-friendly resorts and some ask about offsetting carbon emissions. It is standard operating procedure to have low-flow shower heads and water efficient toilets in our hotels, and mandatory in water-rationed locations such as the Monterey Peninsula. I can’t remember the last time I stayed in a California hotel that didn’t have a note card mentioning the choice to re-use bath towels and not change the sheets on a daily basis.
As I write this post, I’m painfully aware that our climate is changing. Our Big Sur fire is reporting 23% containment and we haven’t even approached our “dry season” yet.
I am a journalist and a mother to a couple of children who will be inheriting our world. I am a member of the travel industry and I care about climate change.
Darren Cronian | 9 July, 2008 at 6:20 am
@ Nancy
Which newspaper do you write for? I think it goes further than bed linen and bath towels, for example how many of those hotel rooms did you arrive in had all of the room’s lights turned on, tv and other electrical equipment on stand-by.
The point I am trying to make is that the travel industry might care, but what is it actually physcially doing. Nick points out what he’s doing for his travel agency, which is great, I’d like to learn more about what other areas of the industry are doing.
Nancy Brown | 9 July, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Hi Darren,
I write “What a Trip” for the Contra Costa Times Lamorinda Sun a publication of Media News Group. I’ll be blogging about this comment over on the Greenopolis blog, as well as posting on my What a Trip blog.
Darren Cronian | 11 July, 2008 at 8:01 am
Darren Cronian | 11 July, 2008 at 8:05 am
@ Jessica
Apologies I missed your comment.
Yes, I think we all need to take the environment more seriously. It’s now July, it should be the warmest time of the year. Instead I am sat in my living room with a jumper on, and I am walking around outside in a waterproof jacket.
For the past two years we’ve had torrential rain, floods, horrible dull weather during June and July, yet no one has mentioned, especially the media why the seasons seem to have changed here in the UK.
People do not care because it doesn’t affect them right now.
Does the travel industry care about changing climate? » TravelBlog Archive » WhatATrip | 11 July, 2008 at 6:37 pm
[...] a post on Greenopolis.com taking issue with Darren Cronian’s recent comment on his blog, Travel Rants. Cronian attempts to fan the flames in the travel blog world when he states that “the [...]
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33 responses to “The travel industry does not care about climate change”