Giant TUI Travel Gets Tougher With Green Hotels

Jane Ashton – in charge of sustainability at TUI Travel UK

VIDEO: Dermot Blastland, Managing Director of TUI UK & Ireland, responsible for sustainability on the TUI Group Management Board. talks about sustainability www.travelmole.tv/watch_vdo.php

This summer TUI Travel UK & Ireland is to significantly increase sustainability audits carried out on hotels featured in its holiday programme. TUI UK has also introduced a new sustainable development agreement into all its contracts with hotels.

TUI’s UK companies alone are currently licensed to carry over 6m passengers.

Soon, hotels not signing sustainability agreements won’t be in brochure.
 
The organisation has identified over 400 hotels in its programme that it plans to audit using the Travelife Sustainability System.

This will further encouraging hotels to look after the environment, their employees and local communities. TUI aims to get over 50 per cent of ex UK customers staying in more sustainable hotels on holiday in the future.
 
TUI UK is recruiting two Regional Sustainability Advisors. The new recruits will be driving sustainability in TUI UK’s high-volume properties through intensive 6-day sustainability audits, as well as assisting the company’s quality co-ordinators in resorts throughout the world, offering specialist sustainability advice and support.

Reporting to TUI UK’s Sustainable Product Manager, Sean Owens, the advisors will also be helping to incorporate sustainability into the siting, design and construction of future “new build” properties.
 
TUI UK has also introduced a sustainable development agreement as part of all supplier contracts, to ensure that suppliers are making efforts to manage their environmental and social impacts.
 
The contract requires hoteliers to initiate (or continue to develop) a sustainability programme, ensuring they have appropriate measures in place to manage their impacts on the environment, their employees, and the local community.

The contract also includes a number of commitments including reducing energy and water consumption, introducing waste reduction measures and recycling, meeting local employment legislation and having suitable child protection and animal welfare policies in place.
 
David Burling, Commercial Director for TUI Travel UK & Ireland, said, “Sustainability is a key focus for TUI. Together with our suppliers, we’re seeking to make all areas of our operations more sustainable. Soon, customers will know that if they book a holiday through Thomson or First Choice, their hotel will have signed a contract agreeing to initiate a sustainability programme – otherwise, they wouldn’t be featured in our brochures.”
 
The agreement will sit separately from the company’s main contract and health and safety addendum. TUI Travel UK’s contracting team will be handling the agreement with all suppliers and, once hoteliers have signed the addendum, they will be required to maintain the practices and standards set out for the entire duration of their contract.