Skift Take
This is great news for America’s travel organizations that their largest market body will lead on sustainability and push for the best policies to be in place to green the future of U.S. travel.
Lebawit Lily Girma
The travel industry need to be at the forefront of the push for sustainability and the U.S. Travel Association said on Thursday that it plans to lead that effort through 5 key concerns progressing, and the company will likewise be forming a brand-new working group focused on sustainable travel to encourage members to have a voice in the future of greening the market.
That was the essence of the message from the U.S. travel group’s first series of conversations this season on the future of travel movement, which intend to galvanize action on sustainability in the U.S. travel space.
It’s a motivating move for a group that has had significant impact in leading on governmental policies since the pandemic as far as demonstrating the critical role that the market plays in the U.S. economy.
The five concerns for sustainability that U.S. Travel has adopted were identified after receiving feedback in a member survey:
- Highlighting industry progress, and informing stories on the continuous actions travel is taking, including developments
- Amplifying market goals and management, to strengthen that travel has to lead in this
- Highlighting why sustainability matters through occasions and research study
- Recognizing the ideal policies to drive this modification
- Preventing hazardous policies that slow progress towards sustainability
“The travel industry is dedicated to supporting our national and international environment goals and becoming a recognized leader on sustainability practices and innovations and initiatives,” stated Tori Emerson Barnes, executive vice president of public affairs and policy at U.S. Travel. “Our collective dedication and market leadership will ensure that travel’s future is a lot more dynamic, thriving and sustainable.”
From a policy perspective, the first focus will focus on transportation– making sure the travel industry has a voice in the planned expansion of EV infrastructure and the advancement of sustainable air travel fuels.
“Last month, the Biden administration announced the first piece of moneying $615 million in 2022, which will be dispersed to states by formula and an overall of $5 billion will be dispersed over the next five years,” stated Erik Hansen, vice president of federal government relations at U.S. Travel. “So we’re prompting any state tourist workplace destination marketing organization or others on the call to reach out to their state Department of Transport and to work with them on planning for where these electric car charging financial investments will lie.”
A brand-new Sustainability Working Group will likewise be announced in the coming weeks, Barnes said, which will include a cross-section of U.S. Travel’s membership.