Internova Travel Group (the parent company of Altour, Global Travel Collection and Travel Leaders Group) has expanded its sustainability efforts as part of a plan to go carbon neutral by the end of 2023.
Following last year’s launch of a partnership with Sustainable Travel International (which develops sustainable travel practices and supports carbon offset programs in the travel industry), Internova has developed two new initiatives to assist customers in reducing their travel emissions: the Climate Positive Program (for corporate clients), and the Climate Action Program (for leisure travelers).
The corporate program helps customers assess and measure sustainability efforts — as well as develop options to offset emissions and communicate to stakeholders, customers and employees — while the leisure program allows clients to make a 1% contribution of their trip cost to partially offset emissions.
Our Analysis: Internova Not Only Aims to Improve Its Own Sustainability, But Also to Educate Others
As the travel industry continues to recognize the need for eco-friendly actions, Internova is among the growing group of individual companies that are stepping up their sustainability efforts. Not only is the brand leading by example — with its efforts to go carbon neutral — but its new programs will also help spread education and awareness to its client base and beyond. Internova has also committed to providing its travel advisors with sustainability training and workshops with suppliers on how to build eco-friendly itineraries, helping them better serve environmentally conscious clients.
What They Are Saying: Travel Companies Have a Responsibility to Protect the Environment
“As a travel company, we believe that we have a special responsibility to become a strong advocate for the environment,” said Gabe Rizzi, president of Internova Travel Group. “We want to help protect the world’s natural and cultural resources so that people can enjoy them for generations to come. We believe Internova plays two critical roles in supporting sustainable travel globally. The first is spreading awareness of climate change through education and of the actions we can take today to help minimize its impacts around the world, and secondly, we are on our path to becoming carbon neutral by the end of 2023. We believe we should lead by example as one of the world’s largest travel services distribution companies.”
We all have an obligation to preserve the beauty of our world for the next traveler.
“Our passion is to help our customers travel and experience the diverse environment and cultures of our world,” added Ka-Wai Siu, vice president of compliance and ESG (environmental, social and corporate governance) for Internova. “We must take an active role to bring awareness of how climate change affects us all, and what we can do now to help mitigate these impacts and promote a healthier environment, diversity and protection of natural and cultural resources. We all have an obligation to preserve the beauty of our world for the next traveler.”
