From December 2023, as part of its Mobility Plan, Verbier Tourisme will introduce a multi mode of transport booking service developed by Antidots. This innovative booking platform will incorporate all modes of transportation, covering entire journeys from any locations worldwide. As a result, it will now be possible to plan, book, and pay for your journey to Verbier through a single platform. This solution marks the first integration of Mobility as a Service (MaaS) with a valley lift, specifically the one connecting Le Châble and Verbier. It provides travelers with an all-inclusive transportation package, encompassing train and plane services, VTC and taxi options, car rentals, buses, and coaches, as well as free shuttles and the Châble-Verbier gondola. All of these services are conveniently bundled together on the Go Verbier platform, allowing for a seamless experience with a single payment.
Hotelplan UK Publishes First Planet & People Report: Protecting Our Futures
07.12.2023 - 07:43 / breakingtravelnews.com
Hotelplan UK – the parent company of Explore Worldwide, Inghams, Esprit, Inntravel and Santa’s Lapland - has released its first Planet and People report, to follow on from its Climate and Biodiversity papers published early in 2023.
The report, Protecting our Futures, tracks Hotelplan UK’s progress towards sustainability goals and incorporates elements of the group’s People strategy for the first time. It highlights where the group has surpassed targets – increasing investments in the planet and charity donations by more than 16% to £1.25 million, for instance - as well as addressing areas such as carbon reduction where efforts need further acceleration to meet Glasgow Declaration targets.
“It’s been an incredible trading year for our brands, but we’re publishing this report to show that healthy profits and passenger numbers aren’t our only objectives,” said Hotelplan UK CEO, Joe Ponte. “We’re focused on being a purpose-led organisation, meaning an equal focus on People, Planet and Profit is paramount. We’ve got a clear vision of the travel business we want to be and are excited to share the path we’ve mapped to get us there.”
Highlights of the report include:
Giving Back
Hotelplan UK invested over £1.15 million for the planet during its 2022/23 financial year – surpassing its £1 million commitment due to higher-than-projected passenger numbers
Investment went into carbon removal solutions with Klimate, biodiversity restoration with Rewilding Britan and environmental protection with Cool Earth
In addition, over £100,000 was given to charities and projects at brand level – up from £74,000 originally pledged
Hotelplan UK will invest a further £1 million in carbon removal and rewilding projects, plus donate a further £100,000 to charitable causes in its 23/24 financial year
Carbon Footprint
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The group’s intensity carbon footprint – based on tCO2e per passenger, per night – has decreased by 5%, year-on-year
The group’s absolute carbon footprint has increased by 42% due to uplifts in passengers and business travel
Going beyond GHG Protocol, Hotelplan UK’s absolute footprint includes estimated transport emissions for all passengers travelling to/from its trips – including those who booked land-only trips and arranged their own flights/transport
To specifically reduce flight emissions – which made up 75% of last year’s footprint - options for flight-free holidays have been increased and direct, economy flights are being sold by default
People
Hotelplan UK’s board and senior managers have had bonus targets equally aligned against People, Planet and Profit targets
Accessibility was improved at the group’s HQ to support DE&I, with the addition of gender-neutral toilets, braille signage, a
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