Event details
An essential event for those committed to making travel more sustainable, ABTA’s Sustainable Travel Conference returns in March 2025.
Attend ABTA’s flagship sustainability event for insights and debate on how to move your business forward on its sustainability journey. Hear best practice case studies, expert guidance and take part in practical discussions on how to improve sustainability processes, policies and practices within your business, in destination and across the supply chain.
About the event
Early bird prices will expire on 7 February 2025.
8% of global carbon emissions are from tourism, transport making up the largest portion of this. With transport likely to be a large part of your overall value chain the expectation to act will hit the whole sector (Deloitte).
As sustainability continues to dominate the discussion in the travel sector, ABTA’s Sustainable Travel Conference is your opportunity to make sure you are aware and prepared for the challenges and opportunities presented.
Recent high-profile greenwashing cases have led to consumers becoming increasingly sceptical about sustainable travel claims. Discover how to communicate your sustainability requirements throughout your supply chain and work together with all your stakeholders to ensure you are providing a transparent and credible message.
Overtourism is another example of a highly topical issue in travel, as seen by a sharp increase in press coverage and drastic measures taken by destinations such as Venice introducing an access fee. Hear examples and take part in discussion on how extremely popular destinations can be managed responsibly so as to best seize the opportunities tourism can generate for communities around the world.
Learn about the steps that can be taken to reduce emissions, get closer to achieving net-zero targets, and move beyond a pure carbon focus to create a sector that is a force for good, supporting livelihoods at home and in destinations and promoting the preservation of culture and nature.
Through keynote presentations, sharing of best practice and collaboration, this comprehensive conference will provide you with tips and tools to help you achieve your sustainability goals.
Meet with your peers to collaborate and benchmark on these important issues during the breaks and at the networking drinks reception.
More details about the event, speakers and the agenda will be released shortly.
Sessions
- Industry challenges and opportunities shaping travel today
- Understanding sustainability across your supply chain
- Policy and regulation update – what can we expect from the new Government?
- Overcoming social challenges and protecting human rights
- Understanding what can be done to tackle the problem of overtourism whilst supporting growing destinations
- Complying with regulation when communicating your sustainability initiatives without greenwashing or greenhushing
- Working with local communities to manage social concerns in destination
- Measuring climate risk and its impact on the short, medium and long term for tour operations
- Managing your IT footprint and understanding the impact of IT usage throughout your supply chain.
Speakers
Moderator: Susan Deer, Director of Industry Relations, ABTA
Susan joined ABTA in 2016 as Senior Solicitor, providing legal advice to ABTA Member businesses, as well as services to support ABTA’s public affairs and trade relations activity. She has extensive experience in the travel industry, having worked in hotel reservations, tour operating and business travel before beginning her legal career. Since October 2019, as Director of Industry Relations, Susan is responsible for managing relationships with UK travel industry stakeholders, FCO and destination government liaison and overseeing sustainability, operations, crisis management and health & safety in destinations.
- Matt Callaghan, Chief Operating Officer, easyJet holidays
- Paul Conroy, Head of Partnerships, Byway
- Tasha Hayes, European Operations Director and Sustainability Officer, Contiki
- Tudor Morgan, VP Sustainability and Industry Relations, HX Hurtigruten Expeditions
- Carol Rose, Head of Sustainability, ABTA
- Daniel Turner, Director, Animondial
Benefits of attending
- Hear examples of successful sustainable initiatives and developments
- Take away practical tips from sustainability experts that you can implement in your own organisation
- Discover what you can do to manage expectations and consumer perceptions surrounding travel and sustainability
- Take part in break out discussion groups to look at topics relevant to you in more depth
- Network with others in the industry to discuss the common challenges and share ideas.
Who should attend?
The event is ideal for large and small companies within the travel industry, including the following:
- Directors and senior managers from travel companies of all sizes
- Sustainability and CSR Teams
- Marketing and communications teams
- Product and sales teams
Event prices
ABTA Member/ABTA Partner rates*
Early bird rate – £279 plus VAT
Full rate – £319 plus VAT
Non-Member rates
Early bird rate – £439 plus VAT
Full rate – £479 plus VAT
Early bird prices will expire on 7 February 2025.
This includes lunch and refreshments throughout the day, post-event networking drinks reception, a certificate of attendance, and access to presentation slides after the event.
Travel agents
ABTA is hosting a limited amount of free places for members who are solely travel agencies. Please email events@abta.co.uk to enquire and find out more.
Book three places and get 50% off the third place.
(This discount will be automatically applied when you book online.)
• If you are looking to book for a larger group please contact events@abta.co.uk for a bespoke discount.
View our booking terms and conditions here.
Non-members are welcome to attend. For information about becoming a member click here.
*To qualify for the ABTA Member/Partner discount you must have a current ABTA Member/Partner number or your application must be in progress when the event takes place.
Sponsorship
Event partner
Preverisk is the leading provider of Health & Safety solutions to the travel and tourism sector. Our expert consultancy teams support tour operators, OTAs, bed banks and DMCs across the world, carrying out thousands of physical and remote audits each year. We have offices in 4 continents, audit in 9 different languages, and are adept with the assessment of all supplier types (accommodations, transfers and excursions). Preverisk is championing the digital transformation of the Health & Safety sector, supported by industry leading technology across our suite of services – audit, analytics, e-learning, and more. But Preverisk are not just the Health & Safety experts – we are also industry leaders in the areas of Sustainability, Customer Experience, Quality Management, Animal Welfare and many more. We are carrying out our vision of building a better world based on safe, sustainable and positive tourism.
Since the emergence of the current COVID-19 pandemic, Preverisk has partnered with various industry bodies to develop innovative preventative programmes that encourage the recovery of the travel sector. We have collaborated in many projects of reference, from the development of the ABTA 'Post Pandemic Recovery' guide, to accommodation protocols for RIU hotels and many other hotel groups. We were even responsible for Health & Safety for the entire tourism circuit in Cape Verde for the Ministry of Tourism, in addition to auditing projects for the Egyptian Hotel Association and many other challenging initiatives. Get to know us, and see how we can help you!
For information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Sara Dolan on 07766 517 611 or email sdolan@abta.co.uk.