As more global organisations and government sectors take on pledges and initiatives to incorporate sustainability-related agendas within their goals and metrics, the travel industry is no different.
An article on Web In Travel reports that companies coordinating business travels are putting sustainability atop their global agenda, setting targets for carbon reductions – including limits on the numbers of people attending events.
Brenda Quek, Associate Director Asia-Pacific Travel Meetings & Events Program and Engagement Leader at Ernst & Young, suggests that sustainability efforts within business traveling is trying to drive behavioural change.
Quek shares another way that business travelling is promoting sustainability, and that is by travel approvers making informed decisions, such as eliminating day-trips by flight from their travel policy, and using rail travel over air wherever feasible.
There is also more attentiveness in place in tracking the number of invitees for attendance at business events, and balancing the number of physical and virtual attendees.
(Farhad Ibrahimzade, Unsplash)
Hoteliers, on the other hand, focus on tangible performance improvements aimed at reducing their environmental footprint. For instance, the Fairmont & Swissôtel The Stamford has established an aquaponics farm for growing fish and vegetables on-site, which would provide for their spreads.
Other sustainability measures initiated by hotels in Singapore include introducing filtered water, using motion sensors to conserve energy in rooms, and implementing eco-waste systems to convert food waste into compost. (https://www.webintravel.com/wit-singapore-2022-sustainable-travel-hits-the-spotlight/)
Bringing our focus to Singapore, a market survey by ECA International recently found that following the reopening of Asian cities after the pandemic, Singapore is ranked the second highest in the region when it comes to business travel expenses, overtaking Tokyo in the 2022 study. This was attributed to Singapore being one of the first Asian countries to open their doors for business travels. (https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Travel-Leisure/Singapore-closes-gap-with-Hong-Kong-on-pricey-business-trips)
Although awareness and attention on sustainability movements has considerably grown over the years, there is still room for improvement in the industry of business travellers. In the UK, a study by Emburse of over 1,200 British employees and employers found that out that while 71% businesses who provide guidance for sustainable travel, only 38% of businesses reported increased investment in sustainability and 25% of businesses do not have a business travel sustainability policy. Furthermore, only 26% of businesses would proactively cut down on travel to reduce their carbon footprint, and only one in six employees cited sustainability as their key priority when making travel plans. (https://www.traveldailymedia.com/only-16-of-business-travellers-prioritise-sustainability-in-trip-planning/)
All sectors across the nation must find ways to contribute together as we continue our mission to achieve sustainability goals outlined in the many initiatives launched, such as the Singapore Green Plan 2030.
