Profit from green travel now UK agents urged

10 ways travel agents can use Make Holidays Greener for better business

July is Make Holidays Greener month – and travel agents throughout the UK – are being urged to get behind the campaign.

Now in its third year, the aim of the Make Holidays Greener campaign is to spread the message about how the travel industry and holidaymakers can together play their part in protecting places we love to visit.

With the focus on fun and highlighting the simple things people can do whilst they’re away to make a positive difference to their holiday destination, the target is to have at least 150 independent travel agents signed up to support the campaign this year.

Here are some ways travel agents can get involved:  

1. Put a link from your website to http://www.makeholidaysgreener.org.uk   – it is full of ideas, celebrity quotes and material you can download to use as part of your own marketing and communications (there is a downloadable banner on the site).
2. A new set of posters has been developed for travel agents to use in store – they’ve been designed by top illustrator Rachel Bright – and they are colourful and fun, with simple message such as "get hungry for adventure" and "don’t just see the world – taste it, smell it, experience it….look after it" They’ll be available to download on 29 June at http://www.makeholidaysgreener.org.uk
3. The Ministry of Gozo is offering holidaymakers the chance to win a trip for a family of four to Gozo – which aims to be an ‘eco island’ by 2020 – let your customers know that they can enter and direct them to the website.
4. Get the kids involved – illustrator Rachel Bright has also created a new activity sheet for children to take with them on holiday. Print out some copies and hand them out to customers, or display one and let them know they can download it themselves and take it with them.
5. Children are often so much more "green" aware than their parents – primary schools often welcome input from the local business community if there’s a link to the curriculum.  Use the Travel Foundation’s tips about how to be a greener holidaymakers to see if there’s a way you can go into the school or put a link to the tips in their newsletter for parents. http://www.thetravelfoundation.org.uk
6. If you are on Facebook, "like" Make Holidays Greener at http://www.facebook.com/MakeHolidaysGreener and join in the conversation – share your greener holiday tips and stories
7. Highlight some "greener" deals of the week – maybe some "low impact holidays" such as European camping breaks, adventures by train or holidays to Travelife hotels, which are all featured by mainstream holiday firms http://www.travelifecollection.com
8. Make a commitment to make your shop greener – review energy usage, commit to recycle or reduce your use of paper – simple steps can significantly reduce costs and your carbon footprint.
9. Contact your local newspaper to let them know you are taking part in the nation-wide Make Holidays Greener campaign; use the template press release on the website to help.
10. Tell your customers you are supporting Make Holidays Greener campaign by putting it in your newsletter if you have one and use it as an opportunity to email your database and present the business in a positive light – and give them some great ideas and holiday deals at the same time to show that greener doesn’t cost the earth.

Valere Tjolle
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