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latest issue

Latest Issue

Sustainable Travel Tips

Are your road warriors concerned about their impact on the environment? Promote green business travel with these helpful tips.

While business travel may be a necessary part of the job, the toll it takes on the environment is indisputable. Ultimately, green business travel is a grassroots movement. To be an environmental ambassador, a corporate planner can encourage individual improvements, ask questions and suggest easy fixes.

Here are a few suggestions to help green-up your travellers' next business trip and promote sustainable travel:

Fly non-stop. Pit stops and layovers mean at least one extra take off and landing, which is responsible for half of the carbon emissions during a single flight, according to Kimberly Sanberg, co-founder of GoGreenTravelGreen.com. Couple that with the need to fly kilometres off course to find a landing strip, and the net result is fuel consumed and carbon spewed.

Alternative transportation. If possible, take the train instead of the plane. To get around town, share a cab or a rental car, use public transportation or even better, pedal power, says Fairmont Royal York Hotel spokesperson Melanie Coates, who chairs the luxury hotel operator’s Toronto-based green team. The Royal York, for example, offers bike rentals.

Schedule back-to-back trips. With some extra planning, you can lump together a couple of trips, rather than approaching each as a separate entity, you’ll save fuel (and time and money).

Green hotels and event venues. Choose properties with a proven record in environmental stewardship. A good place to start: Green Key (greenkeyglobal.com), which rates hotels on everything from housekeeping practices to green building infrastructure. Create a shortlist and contact each candidate with targeted questions about accommodations and green meetings.

Fly economy, during the day. According to David Suzuki, studies in sustainable travel show that daytime flights cause less impact on climate, while economy class allows more people per plane, which means fewer emissions per person.

Consider buying offsets. Carbon offsets are essentially a service whereby the purchaser pays a supplier to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on his or her behalf. Purchasing Carbon Offsets is a free how-to guide available at davidsuzuki.org.

One carry-on. Less weight equals less fuel and a single bag is easier to maneuver. Plus, you’ll avoid the scrimmage at the baggage carousel.

BYOB. Give plastic water bottles the cold shoulder by bringing your own reusable vessel. In doing so you’ll lessen the landfill load (the average plastic bottle takes 450-1,000 years to biodegrade.)

Incorporate even a few of these measures in your corporate travel policy, and you'll be taking a timely step toward a more sustainable travel program. 

– Sherryll Sobie, Ignite magazine

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Q&A with Suzanne Neufang, Executive Director, GBTA

By the Numbers

Keeping Corporate Data Safe

Are Your Female Business Travellers Safe on the Road?

Flight Turbulence

What’s your Data Plan?

Get it in Writing

Follow the money

In Harm’s Way

It’s all in the timing

Covering Trouble in Paradise

Flight Plan

For Safe Keeping

Smooth Moves

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At Your Bleisure

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Q&A with Anthony Pollard

Data Dilemma

Getting on track

So Long, Swipecards

Take your Best Shot

Benefits of Integrating Mobile Payment Platforms

Trend Setter, Dorothy Dowling

Newest Cloud Technology

Is it Time to Dust Off your Corporate Travel Policy?

The Future Travel Credit Management Solution

Planes, trains and data plans

When employees fall ill on the road

Burnout Busters

The Rules of Compliance

Communal Spaces Boost Hotels' Comfort Factor

Making the most of travel and expense management systems

May the Best Vendor Win

Evaluating disaster recovery plans

On the Road Again

Hotels Taking Wellness to a Whole New Level

Corporate Travel Tracker

Controlling Corporate Travel Costs

The Anti-stress List

The Blurred Line Between Corporate Travel Manager and Planner

Big Flight Discounts for Small Businesses

Are Business Travellers Putting Corporate Data at Risk?

Timesaving Mobile App for Superior Car Service

Company Car or Driver-owned?

10 Healthy Travel Tips

Navigating Emerging Markets

Business Travel Etiquette

Rogue Travellers on Spending Sprees!

Business Travel and Health

Social Media and Travel Programs

Baggage Handler Confidential

Travel Expense Reporting

Buses Mean Business

Travel Budgets Analyzed

Q+A with Ron DiLeo

Progressive Extended-Stay Programs

Dynamic Hotel Pricing

The Perfect Travel Management Company

The Kindest Cuts

Green Businesses

Travel Policy Compliance

Car Sharing: The leaner, greener choice!

Expense Accountability

Hotel Program Success

Costly Corporate Credit Card Programs

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Dynamic Pricing

Travel Program Success

Meetings Abroad: Are you Prepared?

Maneuvering Through the RFP Process

Cross-Border Air Travel

Time for a Travel Policy

10 Ways to Avoid Business Travel Pitfalls

Bargaining Table Car Rental Tips for Corporate Planners

Creating Travel Policy Compliance

Sustainable Travel Tips

Crucial Travel Policy Changes to Save Time and Money

Tipping Guide for Business Travellers

Corporate Travel Policy

Passport Essentials and Other Requirements

Managing your Company's Travel Risks

Duty of care to travellers goes beyond borders