Google, Travalyst and more on travel’s path to sustainability

From airlines and hotels to online travel agencies, ground transportation companies, tour and activity providers and technology suppliers, every category of stakeholder within the travel ecosystem is getting involved in efforts to address sustainability.

And rather than just focusing on ways to mitigate negative impacts, efforts are being driven by a desire to find ways that travel can be better to the environment, to destinations and to people.

According to Travalyst CEO Sally Davey, speaking during a panel at Phocuswright Europe in late June, “Travel done well is a critical part of the future resilience of this planet.”

Travalyst is one of the most prominent players in the industry’s sustainability efforts as it convenes brands including Google, Booking.com, Skyscanner, Expedia Group, Tripadvisor and Trip.com Group in a pre-competitive effort to make sustainability reporting more consistent and clear for both consumers and travel providers.

In a wide-ranging discussion at the event, Davey - joined by Google’s head of travel sustainability, global partnerships, Sebnem Erzan; and Booking.com’s head of sustainability, Danielle D’Silva - explained the challenges the industry is addressing, including how to make flight emissions data more meaningful for consumers and how to help hoteliers understand the most worthwhile changes to make to their operations.

As Travalyst approaches its three-year anniversary this September, Davey also explained how the coalition is preparing to move from its initial pilot phase into establishing a more permanent structure with new partners.

Also on the panel was Cat Jones, founder and CEO of Byway Travel, a startup working to make flight-free holidays the norm. Jones provided perspective from her experiences on the ground – listening to consumers and meeting with destinations.

Following the panel discussion, Davey and Jones sat down for separate interviews in the PhocusWire Studio at the event to share additional perspective on their respective efforts, including thoughts on some of the “bold, ambitious decisions” it will take to move the industry ahead and whether they think an industry target of net-zero emissions by 2050 is achievable.

Watch the full panel discussion, moderated by PhocusWire editor in chief Mitra Sorrells, below.