TravelPerk Launches Green Product for Corporate Travel

The world may be melting down, but corporate travel is still chugging along. TripActions last week announced a new virtual payments product, and this week TravelPerk is in the game with a new sustainability offering.

TravelPerk released a product allowing clients to offset their carbon output through United Nations-approved projects for around $30 on average each trip. This setup makes it simple for companies to decide to invest in offsetting carbon and gaining more insight into the impact their travelers have on the world. It’s good to see new solutions to help address business travel’s endemic pollution problem.

I’d expect many other travel management companies to follow suit soon. It’s important to do more than just report on carbon output as corporate social responsibility becomes vital.

In other news, Amadeus is suffering from a lack of travel demand, and Marriott is reopening hotels in China despite the coronavirus outbreak. Speaking of the coronavirus, we have all the latest on the crisis on our liveblog.

If you have any feedback about the newsletter or news tips, feel free to reach out via email at [email protected] or tweet @sheivach.

— Andrew Sheivachman, Senior Enterprise Editor

Featured Stories

TravelPerk Builds Audited Carbon Offset Program for Biz Travel: It’s refreshing to hear a travel management company call out all the greenwashing taking place across the industry. Complex problems require creative solutions, and it’s good to see travel taking its carbon problem more seriously.

Marriott Is Already Reopening China Hotels During Coronavirus Crisis: Marriott was already having trouble in Asia-Pacific in 2019 before the coronavirus impact hit. The company isn’t forecasting a major impact outside of Asia, and it’s already reopening hotels inside China. It pays to collect fees — and not actually own or run hotels — during a crisis like this.

Nearly 90 Percent of U.S. Travelers Have Yet to Cancel Plans Due to Virus: Skift Research: U.S. travelers are taking a wait-and-see approach to the evolving coronavirus situation, with few canceling just yet. But most American travel happens domestically, and as the virus spreads within the country, that may soon change.

Amadeus Highlights Meager 1 Percent Air Traffic Growth in 2020 Outside China: Amadeus, the world’s largest provider of ticket distribution and operational software for airlines, is a bellwether for the sector. It had a weak February, but it expects a rebound later this year. The outlook for airlines, however, is less optimistic.

Travel Advisors Field Cruise Concerns as Coronavirus Outbreak Spreads: The coronavirus is wreaking havoc on the cruise industry, with travel advisors caught in the middle as they deal with cancellations and questions from worried clients that are difficult to answer. Among the most troublesome aspects is the uncertainty of how long the crisis will last and how much worse it may get.

Best Western: A Hotels Anomaly Ripe for Change: Best Western’s unique longstanding model gives much power to its member hotels. But as changes quickly alter the industry’s landscape, can the chain still compete effectively under the old ways?

The Future of Travel

U.S. to See 6 Percent Drop in International Inbound Travel Over Next 3 Months: There may be scant official guidance saying travelers shouldn’t visit the U.S., but it looks as though coronavirus is resulting in a sharp drop in international arrivals nonetheless.

Coronavirus Tests Economic Reforms for Travel in Gulf Arab States: Gulf Arab states are feeling the brunt of an economic slowdown as the spread of coronavirus tests years’ worth of reforms. Countries like the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have relied on tourism and hospitality sectors to diversify away from oil, but recent travel cancellations and suspensions due to the illness are set to result in significant financial losses.

European Tourism Losing More Than $1 Billion a Month From Virus: EU Commissioner: It’s not just Chinese tourists who aren’t visiting Europe anymore. Expect the economic losses to steepen.

Senior Enterprise Editor Andrew Sheivachman [[email protected]] curates the Skift Corporate Travel Innovation Report. Skift emails the newsletter every Thursday.

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