After more critical years linked to the health emergency, the world has finally resumed full travel at every latitude and with it the Business Travel sector. But like any new beginning, good intentions must not be missing. In a world increasingly attentive to climate change, to a future of renewable energy and to people's quality of life, the best conditions for corporate travel policies should also be people's safety and environmental protection. In other words, today a Travel Manager must also include the protection of nature, the accessibility of mobility services and the well-being of people at the top of their priorities. But what are the principles on which to base a business travel program for sustainable travel?
The pillars of a Business Travel Program for sustainable travel
In addition to corporate budgets and legal obligations, the Travel Manager is therefore currently faced with other priorities. In fact, if more and more communities have long understood the importance of a sustainable approach, companies can no longer pretend that their movements do not have an environmental impact. And we are not just talking about employee travel by train or plane, but also about the daily journeys made by staff to go to work and return home at the end of the day. The travel industry is responsible for a significant part of CO2 emissions worldwide, and today it is not lost on an increasingly attentive public whether or not a company shows sensitivity towards the good of the planet. In this sense, the company's Social Responsibility and Brand Awareness are at stake. The travel manager's task is to open the eyes of his company to these issues and establish mobility strategies that transform this awareness into concrete changes. Among the principles necessary for sustainable travel we can identify several guidelines.
Sustainable mobility
Surely smart working and the endless video calls that we have learned about in recent years have catapulted us into the potential of remote work and meetings. Yet meeting and shaking hands continues to be the best seal for making agreements and inaugurating new collaborations; just as discussing sensitive data does not find the ideal habitat on online platforms. Therefore it continues to be rightly necessary to move, move, travel. But it is equally important to do it in an increasingly sustainable way. Preferring green vehicles such as electric cars or preferring the train to the plane where possible are, for example, responsible choices; even in the case of air flights it is now possible to consider the type of aircraft and the consequent fuel used, more or less polluting. It is certainly not an easy job, but for this reason it is important to rely on tour operators specialized in the Business Travel sector who know the evolution of sustainable technology in terms of mobility.
Structures with ecological certifications
Reducing the ecological footprint of company travel is a task that does not end with travel. The choice of accommodation also plays a crucial role. From simple cleaning practices to the regulation of saunas and restaurants, hotel amenities can be responsible for substantial CO2 emissions. For this reason, selecting structures that are controlled and equipped with ecological certifications indicates a responsible decision. Improving the traveler's experience by giving priority to their well-being means actively educating them on energy and economic savings, inducing habits linked to more conscious choices.
Communicate the importance of sustainable travel to the company
the Travel Manager, however motivated, cannot proceed alone along the path of ecological evolution. Communicating the reasons for your choices is a strategic step that no travel manager can avoid. Why not explain to the company that trains are the most environmentally friendly choice among transport options or that it is important to prefer an electric car to a petrol one? Including these elements with data and reflections within the Travel Policy improves the image of the organization first and foremost in the eyes of the employees themselves. Not only that, it is important to carry out a precise analysis of corporate travel reporting to present to managers, to demonstrate the actual advantages of traveling in a sustainable manner. Illustrating, with data in hand, reports on CO2 emissions based on the choice of vehicle is an ace in the hole. In order to provide this set of information it is necessary to rely on ad hoc IT solutions.
Choose suppliers who share the same sustainable mission
The creation of sustainable Business Travel Programs therefore includes very varied themes, areas and choices. In addition to the overall reduction of emissions or education on correct waste disposal, selecting partners in line with a green mission is inevitable. It is crucial to the credibility of the company's commitment to choose to collaborate with suppliers who pay the same attention to sustainability or who deal with carbon offsetting.
Alma Travel, which has always been an expert in the Business Travel , is an ethical and sustainable partner that not only takes care of its own business, but also cares about the well-being of its customers and the environment. This is why we offer many IT tools to increase the efficiency of logistics and reporting processes, to reduce travel costs and promote employee well-being in order to reduce CO2 emissions as much as possible by optimizing travel and more. For example, Alma Travel's vehicle fleet is equipped with entirely green vehicles: This is why the vehicle fleet that we make available to companies consists of zero-emission, silent and reliable electric cars, up to hybrid cars, the link between traditional car and electric car.