Insider Places

10/08/2022

Hoteliers need to help their guest make better choices

Many hotels encourage guests to reuse linen and towels. Asking customers to place a note on their door, or to hang their towels in a certain place, to indicate that they are happy to reuse them.

But wouldn’t it be better if guests had to choose the least sustainable choice instead? Making the default behaviour always the greenest option.

In 2008 Hotels introduced the practice of letting their guests choose when to change their bed linen, resulting in a 28% reduction in their laundry costs – a simple initiative with huge savings!

Recent experience from the TerraVerde team highlight other simply ways in which hotels could support guest who are keen to reduce the environmental impact of their stay. On a recent trip to Spain, Patrick expressed his disappointment on always returning to his hotel room to find the aircon blasting; despite having deliberately switched it off as he left each morning. Whilst Marina was delighted to be given a selection of plastic-free toiletries during a hotel stay last month; but her excitement soon faded when they were replaced each day – even those that had been untouched.

Just as travellers are changing their habits, so too must hoteliers. It’s time to question existing practices and look for ways to help guests make better choice. Often these changes result in operational cost savings too.

31/03/2022

The TTG Media team has forged a partnership with leading sustainability consultancy sustainability adviser, TerraVerde who will support us on our journey

24/03/2022

Could workcations be the answer to more sustainable long-haul travel? Tourism is a powerful tool for distributing wealth and the impact of the pandemic on many popular destinations proves this.

08/10/2021

The Spanish government is being held to account for the ecological damage of Europe’s largest saltwater lagoon, Mar Menor.

Earlier this week ClientEarth announced that it was submitting a formal complaint to the European Commission, as Spain’s failure to safeguard this protected site, breaches EU and national laws.

Soledad Gallego Clientearth’s wildlife and habitats lawyer said: “Continuing to allow intensive agricultural practices will have long-term consequences. Continuing to compromise the Mar Menor and the surrounding farmland in favour of short-term gains is already causing irreversible harm and will eventually leave the area barren, which will have environmental as well as economic and social repercussions.”

The move follows the latest mass die-off event, which occurred in August this year, when four to five tons of dead fish were removed from the lagoon within a week. The events are caused when fertilisers from the surrounding farmland are washed into the lagoon, causing an excessive growth of algae and bacteria that deprives the water of oxygen.

With a coastal length of 70 km and shallow protected waters, Mar Menor lagoon is a popular tourist destination, but the stench of rotting fish is driving tourist away. On the 28th of August this year, 70,000 people staged a mass demonstration, surrounding the lagoon in protest of the Spanish government’s lack of action. It’s time to adopt a more holistic approach to industry, we can not allow short-term gains for agriculture to cause irreversible damage to fragile ecosystems on which so many livelihoods depend.

Source: https://www.clientearth.org/latest/latest-updates/news/we-are-fighting-to-protect-spain-s-iconic-mar-menor-lagoon-from-ecological-collapse/

28/09/2021

Tips to reduce the enviromental impact of your next flight.

Transatlantic friends and family will soon be reunited, after the US announced last week, that it was easing travel restrictions for international visitors, vaccinated against Covid-19.

Following the announcement Virgin Atlantic reported a 600% surge in flight bookings to the US.

Like many others I am delighted to see travel opening up and the industry start to recover. But, I’m also keen to know how I can minimise the environmental impact of my next trip. I put it to the team in last Friday’s meeting and they shared the following tips:

1. Take a longer holiday (now that’s the kind of advice I like). Make that flight count, take your time to visit a destination, avoid the temptation to just dash and ‘tick-off’ the main sights.

2. Newer planes are more energy efficient, so choose a plane which was built after 2010.

3. Pack light. Take a little time to really consider the items you take with you, most of us are guilty of over-packing. Reducing the weight of your luggage by 15kg decreases your emissions by around 50–100kg on a four-and-a-half hour flightaccording to the UN's Environment Programme.

4. Avoid stopovers. It’s tempting to reduce the cost of your trip with a stopover, but, NASA estimates that 25% of aeroplane emissions occur during take-off and landing. Avoid doubling the take-offs & landings by flying direct.

5. Choose Economy. The average carbon footprint of a business class seat is 3 times higher than an economy seat.

6. Use a train over a plane where possible. Many internal flights can easily be substituted for a train ride.

7. Offset your flight. A number of major airlines offer offsetting, which you can select at the time of purchase to negate the impact of your flight.

Many airlines are taking steps to reduce their environmental impact, but while we wait for the emissions-free aeroplanes of the future to take to the skies, there are things we can all do to reduce the impact of our flights.

16/07/2021

Loose yourself in the Gardens by the Bay, home to the iconic Supertrees (25 to 50 meter tall man-made trees entwined with plants, that emit a dazzling, solar powered light show every evening); the Flower Dome (the world’s largest glass greenhouse) and the Cloud Forest conservatory, where you’ll find the world’s tallest indoor waterfall and an artificial mountain adorned with rare plants. All this at the heart of a Singapore’s central business district!

Rewind 60 years and Singapore was a very different place, a developing country with raw sewerage being pumped into its main artery. The transformation is owed to the vision of Lee Kuan Yew (the 1st Prime Minister of Singapore) who is often referred to as ‘Chief Gardener’. Lee initiated Singapore’s tree-planting campaign in 1963, providing shade and greenery, he said that “a concrete jungle destroys the human spirit”. The prosperity of the nation is intrinsically linked to Lee’s vision; creating a city where people wanted to live and people were happy to invest, securing Singapore’s position as a global green powerhouse.

The city continues to lead the way with it ‘Green Plan 2030’ with commitments to plant 1 million more trees, quadruple solar energy deployment by 2025 and reduce the waste sent to landfill by 30% by 2030.

By 2050 it’s estimated that 70% of the world’s population will live in urban areas. Let’s hope that Singapore forms the blueprint for the future of our cities; creating clean, green spaces in which we all can live.

14/06/2021

Bedford-based blimp maker unveils routes it hopes to serve by 2025 cutting carbon footprint of flying by 90%

12/05/2021

Pura Aventura creates exceptional, beautifully local and certifiably responsible holidays to Spain, Portugal and Latin America. Come and have a look around our holidays, find the one that's your sort of trip and then let's make it yours together.

07/05/2021

Roll-on summer 2021!

13/04/2021

Engaging and empowering your community in your sustainable initiatives drives real change. A recent study from The Travel Foundation reports staff satisfaction is 50% higher in a company adopting CSR values - improving retention, creativity and productivity.

The waste caught by fishing boats used to be thrown back into the sea but in Kerala it is now turned into black gold

01/04/2021

Like many others I am trying to make better choices while I shop. But, I’m often left scratching my head when faced with an array of products literally promising me the earth! When a company clearly communicates the difference their products make, my choice is simple. A company that does this really well is Oddbox who deliver surplus and “sometimes funny-looking” fruit and veg directly from farmers to doorsteps. Since signing up, I have received regular emails detailing the impact of my purchases. I am proud to have rescued 58kg of fruit and to have prevented 9,531 litres of water & 55kg of CO2e from being wasted. My modest fruit box is making a big difference and I’m keen to do more! TerraVerde Sustainability can help you measure the steps you are taking to be more sustainable and show you the best ways to clearly communicate them, empowering your customers to make the best choices and making them feel great. Visit our website to get started https://www.terraverde-solutions.com/

29/03/2021

The world's growing focus on sustainability is a clear sign of the times. This map ranks the 40 greenest countries in the world.

13/03/2021

For more updates on sustainable tourism visit TerraVerde Sustainability

Do you know the top 20 most sustainable cities globally? This report from the Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS-Movement) gives the run down: https://www.gds.earth/top-20/ Want to learn more about the city in the top spot? here's a recent article from the The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/sustainable-living/gothenburg-sweden-hotels-travel-b1799147.html

02/03/2021

New announcements coming from the travel sector on sustainability initiatives are now almost a daily occurrence.

The Travel Corporation Ireland's 11 point plan or Hotelbeds' "Green Hotels" programme are just two examples of major players committing to long term environmental strategies. This is reflected in the wider economy, where 93% of the world's largest companies now report on their carbon emissions and are increasingly expecting their supply chains to do the same.

If you want more information on how to get your company onto the ladder, visit www.terraverde-solutions.com

19/02/2021

In 2019 the earth consumed over 70% more resources than it produced*, tourism contributed 8%**. This is unsustainable and must change fast. We firmly believe that most tourism leaders want to do the right thing, but the devastation of this last year, means survival is at the top of the agenda. At TerraVerde we focus on the opportunities and help businesses de-risk from the challenges. Costs can be saved, at best self-funding, contact us and get started https://www.terraverde-solutions.com/about-us/ -us

*EDIE **Lenzen

12/02/2021

The first step to promoting greener travel is clearer labelling.

According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) only 1 in 10 owner/operated hotels have embraced green standards yet a recent survey by TUI revealed that 400% more clients would buy a sustainable hotel room if labelling were better.

At TerraVerde we believe that sustainability will prove to be a cornerstone of the recovery process; sustainability is the new digital, the third element of competitiveness after price & product.

06/02/2021

With 100 years of combined leadership experience in tourism, our business-friendly team at TerraVerde understands the challenge facing travel and hospitality businesses.
Contact us today and see how we can help you achieve your sustainability goals and reach more customers.

31/01/2021

We are excited to be working with TerraVerde as we journey to a greener future. Read more: www.terraverde-solutions.com

Welcome to TerraVerde, we provide solutions for greener tourism.

Did you know that 70% of consumers want to choose sustainable travel products. Find out more at www.terraverde-solutions.com