March/April Travel champions

As I write this I can see two plane contrails cutting across a brilliant blue sky. The first thought that comes into my mind is 'I wonder where they are going', and the second is the realisation that those whispy white lines are playing a massive part in global warming. For an industry that relies so heavily on air travel, jetting across the world has become second nature and environmental implications are often an afterthought - if that. However, airlines are working hard to minimise their environmental impact in order to achieve net zero carbon emissions across the industry by 2050, and there are some easy ways in which agents can also play a part, from getting your clients to preorder meals to championing greener aircraft. Read more on airline sustainability initiatives on page 8.

Some of these airlines will be at our dedicated Selling Travel Connect: North America event in April, when you can hear more about greener air travel as well as new routes to North America.

Alongside e orts to improve its sustainability credentials, the travel industry is making accessible travel a priority, with airlines, hoteliers, destinations and tour operators adapting their products to be more inclusive to those that require a bit of special attention.

One destination that's championing accessibility is Tourism Tropical North Queensland in Australia, which has hailed 2023 the Year of Accessible Tourism and has added a dedicated Accessibility Hub to its consumer website. Meanwhile, Florida is building an extensive list of accessible travel opportunities that goes beyond just people with mobility issues, with several hotels and attractions accommodating families with children on the autism spectrum. You can read more about this developing sector on page 46. We hope this edition inspires you to champion your own cause, whatever that may be. Enjoy the issue!