With the upcoming World Wildlife Day on 03MAR and World Water Day on 22MAR, the TreadRight Foundation, a joint initiative between The Travel Corporation’s (TTC) 40 award-winning brands, releases their 2024 MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Checklist. Recognizing the importance for travellers to travel sustainably, the not-for-profit foundation and TTC have updated their checklist as an informative way to help clients become more responsible travellers as well as to protect and make a positive impact on the planet, its people, and wildlife.
The checklist covers four main recommendations including “Planning and Packing” such as bringing a reusable bottle, locating water refill stations, and downloading the Tap app to find water anywhere. The second recommendation is “Getting Around”, focused on minimizing the carbon footprint of transportation choices with the tip of trying out a local bike share program. Also, the checklist provides guidance on choosing businesses such as hotels, airlines or tour operators based on those who have a commitment to responsible travel through initiatives such as a sustainability strategy with measurable goals, or a Climate Action Plan as a roadmap to reduce emissions. For example, The Travel Corporation releases an Annual Impact Report which shares progress on their sustainability goals aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Thirdly, with the ‘Sleeping and Eating’ recommendation, guests are encouraged to choose accommodations which have recycling, waste and water conservation programs, and use renewable energy. The last recommendation consists of “Experiences that Matter” which focuses on supporting experiences and businesses that empower communities and protect wildlife, including ethical shopping and not supporting illegal wildlife trade by avoiding any purchase of wildlife products. Clients can download the interactive 2024 MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Checklist.
“One of the most frequent questions we are asked is how to be a more conscious traveller. The intention of our 2024 MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Checklist is to help our guests, travel industry partners and their clients by providing them these accessible sustainable travel tips and making them aware of where they are spending and investing their travel funds,” says Shannon Guihan, The Travel Corporation’s Chief Sustainability Officer and Head of The TreadRight Foundation, “Whether you are an experienced globetrotter or a first-time explorer, the checklist is straightforward yet covers pre-trip planning, what to do while travelling and other impactful ways that travellers can support a destination and the local communities they visit. It’s a great resource to share with friends and colleagues and help make a collective difference,” she adds.
Learn more about TreadRight’s sustainable travel initiatives at https://www.treadright.org/travel
