TravelMole’s Secret Operator says it’s the time of year to pay on time
Thursday, 11 Dec, 2009
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It’s that time of year….mince pies office parties, Christmas shopping and the deathly winter season when the grim reaper stalks tour operators and travel agents whilst we all keep our fingers crossed and look towards summer.
In our office we’re having a debate about Christmas cards; do we need to send them? Can we be bothered? Do we have time? Is it in keeping with travel’s appetite for all things sustainable?
Now I like to make sure that I behave responsibly (only when it comes to green issues, you understand) so I was quite interested in the idea of recycling our cards or sending e cards….but the concern from my colleagues made me smile!
Being mindful of the environment at all times has become the new political correctness, if you tell someone that you don’t recycle or can’t be bothered to offset your carbon emissions you may as well confess to being a card carrying member of the KKK.
Some travel companies do genuinely strive to make a difference and behave responsibly, but the majority are simply green washing the industry and the public by professing to care about issues that actually have a tiresome habit of interfering with profit.
It may be hogwash or green wash or both, but if companies are willing to go public with their green credentials, it really doesn’t matter if it’s true or not.
The important thing is that we as consumers and as an industry then get to question them on their claims and ensure that they deliver them; that’s how change happens, when it has to!
The issue with travel is that people don’t hesitate to support children’s and animal charities because there is no blame attached to them personally but tell them that they’re destroying the earth by flying to Majorca and need to pay more to enable tour operators to invest in green technologies and community projects and they’ll book with cheapandnastyholidays.com who couldn’t care less.
So what’s the answer?
I think that we need to accept that the industry is not a charity and that best practice doesn’t pay fuel bills, rent or staffing costs.
But what does it mean to be responsible?
It seems that responsibility is the new watchword for tackling climate change, conserving destinations and generally limiting the impact tourism has on the environment.
Can we be responsible in other ways?
In this season of peace and goodwill, I welcome the recycling of cards, but could we also embrace our responsibilities by adopting best practice across the industry?
The rest of the retail world may be gearing up for what will be a crucial trading period, but those of us in travel are huddled Scrooge-like in our counting houses; cutting costs where we can, eyeing average selling prices with concern and mulling over commission cuts (0.1% is the new 10% when it comes to flight only!)
So could we all take responsible travel to new levels?
I’m not suggesting that we make a charity single for tour operators (sit down Tony) or run adoption schemes (Just 50p per day could feed a tour operator)
It’s easier than that…let’s pay on time.
I know that things are tough for everyone but with recent profit announcements from the big players in retail, it’s clear that it’s tougher for some than others.
Survival of the fittest is all well and good, but there is no natural selection involved when the larger retailers starve already stretched businesses of funds to deliver their own profits.
I could be wrong but I’m guessing these companies have spent considerable sums of money on developing their responsible tourism strategy and regard themselves as role models in the industry.
So as a gesture of goodwill at this time of giving…let’s really behave responsibly and survive tough trading in a fair way – by paying in good time and being better at what we do than our competitors.
Alternatively, you could get in touch with your own experiences and Travelmole will name and shame the non payers in a league table! Controversial? Call me irresponsible!
Phil Davies
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