2 0 2 3
E D I T O R I A L
C O N T E N T
The Business Travel Magazine is the multi-award-winning print and digital publication for bookers, buyers, arrangers and managers of business travel and meetings
SuStainability
SuStainability
Step Stepby by
1
StEP StEP
enGAGe
“As with any significant change in business practice, senior stakeholder buy-in is crucial to delivering change,” says Paula Cullen, Associate for Growth and Sustainability at Black Box Partnerships. “We recommend that you canvass ideas from your colleagues and travellers. Many will have knowledge to share so ignite that passion. Education is key and there are many free resources and materials online. Consider courses to upskill employees to help you on your journey.” According to a survey by SAP Concur, many UK companies are already going down this path. Its recent poll of 700 corporate travel decision makers across the UK found 64% are offering their employees formalised training and education programmes on sustainability, 70% have internal communication campaigns in place and 68% have regular communication with business travellers about their carbon footprint for the duration of their trip. “As demand for higher levels of sustainability grows, questions about sustainability policies will be raised more strongly, more often and by more parties,
With the help of the experts, here’s a five-step guide to cutting your travel carbon footprint
from management and employees to supply-chain partners and external stakeholders – as well as the employees themselves. It is therefore positive to see that so many UK businesses are already making great strides in their quest for green business travel programmes,” says Ami Taylor, SAP Concur Senior Director Global Product Strategy.
2
MeAsuRe
“The first step in emission reduction is to measure and get the statistics needed to formulate a plan,” says Pippa Ganderton, Product Director ATPI Halo. Only by knowing the breakdown of your current carbon footprint can you identify where you need to change behaviours and revise your travel policy. This is where a TMC can provide a vital helping hand, capturing emissions data throughout the booking and travel process and, crucially, presenting it in a visually engaging and easy-to-understand format to clearly show the areas to prioritise. Many TMCs, including global players such as CWT, have drafted in the assistance of
specialist start-up Thrust Carbon, which has devised a calculator to measure hundreds of data points – air, hotel, rail, car and more – to provide clients with “robust and defensible” reporting. “We wouldn’t be satisfied with only understanding the average cost of travel, so why are we still satisfied with average and sporadic emissions numbers?” says Thrust Carbon Founder Mark Corbett. “You can’t reduce your financial travel budget based on average prices, and you won’t be able to reduce your emissions looking at average emissions data either.” Whichever way you measure your travel carbon emissions, don’t just look at your overall footprint. Break it down by specific category (air, hotel, rail) and by department or location. If possible, compare your emissions year-on-year or month-onmonth to identify trends. Once you have the data, share it with key stakeholders, including senior business leaders, specific departments, or your most frequent travellers, providing meaningful comparisons where relevant. Better still, display this information at the point of booking to change behaviours.
IN EVERY ISSUE
UP FRONT Opening Shots – picture-led feature of what’s new in business travel Everyone’s Talking About... soundbites on a current issue Six of the Best... latest products/launches/ hotels/venues/trends etc Ask the Expert – top tips to help travel managers and arrangers
44
THEBUSINESSTRAVELMAG.com
Carbon Foot Print_V12.indd 44
THEBUSINESSTRAVELMAG.com
8/26/22 10:07 AM
Carbon Foot Print_V12.indd 45
45
8/26/22 10:07 AM
Each issue of The Business Travel Magazine includes a number of features focusing on broad areas of business travel. They are generally found in the latter half of the publication and are an invaluable reference guide, researched and written by our team of award-winning journalists. Often there is a strong focus on a particular topic, such as our sustainability focus in the May/June issue, where an extended feature is sub-divided into numerous sections. Every issue also includes two or three shorter features covering more specific subjects and generally one feature that will be decided closer to publication to ensure timeliness. Alongside the bi-monthly magazine, The Business Travel Magazine’s website and weekly newsletter feature additional features, insights, comment, news, videos, reviews and podcasts.
March/April 2023 Extended feature: The annual TMC Guide Features: Ground transport; Travel risk; UK rail update; plus the 2023 Guide to Serviced Apartments
January/February 2023 Extended feature: Top corporate travel trends to watch (eg. sustainability, D&I, personalisation, wellbeing, duty of care, technology) Features: Buyer’s To-Do List, 10 Reasons to be Cheerful
November/December 2023 Extended feature: Air travel Features: Private jets/air charter; Accommodation update; How to drive compliance and policy; Taxis and transfers
May/June 2023 Extended feature: Sustainability, including the 2023 Sustainability Movers & Shakers Features: Diversity and Inclusion; Wellbeing; Accommodation update July/August 2023 Extended feature: The 2023 Tech Hotlist Features: Online Booking Tools; Payments and expenses; Car hire September/October 2023 Extended feature: Business travel for SMEs Features: Conferences and meetings; Guide to RFPs; How to cut your carbon footprint
This list is subject to change, depending on outside factors and commercial support
Editorial enquiries: bev.fearis@bmipublishing.co.uk (Editor) Advertising enquiries: kirsty.hicks@bmipublishing.co.uk (Head of Commercial)
Speaking Out – industry personnel step on the soapbox to air their views on a current issue
REGULARS The Conversation – an interview with a senior business travel industry figure One to Watch – a focus on notable newcomers to the sector Sustainability Matters – news, views and reviews on sustainable travel Wellbeing Focus – experts share their insights and advice on travel wellness issues Talking Travel – a well-known personality discusses their travel experiences According to Clive – regular column from BTA CEO Clive Wratten Scott says – update from ITM CEO Scott Davies
NEWS All the latest business travel news, reports, trends and data, plus: On the Move – recent appointments Events – a calendar of industry events
DESTINATIONS On business in... useful city profiles from around the world Focus on... a more in-depth guide to doing business in a particular region Meeting in... a selection of meeting and event venues in a UK city
DOWN THE BACK Gadgets and Gear – the latest launches for the savvy business traveller Spot Check – first-hand reviews of hotels, flights, rail, technology, car rental etc The Final Word – the quirky side of travel