As business travel rebounds to pre-pandemic levels and is predicted to soar further, how can international business leaders continue to connect face-to-face while reducing their environmental footprint?
For an industry whose future looked uncertain at one stage – indeed, during the height of the pandemic, I recall reading a prediction from Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who predicted that more than 50 per cent of business travel would disappear over the coming years – the way that the business travel industry has now rebounded to near pre-pandemic levels has been nothing short of remarkable.
While technological advancements for video conferencing have undoubtedly meant that conducting meetings online has never been easier, in what was a rare misjudgment, Gates seemingly underestimated humans’ natural desire to connect face-to-face.
But what does all of this mean for our progress towards greater sustainability? While estimates suggest that only 20 per cent of travel is for business, we as industry leaders have a responsibility, more than most, to ensure that we lead the way towards a greener, more eco-conscious future. Although options for leisure travellers to offset their carbon are increasing, with recent figures suggesting that just 1 per cent of them currently do so, it’s also fair to say that we cannot rely on them to collectively make micro-decisions that de-carbonise the industry.
As someone with brands in London and the UAE myself, finding ways to reduce the need for trips is something that I’m always very conscious of, with the first step being to always evaluate the necessity of each trip. Whether that’s a flight across to the UK, or a meeting that’s at the other end of the city in Dubai, whenever possible, we should explore alternatives to physical travel. Like we do in other areas, as business leaders, we must lead by example and demonstrate our commitment to sustainability through our actions.
For the times when travel is unavoidable, in addition to offsetting miles ourselves by making donations to environmental organisations, we should also look at ensuring that the choices we make during our trip are sustainable too. Whether that’s staying in a net zero carbon hotel – of which there are an increasing number – or eating at restaurants with a garden-to-table ethos, sustainability must also extend beyond the flight itself.
As policy makers in our own businesses, we also have the opportunity to implement sustainable travel policies within our workforce and to instill a culture of sustainability that includes getting to and from work too. The likes of encouraging carpooling and bike-to-work schemes not only reduce carbon emissions, but can also foster a sense of community among employees. This also extends to learning and development too, like encouraging our HR teams to choose to find online training sessions, instead of flying guest speakers over.
We have great transport networks in Dubai and are fortunate that many of our venues are close to a metro station. As leaders, we should actively promote the the use of public transport for our colleagues, and for those locations which aren’t as accessible, provide shuttle services – or as is the case in a location like Expo City, invest in electric bikes to facilitate efficient movement between venues and reduce our reliance on traditional vehicles.
Above all, sustainable travel shouldn’t be a buzzword; it should be imperative for all businesses in the 21st century. By adopting conscious travel practices, implementing robust policies, and leading by example, we can minimise our environmental impact while driving positive change within our organisations and beyond. As leaders, let’s commit to traveling sustainably and paving the way toward a more environmentally responsible future.
Dr Naim Maadad is the CEO and Founder of Gates Hospitality
