Preferred Travel Group has announced the official launch of its Climate Action Plan, created in partnership with the Travel Foundation. Building on the Preferred Travel Group signing of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, the Climate Action Plan aims to reduce the company’s carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by no later than 2050. The plan focuses on five key pathways (Measure, Decarbonize, Regenerate, Collaborate and Finance), integrating climate action into the corporate strategy and ensuring it becomes a core component of business decisions.
Preferred Travel Group says it developed its Climate Action Plan through a structured, iterative and data-driven approach, collaborating with experts at the Travel Foundation and e-collective, a carbon consultancy based in the United Kingdom. This process was grounded in thorough data analysis and input from internal stakeholders, ensuring the plan is both comprehensive and feasible within the company’s operational scope.
The Climate Action Plan Development Process
The plan addresses internal operations and focuses on creating a broader impact, emphasizing opportunities to foster scalable, industry-wide collaboration in the years to come. The following steps have been taken to guide the plan’s development and implementation:
- Baseline emissions inventory and situation analysis – Preferred Travel Group began by conducting a baseline emissions inventory led by e-collective, quantifying greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across scopes including: direct emissions from sources owned or controlled by the company; indirect emissions from purchased electricity; and all other indirect emissions, such as business travel and employee commuting. Alongside this, the Travel Foundation conducted a situation analysis, gathering feedback from Preferred Travel Group associates to identify key opportunities for climate action within the company’s operations and across its broader stakeholder network.
- Defining objectives aligned with global climate frameworks – Using the baseline emissions inventory results and situation analysis, Preferred Travel Group established a set of objectives leading to 2030 that outline the strategic direction of the Climate Action Plan. These objectives were designed based on three guiding frameworks:
- Paris Agreement Alignment – The company’s climate goals support global efforts to limit temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius, with an aspirational target of 1.5 degrees Celsius. This involves achieving a 50 percent reduction in emissions by 2030 and Net Zero by 2050.
- Five Pathways of the Glasgow Declaration – Measure, Decarbonize, Regenerate, Collaborate and Finance to ensure a balanced, multi-faceted approach to climate action.
- Internal Operations and Sphere of Influence – Each objective was tailored to focus on key emissions sources and activities under the control of Preferred Travel Group, targeting areas where the company can scale positive impact through the company’s larger sphere of influence, including member hotels, suppliers and wider tourism industry partners.
- Identifying actions to achieve each objective – Preferred Travel Group identified specific actions for each objective to ensure practical implementation. Each action is tied to measurable outcomes that drive progress toward achieving broader climate goals.
- Prioritization framework – To ensure resources are effectively allocated, actions were prioritized based on cost, implementation timeframe, emissions reduction potential, ease of use and associate engagement. A scoring system helped determine which actions would deliver the greatest impact.
In 2025, Preferred Travel Group will focus on implementing its Climate Action Plan by establishing effective systems, refining policies and engaging associates to create lasting impact. These efforts will provide a structured framework for reducing environmental impact and promoting a low-carbon future. Key priorities include enhancing emissions tracking and reporting systems for business travel and events, which contribute significantly to Scope 3 emissions, and refining travel and event policies to achieve emissions reduction across company operations. Associate engagement will be central to this effort, with training, workshops and resources fostering a culture of climate action. Guided by the internal Climate Task Force and Climate Steering Committee, associates will be empowered to integrate more sustainable practices into their roles and help drive innovative climate initiatives across departments.
By prioritizing the decarbonization of internal operations, Preferred Travel Group sets a strong foundation for expanding these efforts across its global network of stakeholders. This approach emphasizes the company’s commitment to leading the travel sector’s transition to a lower-carbon future, fostering innovation, accountability, and partnership. Beyond emissions reduction, the company is dedicated to empowering associates and stakeholders to adopt climate-conscious practices and contribute to collective industry transformation.
For more information, visit www.preferredtravelgroup.com/climateactionplan.
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