Part of the Red Carnation Hotels Collection, Xigera Safari Lodge’s state-of-the-art Tesla Solar Energy Centre powers more than 95% of the lodge’s energy needs.
NEW YORK – April 22, 2022 – The Travel Corporation (TTC) is embracing this year’s Earth Day theme of “Invest in Our Planet™” with a formal commitment to science-based targets. A vital next step on its net zero journey, TTC’s targets are currently under review by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and will be shared later this year. The company’s Scope 1, 2 and 3 targets will tackle business and trip greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated by its family of 40 travel brands. This commitment follows the launch of TTC’s 5-point Climate Action Plan in 2021, and 5-year sustainability strategy How We Tread Right in 2020.
Science-based targets ensure TTC and its award-winning brands play their part in reducing emissions in line with keeping the global temperature well below a warming of 1.5° C by mid-century. The Travel Corporation counts towards its footprint a combination of direct emissions (Scope 1 +2) and indirect emissions (Scope 3). The Scope 1 + 2 target will tackle the emissions from owned vehicles, 13 owned Uniworld ships, 18 Red Carnation Hotels, 30+ offices, five owned accommodations and one winery. The Scope 3 target will address our indirect emissions including trip emissions. To adhere to the highest carbon accounting standards, TTC has developed an internal carbon calculator which was developed by an independent third party to account for trip emissions from included transport, meals and accommodations, and has made its methodology publicly available here.
“This Earth Day, as a global travel provider operating in 70 countries, we are taking action towards our net zero commitment by setting our carbon reduction targets in line with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi),” says Shannon Guihan, TTC’s Chief Sustainability Officer. “Implementing science-based targets is an ambitious and critical step not only towards achieving net zero, but also towards a more resilient future for our planet, wildlife, the local communities we visit and for our sector as a whole,” she adds.
TTC recognizes the role of carbon finance in the fight against climate change, and through its not-for-profit TreadRight Foundation has made three investments in support of its Climate Action Plan. In 2021, TreadRight invested in GreenWave and Project Vesta, two nature-based carbon removal solutions which are showing very promising results in their pilot stages. In addition, TTC and TreadRight have joined forces with VisitScotland and The Travel Foundation in a new project that aims to shape Scotland as the world’s first net zero destination. In alignment with TTC’s commitment to net zero, this pilot project will develop a structured process to better understand, avoid, and otherwise reduce in-destination travel emissions through a joint effort between the tour operator and destination, and will benefit destinations worldwide in the transition to become low-carbon destinations.
This ground-breaking project will help to shape a Destination Climate Action Blueprint, being developed as a Glasgow Declaration tourism initiative, of which TTC and its brands are founding signatories. TTC will provide critical operational support through its owned assets and brands operating in Scotland. This includes Radical Travel Group’s HAGGiS Adventures and Highland Explorer Tours, Contiki, Insight Vacations, Luxury Gold, Trafalgar and Brendan Vacations, and four owned hotels including Skye Inn, Morag’s Lodge, Laggan Hotel and its Red Carnation Hotel’s 5-star Princes Street in Edinburgh, opening later in 2022.
TTC has made progress against its tangible goals and will be sharing the success resulting from concerted efforts since its strategy launched with the release of its first official Impact Report, set to be published next month. To learn more about The Travel Corporation’s net zero journey, please visit: https://impact.treadright.org/climate/.
About The Travel Corporation:
The Travel Corporation (TTC) is a highly successful stable, and solvent family-owned and passionately run international group of 40 award-winning brands, celebrating our first 100th Anniversary in 2020. Our exceptional portfolio of brands spans across 70 countries and offers an extensive selection of international travel and tourism companies, encompassing a variety of guided travel experiences, independent holiday packages, boutique river cruising, luxury hotels and safaris. We are committed to consistently delivering outstanding service, experiences and value to each and every one of our guests and we do so through continuous innovation. Beyond our commitment to provide the world’s leading holiday experiences, TTC reassures travellers in these uncertain times that their future travels are safe with us. The financial strength and future longevity of the business is backed by the transparent exposure of the companies Red Carnation Hotels unencumbered fixed assets in excess of US$300,000,000 as of December 31, 2019. For more information, please visit TTC.com or follow us on Twitter and Instagram (insert regional link) while using our hashtags #TravelWithTTC and #MakeTravelMatter.
About the TreadRight Foundation:
Created as a joint initiative between The Travel Corporation’s (TTC) family of brands, The TreadRight Foundation is a not-for-profit working to safeguard the planet, wildlife & people for generations to come. TreadRight’s mission is to #MakeTravelMatter through conservation, leadership and support for communities. To date, TreadRight has supported over 55+ sustainable tourism projects in 280+ communities worldwide. Foundation priorities are set by the Steering Committee. Past project partners include WWF, Conservation International, WildAid, The Travel Foundation and The National Trust in the UK. Current initiatives include the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Big Cat fund, WE.org and inspiring nature advocates like Céline Cousteau, Costas Christ and Terri Irwin. To learn more about our past and current work at TreadRight, please visit us at treadright.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter using our hashtag #MakeTravelMatter.