What: The Travel Corporation Will Be a Carbon Neutral Company
In honor of this year’s Earth Day, The Travel Corporation (TTC) has revealed some major plans to combat climate change.
TTC and its family of brands are implementing a five-step Climate Action Plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. The five points of the plan consist of measuring emissions from TTC’s business and trips; building on reduction efforts and setting ambitious reduction targets by mid-2022; investing in new technology and nature-based solutions to remove excess carbon from the atmosphere; purchasing carbon credits to offset unavoidable emissions; and continued evolution through investment in new technologies and strategic alliances.
Contiki, TTC’s tour brand designed for 18- to 35-year-olds, is taking things a step further, committing to 100% carbon neutrality through the Climate Action Plan by Jan. 1, 2022. In addition, the company has appointed Tasha Hayes as its new sustainability officer to lead these efforts.
Why It Matters: The Travel Industry Must Help Combat Climate Change
As the world’s climate crisis continues — and travelers become ever-more attuned to the environmental impacts of their trips — the travel industry is increasingly reckoning with its carbon footprint. TTC’s efforts to go carbon neutral and source renewable energy will not just help the planet, but will also offer clients a range of sustainably minded travel options across the company’s portfolio.
In addition to these ambitious goals, TTC’s nonprofit arm, The TreadRight Foundation, recently launched a new Impact Hub that will offer a transparent look at the company’s progress and offer tips on how travelers can help, allowing clients to make informed vacation decisions and reduce their own carbon footprints.
Fast Facts:
- TTC and The TreadRight Foundation are investing $100,000 in two nature-based carbon removal solutions, Project Vesta and GreenWave, to help meet their carbon neutrality goals.
- TTC has committed to carbon neutral offices and business travel beginning Jan. 1, 2022, through a partnership with offset provider South Pole. Contiki will also invest in carbon credits from South Pole as part of its sustainability strategy.
- The Climate Action Plan also involves sourcing 50% of electricity from renewable sources across the organization by 2025, including TTC’s 20-plus offices, 18 Red Carnation Hotel Collection properties, 13 Uniworld Boutique River Cruises ships, more than 500 vehicles and some 1,500 itineraries.
- All Contiki trips from 2022 on will be carbon neutral, with the cost to offset itineraries completely covered by the company.
What They Are Saying: TTC Is Committed to a Long-Term Sustainable Travel Strategy
“Our TTC Climate Action Plan is not marked by one quick fix, because there isn’t one,” said Brett Tollman, CEO of The Travel Corporation. “It is marked with the need to act now, to learn and adapt as technology and innovation support our need to transition to a low-carbon business. There is much debate as to the right approach when it comes to decarbonizing travel and tourism, and our position is that this must be a process that begins now, and commits to evolving as the solutions continue to improve and become available to us.”
“With our How We Tread Right sustainability strategy, the evolution of Contiki Cares and now becoming carbon neutral, it made sense to have a front person for Contiki’s great sustainability initiatives,” said Contiki’s Hayes of her new role. “During my time with Contiki, I’ve always championed sustainability and looked at ways we could do better both on the road and in the office. Contiki becoming carbon neutral is massive, and it’s the perfect opportunity for me to support this direction, as someone who can oversee and monitor to make sure we stay on track to achieving the ambitious goals we have set out.”
The Details
Contiki
www.contiki.com
The Travel Corporation
www.ttc.com
The TreadRight Foundation
www.treadright.org
