Skift Travel News Blog

Amtrak and the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) are set to introduce their first electric vehicle into the Amtrak Cascades route.

The new electric bus will be able to complete the almost 200-mile round-trip on a single charge, with the new EV set to save ‘approximately 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel per year, cutting CO2 emissions by 109 tons annually’, according to a release from Amtrak. 

The charging hub for the electric vehicle has also been built with sustainability in mind, having been installed on land that was once occupied by large fuel tanks.

“At Amtrak, we strive to give our passengers reliable, comfortable, and sustainable travel options. By incorporating environmental considerations into our current operations and as we work with our partners to reach more of America, we continue to make Amtrak an even ‘greener’ mode of transportation,” said Kara Oldhouser, sustainability director at Amtrak. 

The introduction of the electric bus bus is hoped to help Amtrak advance its pledge to become net zero by 2045, with the company examining other routes within the National Network that could operate electric vehicles.

Online travel marketplace Klook is ending the sale of certain exploitative wildlife attractions on its platform, with a new animal welfare policy, set to come into effect on 31 October.

The experiences platform will stop selling circus-style performances involving elephants, dolphins, and tigers, animal shows performances, and animal-photo experiences. It has since removed experiences for Miami Seaquarium and Sea Life Park Hawaii, according to a statement by World Animal Protection.

“Klook must go further,” said Nicole Barrantes, Wildlife Campaign Manager, World Animal Protection, “It must remove all wildlife attractions, including its elephant bathing and feeding offerings, which still involve significant cruelty behind the scenes.”

Klook was pinpointed as enabling animal interactions in a WAP Tracking the Travel Industry report released in February, tying with Groupon for the lowest score in the sector. World Animal Protection stated that companies assessed were given feedback and a timeframe within which to report back as well as put into effect any necessary changes to improve their offering and overall responsible tourism weighting. It had not received any feedback or policy changes from Groupon, as yet.

Airstream and REI Co-op have unveiled the second trailer of their on-going brand collaboration, with the new model centred around more sustainable construction practices.

The 20 feet long REI Co-op Special Edition Basecamp 20X features sustainably sourced and recycled construction materials, with textiles made from recycled products and cabinetry created from lightweight and sustainably grown wood. 

There is also the opportunity to increase the eco-credentials of the trailer, including a 360-watt solar package and a water-saving composting toilet.

“Our partnership with REI is expanding at a time of unprecedented growth in the outdoor recreation space, alongside an urgent imperative to conserve and safeguard the outdoor spaces we cherish,” said Bob Wheeler, president and CEO of Airstream. 

“By extending our collaboration series with REI, this new 20-foot Basecamp allows us to serve more environmentally-conscious outdoor enthusiasts looking to upgrade their adventure.”

You can find the full specifications of the Airstream REI Co-op Special Edition Basecamp 20X Travel Trailer here.

Finnair is repurposing worn-out crew uniforms into composite products, thanks to a new partnership with Finnish workwear manufacturer Image Wear.

Any uniform that remains in good condition is refurbished and reused where appropriate, with Finnair noting that its ‘employees have welcomed the used uniform parts that have been cleaned and maintained, as they are more sustainable than new ones.’

“We have established a process to ensure a constant supply of used clothing pieces that have been carefully cleaned and inspected. Primarily, we allocate these items to fulfill our employees’ uniform orders. We supplement the orders with new uniform parts when necessary,” says Merja Lindberg, who is responsible for Finnair uniforms.

For uniforms that have reached the end of their wearable life, Finnair is working with Image Wear to repurpose the material so it can be used for manufacturing recycled composite products. The material, which is made by combining recycled plastic particles with textiles, can be used to create various outdoor items including tables and benches. 

“Composite products are durable – their estimated lifespan is around 50 years, and at the end of their lifecycle, they can still be recycled into new products. In this way, worn-out work clothes do not end up as waste, but continue their life in a new form,” says Kati Tukiainen, Image Wear’s Responsibility manager.

Iberostar Hotels & Resorts have cut food waste by 28% in the first half of 2023, thanks to an on-going partnership with Winnow and its artificial intelligence technology.

The partnership, which was announced in 2022, forms part of Iberostar’s Wave of Change program.

The Winnow technology has now been installed in 48 Iberostar hotels globally, achieving significant progress in Iberostar’s journey towards a waste-free future by 2025 and carbon neutral by 2030. 

Thanks to AI Technology, Iberostar has stated that it has saved 735,000 meals since January 2023 in its food waste journey, which equates to an 11% reduction in waste weight and 1,264 tons of CO2 saved.

“Our partnership with Winnow is a testament to our commitment towards a waste-free future. It is truly inspiring to see our chefs embrace the program and create tangible change. This achievement reinforces Iberostar’s position as a leader in creating a sustainable travel industry,” said Megan Morikawa, global sustainability director at Iberostar.

Egypt is making measurable progress in sustainable travel and tourism efforts, with two towns dedicated exclusively to sustainable travel. A recent report by Bain & Company highlights the small “eco-village” of El-Qula’an and the resort town of El Gouna as two locations within Egypt centered around environmental practices.

El Gouna, which received a UN-sponsored Global Green Town award in 2014, utilizes measures such as water desalination, a local wastewater treatment plant, an on-site organic farm, and “phase change” temperature regulation materials in all of its properties.

Meanwhile, the small Red Sea town of El-Qula’an has transformed into an “eco-village,” utilizing its solar power plant and market selling goods from craftsmen to foster tourism to its beaches while safeguarding the location’s natural environment and protecting its mangrove preserve.

Bain & Company’s report says these measures are a strong start, but there is still more room to grow. Their survey indicated that two-thirds of leisure travelers to the Middle East and North Africa destinations believe sustainability is important or extremely important when traveling for leisure, and 66 percent are willing to pay more for those sustainable offerings.

As travelers increasingly seek hotel experiences that delve into culture and tradition, The Heritage Collection – a new brand from Angsana, a member of the Banyan Tree Group – has unveiled a collection of curated properties in Mexico and Morocco that are steeped in ‘architectural heritage, history, and culture,’ and designed to offer intimate experiences that weave together the past and present.

One property, Hacienda Xcanatun, which is situated in Mexico’s Yucatan region, which is known for its lush tropical rainforests and historical significance as the home of the ancient Mayans. Angsana notes, “During Mexico’s colonial period, haciendas – large rural estates – were the epicentre of the country’s economic and social life.”

Transformed into a hotel in the 1990s and restored “to its 18th-century grandeur,” the hacienda has undergone an extensive two-year renovation, now offering a blend of modern amenities with 36 brand new suites and 18 restored historic suites that were part of the original architecture.

Morocco is the brands other main location, featuring a collection of six riads in Marrakech designed in the traditional Maghreb style. The buildings were family homes – originally known as dars and then renamed riads (or “garden” in Arabic) – and remain an integral part of the city landscapes in Morocco.

The riads have been restored to offer 42 rooms and suites, all arranged around a central square, showcasing the fundamentals of Moroccan architecture and design.

Skift Ideas uncovers the most creative and forward-thinking innovations happening across travel. We celebrate innovation through our Skift IDEA Awards and hear from leaders on our Ideas podcast.

You can listen and subscribe to the Skift Ideas Podcast through your favorite podcast app here.

Virgin Atlantic and Rolls-Royce have announced the success of a ground test using a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blend on a Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine. 

The ground test marks a key milestone in the run up to the British carrier operating a Boeing 787 Dreamliner across the Atlantic using only SAF in November of this year.

Although according to the carrier, the realization of flight taking to the skies will be a challenging task ‘requiring cross industry collaboration and dedicated project teams working on the research, testing and operations to make it happen.’

While current SAF fuel standards allow for only a 50% SAF blend in commercial jet engines, Virgin Atlantic aims to demonstrate the potential of SAF as a 100% replacement for jet fuel.

The project is jointly funded by the Department for Transport, and is made up of a consortium led by Virgin Atlantic, that includes Rolls Royce, Boeing, University of Sheffield, Imperial College London and Rocky Mountain Institute. 

“The 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel transatlantic flight will be a historic moment in aviation’s roadmap to decarbonisation. Alongside fleet transformation, SAF is the most readily available way for our industry to decarbonise, but currently there’s not enough supply and without it and the radical collaboration required to produce it, we can’t meet our 2030 targets. We need UK government support to create a UK SAF industry to allow for every single flight out of the UK to operate with 100% SAF – if we make it, we can fly it,” said Shai Weiss, CEO, Virgin Atlantic.

At Skift, we are looking to unearth the most creative and forward-thinking innovations in travel through our Skift Ideas Franchise, which includes the Skift IDEA Awards, Skift Editorial Hub and the Skift Ideas Podcast.

You can listen and subscribe to the Skift Ideas Podcast through your favorite podcast app here.

Japan Airlines (JAL) and Sumitomo Corporation are set to trial ‘Any Wear, Anywhere’, a new clothes sharing service.

The service has been designed to offer travelers the convenience of carrying minimal luggage by providing the opportunity to rent clothing at their destination, whilst in turn promoting more environmentally sustainable travel methods.

Under the ‘Any Wear, Anywhere’ service, Japan Airlines aims to create an environment where ‘travelers can use local options for all aspects of their clothing, food, and accommodation, transforming travel and business trips into more sustainable experiences.’

The service will be open to all foreign travelers and business travelers flying on Japan Airlines flights and will run until 31 August, 2024.

Sumitomo Corporation will be providing the service, and all clothing items available under the scheme will be sourced from excess apparel stock and pre-owned clothing.

Japan Airlines will monitor any changes in passengers’ checked-in baggage weight and verify any reductions in carbon dioxide emissions from reduced airplane weight due to use of the Service.

You can take a look here.

At Skift, we are looking to unearth the most creative and forward-thinking innovations in travel through our Skift Ideas Franchise, which includes the Skift IDEA Awards, Skift Editorial Hub and the Skift Ideas Podcast.

You can listen and subscribe to the Skift Ideas Podcast through your favorite podcast app here.

Tourism Cares, a non-profit dedicated to advancing sustainable tourism has unveiled its new Meaningful Travel Map.

The interactive map, which has been designed to connect travel professionals with ‘sustainable, community-led enterprises, products, services, accommodations and tours that can be added to itineraries,’ has been launched to commemorate the organization’s 20-year anniversary.

You can view the interactive map here, and find out more about the work Tourism Cares does in the video below:

Presently, the Meaningful Travel Map features over 150 verified sustainable experiences in various destinations including the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Colombia and Jordan.

“At Tourism Cares, we consider ourselves a pioneer in the meaningful travel movement – driving the industry to conduct business in a way that directly benefits host communities, protects cultural and environmental assets, and engages guests in a deeper, more responsible way,” said Greg Takehara, CEO, Tourism Cares. 

“Through our innovative programs, such as our Meaningful Travel Summits and the development of our Meaningful Travel Map, we have been able to generate significant impact for local communities and social enterprises around the world. We are excited for this next phase of programming with our expanded map and its ability to diversify the travel supply chain to incorporate more impactful, locally led tourism experiences that will benefit destinations and the people that call those places home.”

At Skift, we are looking to unearth the most creative and forward-thinking innovations in travel through our Skift Ideas Franchise, which includes the Skift IDEA Awards, Skift Editorial Hub and the Skift Ideas Podcast.

You can listen and subscribe to the Skift Ideas Podcast through your favorite podcast app here.