BUSINESS TRAVEL
prnewswire | March 24, 2023
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and the Saudi-based Sustainable Tourism Global Center have unveiled groundbreaking new data detailing the total water usage of the global Travel & Tourism sector.
In one of the largest research projects of its kind, WTTC can for the first time ever, accurately report and track the impact the sector has on the environment.
The findings were launched today at the United Nations in New York at the UN 2023 Water Conference.
Direct Water Use
Speaking at the UN Headquarters, Chris Imbsen, Director of Sustainability at WTTC, revealed that Travel & Tourism's entire water footprint is just 0.6% of the global water use according to the latest figures (2021).
In 2019, when the sector was at its peak, the sector's total water footprint was only 50% higher, but still less than 1% of the global total at 0.9%.
Travel & Tourism's direct water use is significantly lower – in 2019 it was 0.2% of the global total and has fallen by half to just 0.1% of the global total.
Much of the sector's water use is indirect, through its supply chain, with agriculture and food production accounting for two-thirds of Travel & Tourism's entire water footprint.
Between 2010 and 2019, the Travel & Tourism sector in Europe and Africa reduced direct water use. In Europe, direct water use fell by 8% and in Africa, direct water use by the sector fell by 6%.
Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: "This ground-breaking new data reveals our sector's water consumption for the first time ever, revealing that Travel & Tourism uses less than 1% of the water used around the world, with the overwhelming majority of that usage coming from the sector's supply chain.
"The data also shows that whilst the sector has grown economically around the world, its direct-use water intensity has decreased.
"The data is the most in depth study of the sector's water use, and like the world-first climate footprint data we released at our Global Summit in Riyadh last year, we can also reveal individual countries' Travel & Tourism sector's water footprints. This will enable governments to work with the sector to further reduce water usage."
Water Intensity
The water intensity of Travel & Tourism per unit of GDP has also fallen since 2010, across both direct and indirect use.
In 2010, the sector used 0.57m³ of water for every $1 contributed to the global economy. In 2019 this fell by 19% to reach 0.46m³ of water for every $1 contributed to the global economy.
In a world-first, this comprehensive research covers 185 countries across all regions and will be updated each year with revised figures.
This research was made possible thanks to the partnership between WTTC and the Saudi-based Sustainable Tourism Global Center. Under the Saudi green Initiative, more than 60 initiatives have been launched in the past year, representing more than $186 billion of investment in the green economy.
About the World Travel & Tourism Council
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) represents the global travel & tourism private sector. Members include 200 CEOs, Chairs and Presidents of the world's leading travel & tourism companies from all geographies covering all industries. For more than 30 years, WTTC has been committed to raising the awareness of governments and the public of the economic and social significance of the travel & tourism sector.
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BUSINESS TRAVEL
Deem | February 24, 2023
On February 23, 2023, Deem, a pioneer in mobile-first corporate travel management software, announced that its improved Etta business travel booking website is now available for early access. Deem representatives can provide customers with access, allowing them to experience new features, including:
A new e-commerce-style shopping cart enables users to search and select hotels, flights, and rental cars in any order and then check out when finished.
Responsive design that improves the booking experience no matter what device is used.
EcoCheck tool features the same functionalities and data as Etta for iOS and Android.
Etta's award-winning accessibility features are now fully realized in the desktop app, allowing everyone to book corporate travel on the Etta website easily.
The delegate booking feature, available in both classic and updated Etta, enables travel managers to book, manage, and monitor travel for their entire team.
Responsive design is a crucial requirement today, as 92% of people browse the internet on their phones. Moreover, website traffic through phones is on the rise, with 59.5% as of 2022's third quarter. The new version of Etta will automatically reformat for optimal performance on the platform used to access it.
Sustainability information is also important to travelers, with 77% of business travelers responding that reducing their carbon footprint during travel is a moderate or top priority. Those between 18-34 account for the highest percentage (86%) of the respondents. EcoCheck offers reliable carbon emissions data, contextual information, and hotel ratings during the travel booking process.
Better accessibility is crucial to enable more people to benefit from digital platforms. With Deem's award-winning accessibility functionality now on the Etta website, it meets the WCAG 2 AA-level guidelines.
Customers with early access can activate the latest Etta web experience by toggling a button in the screen's top right corner. Once enabled, the toggle is applied across the site. This new version of the Etta business travel software will be available for all locations this summer.
About Deem
Deem is a corporate travel management software provider with solutions designed to help employees work and travel more efficiently while companies can apply policies and control costs. Its platform allows travel managers to customize travel programs and easily service travelers. The company's products give employees the tools to make better travel decisions, save money, and stay connected. Its technology plugs into travel management and expense providers, and its suite of tools is used by corporate customers and travel management companies globally. Deem is headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, and has offices in Bangalore, India and Dublin, Ireland. It is wholly owned by Enterprise Holdings.
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BUSINESS TRAVEL, AIRLINES AND AIRPORTS
Avelo Airlines | January 19, 2023
On January 18, 2023, Avelo Airlines reported strong booking trends before the much-awaited introduction of the airline's base at Wilmington Airport (ILG). This launch will take place on February 1, and from that date onwards, the company will offer nonstop flight services to Florida from the most convenient location in Delaware Valley.
Andrew Levy, Chairman and CEO at Avelo Airlines, said, "With 14 days to go, we are very encouraged by the initial demand from across the four-state Delaware Valley region. We are seeing strong booking trends across all five Florida destinations Avelo will serve from Wilmington. It is clear there is a lot of excitement about the convenient, affordable and reliable service Avelo is bringing to the region."
(Source – Cision PR Newswire)
With Avelo's ILG base opening in two weeks, the airline plans to provide nonstop flights to five popular destinations in Florida: Fort Myers, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Orlando, and West Palm Beach. In addition, Avelo will run a special inaugural flight on February 1 from Wilmington to Orlando International Airport (MCO), the busiest and most convenient airport in Central Florida, to mark the opening of its ILG base.
The company will begin by placing one Boeing Next-Generation (NG) 737 at ILG along with 35 Crewmembers (employees), including pilots, aircraft technical operations and maintenance, airport customer service, flight attendants, and supervisors.
In the United States, Avelo now offers service to 34 locations. By operating on overlooked routes to underserved communities across the nation, the airline has ushered in a new era of choice, convenience, and competition in air travel.
About Avelo Airlines
Founded in 2020, Avelo Airlines was established with a simple goal - Inspiring Travel. Through its Soul of Service culture, the airline keeps people at the heart of everything, allowing customers to save time and money, avail low everyday fares, and experience refreshing convenience. Avelo operates a fleet of Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft and serves 34 popular locations across the United States, with five bases: Tweed-New Haven Airport in Southern Connecticut (HVN), Hollywood Burbank Airport in Los Angeles (BUR), Orlando International Airport (MCO), Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), and Wilmington Airport in the Delaware Valley (ILG).
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