Working with suppliers has been the biggest challenge for TUI’s sustainable tourism three-year plan claims the operator.
Prior to the release of this year’s Sustainable Development Report, Jane Ashton, group head of sustainability development at TUI Travel said the tour operator had set aggressive ‘green’ targets for its hotels and that getting them to award level was a challenge.
But she added that TUI had met its carbon emission targets for aircraft earlier than expected, even before the introduction of its new 787 Dreamliner.
These targets are part of TUI’s Sustainable Holidays Plan: 2012-2014 which is four-pronged – offering "greener" holidays, running fuel efficient airlines, improving employee training and green credentials and educating customers.
Ashton said: "We don’t really have a blue print for this so some things have gone very well and some have proved more challenging.
"In the UK, we’re very clear on the business case of these issues for improving customer engagement and satisfaction. For many of the suppliers we contract with, it’s very new to them."
Although she added that Lanzarote as a destination had been very strong in sustainable development and some partner hotels such Atlantica and Utopia have ‘really run with it’.
Ashton said it was working particularly well with TUI’s differentiated product like Sensatori Resort in Tenerife where customers opting to have their towels changed less frequently are given a voucher to spend.
Engaging consumers is also a ‘tough nut to crack’, she said, with many holidaymakers liking the idea of ‘green’ holidays but not letting if affect their booking patterns.
Ashton said: "There’s a disconnect with what they say they want and then what they do when they are purchasing. But they have intimated that they would be happier travelling with a company who take this seriously."
TUI has recently taken 29 ‘Sustainability champions’ from travel agencies across the UK to a sustainable training programme in Turkey. They will act as regional sustainable reps for all shop managers and travel advisors.
TUI’s new Sustainable Development Report will be released in the next couple of weeks.
