“Notable progress” on climate action highlighted in new Travel Corporation report

The Travel Corporations(TTC,) release of its third annual Impact Report cements the group’s commitment to transparency.

The report outlinesprogress against the group’s five-year sustainability strategy How We Tread Right (HWTR), which was launched in September 2020 and features 11 measurable goals developed to advance TTC’scommitment to MAKE TRAVEL MATTER.

TTC’s 2023 progress is led by the group’s decarbonisation effortscritical to its net zero commitment. In 2022, TTC launched its industry-leading Carbon Fund, exemplifying TTC brands, including Trafalgar, Contiki, Insight Vacations, Luxury Gold, Costsaver, Uniworld, AAT Kings and Adventure World’s financial commitment to achieving Net Zero, or near zero emissions by 2050 or sooner.

2023 saw TTC reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 31%, and Scope 3 emissions by 5% from its 2019 baseline, and it was the first year of its Carbon Fund implementation, with this Impact Report detailing the USD 1.88+ million that was allocated to decarbonisation projects.

Carbon Fund investments include the installation of solar panels at the NSW head offices of TTC (Bondi Junction) and AAT Kings (Alexandria), and the implementation of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) biofuel for Contiki, Trafalgar, and Uniworld coaches in Europe, supplied by Atlas Reizen, the latter reducing Contiki trip emissions by up to 40% where HVO biofuel is available. TTC also surpassed its goal to source at least 50% of electricity needs from renewable sources by 2025, reaching 54% in 2023. In 2023, 10 TTC properties produced solar energy and they generated 1,661,989 kWh of electricity last year, the equivalent electricity needed to power 150 homes for one year.

In another industry-first step to address its footprint, AAT Kings along with TTC Tour Brands, which consists of Trafalgar, Costsaver, Insight Vacations, Luxury Gold and Contiki, ended the purchase of branded merchandise designed to be gifted to guests and partners, which they discovered produces 6.5 million car-driven miles worth of carbon emissions every year. These funds will now get allocated to nature-based climate solutions already supported by the groups TreadRight Foundation, TTC’s not-for-profit, including GreenWave (North America) and Rainforest Rescue (Australia). Rainforest Rescue is dedicated to rescuing and restoring plots of the Daintree Rainforest that are at risk of private purchase and development.

‘This third impact report makes two things abundantly clear – we are not standing still, and yet there remains an incredible amount of work to be done,” says Shannon Guihan, The Travel Corporation’s Chief Sustainability Officer and Head of TreadRight. “I’m immensely proud of TTC leadership for taking such bold action, particularly through prioritising investments in carbon reductions through TTC’s Carbon Fund, and equally of the way our teams have embraced this transition happening as a business and to our sector.”

Key highlights from TTC’s impacts in 2023 include:

PLANET

• $1,880,533.00 of our Carbon Fund invested in or allocated to more than 13 decarbonisation projects.
• TTC reduced our Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 31% and Scope 3 emissions by 5% from its 2019 baseline
• Established a Net Zero Trip Roadmap, measuring the carbon footprint of 700+ trips and outlining how TTC will reduce trip emissions by 27.5% by 2030
• 54% of our electricity was sourced from renewable sources, an increase of 10% from 2022
• 32 of TTC owned properties run on 100% renewable electricity
• Reduced the equivalent of 304,027 meals’ worth of food waste across TTC
• Reduced printed brochures by 80% from 2019
• Completely removed single-use plastics related to Covid-19 measures
• Engaged with suppliers in areas with non-potable water to utilisewater tanks to refill reusable water bottles.

PEOPLE

• 352 MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences qualified in 2023, which are immersive impact experiences chosen for the ways they advance at least one UN Global Goal and benefit the visitors and the visited
• 824 MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences offered across TTC
• 84% of TTC itineraries have at least one MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience
• Increased TTC itineraries visiting developing regions by 37% from our 2021 baseline
• In 2023, TTC identified 24 itineraries visiting 34 developing regions
• AAT Kings includes welcome plaques designed by Indigenous artists on their coaches throughout Australia
• TTC IDEA boasts 500 members of our Identity Circles, our internal resource group
• TTC has 6 partnerships focused solely on advancing diversity, equity and inclusion
• Of our 3,000 employees, 100% across the globe signed our Code of Conduct, demonstrating a universal commitment to our ethical standards
• Contiki New Zealand Trip Managers and Drivers began an extensive training program to strengthen crew competency in Māori history, culture, customs/Tikanga and language
• Completed 10,862 volunteer hours across TTC, reaching 83% of our 2025 goal

WILDLIFE

• Audited 600 wildlife experiences and safari lodges to ensure 100% compliance with our Animal Welfare Policy
• All of our wildlife experiences were reviewed by the TreadRightteam to ensure adherence to TTC’s Animal Welfare Policy

To read The Travel Corporation’s full Impact Report and learn more about the progress TTC and its brands have made against its How We Tread Right sustainability strategy, please visit impact.ttc.com/progress