April 17, 2023
By Aditi Mohapatra
At Expedia Group, we believe travel is a force for good. At the same time, we also recognize the environmental toll
that today’s travel industry often has on the planet. Climate action is essential to preserving the many
destinations our travelers are looking to experience. Sustainability is more than an accelerating trend
for travel — it’s fundamental for the future of our industry.
Responsible travel is a key business imperative for Expedia Group. Among other motivations, our travelers are clearly
demanding more sustainable options. In fact, terms related to sustainability and eco-friendliness were mentioned in
traveler feedback twice as often last year as in previous years 1.
To meet our travelers’ demand and as part of our long-term sustainability efforts, last April, Expedia Group signed
the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Travel and Tourism as one signal of our commitment. And in September,
we launched our Open World™ social impact and sustainability strategy with the specific mission of advancing a
travel ecosystem that is open, accessible, and responsible for all.
We are excited to share an update on our progress over the last year and outline our vision for what’s ahead.
Building a Prosperous Planet
Our Open World framework places environmental sustainability alongside two other pillars of social impact — inclusive
access and economic mobility — with all three driving toward a responsible future for tourism and for the people,
places, and communities that make up global travel.
The Prosperous Planet pillar of our strategy is grounded in two commitments:
- Aligning with a Net Zero Future - We will decarbonize our operations and take action to
mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change on our business.
- Powering Sustainable Journeys - We will innovate sustainable solutions for the future of
travel, empowering travelers to act more sustainably and supporting partners in offering more sustainable travel
options.
Expedia Group is committed to mobilizing its vast network of travelers, partners, and peers to empower more
responsible choices.
Setting a vision
Over the past year, we’ve collected data and had critical conversations with many stakeholders as we create our first
Climate Action Plan, set to be released later this year. Outlining our overall climate vision and
strategy, the Climate Action Plan articulates six core elements that will guide our action over the coming years:
- Reduce: Set and deliver science-aligned targets and decarbonization strategies for our
operations.
- Prepare: Evaluate and integrate climate risk and opportunity to our business, including the
outcomes of a scenario analysis, which describes how the physical and transition risks of climate change might
impact our business.
- Adapt: Support community disaster response and climate adaptation to build resilience in the
places where we work, and the destinations where we travel.
- Align: Advance industry standards to support clear, authentic, and consistent information on
the sustainability of travel products.
- Recognize: Promote more sustainable travel options across our platforms and incentivize
travelers to choose them.
- Accelerate: Support suppliers in providing more sustainable offerings, with a focus on the
intersection of climate and equity.
Greener options for a greener travel industry
Collaboration is critical to our progress as an industry, and we must work together to innovate and accelerate
meaningful change. Expedia Group is committed to empowering both travelers and partners to make more responsible and
sustainable travel choices by providing needed insights, tools, and resources.
Destination Communities
Travel is inherently place-based. That’s why our Open World strategy puts destination communities alongside travelers
at its center – outstanding travel experiences require vibrant and resilient destinations. We are therefore proud to
be partnering with the Travel Foundation to launch a first-of-its-kind capacity-building program for destination
marketing and management organizations (DMOs), enabling them to lead the way on climate action in tourism and
catalyze meaningful change at a local level. DMOs bridge the gap between the global and the local within the travel
industry, and Expedia Group sees them as a key node for accelerating sustainable travel.
The program will offer practical training to DMO staff, creating “climate champions” that can apply a sustainability
lens to strategic planning and decision-making. It will also support DMOs in creating their own climate action plans
and offer peer-to-peer learning opportunities for destinations to share knowledge and insights with one another.
The program’s pilot cohort will launch over the summer. We're excited to name Destination Vancouver as the first DMO to sign on as a participant and look forward to scaling this work in the years to come.
Travelers
With operations in 70+ countries and across 200+ travel sites, we interact with millions of travelers. We want to
provide credible and clear information, including on sustainability, whether they be carbon estimates or indications
of other eco-friendly attributes and practices of travel providers.
Trends in travel evolve, and we know that travelers are seeking experiences that are more than just about relaxation
or exploration. We increasingly hear that travelers expect options in line with their values, with more information
about the environmental and community impacts of their choices.
A report by our Expedia Group Media Solutions team highlighted that 90% of consumers look for sustainable options
when traveling, though 70% feel overwhelmed navigating available options and on starting the process of becoming a
more sustainable traveler 2.
Expedia Group is working to build trusted sustainability information for travelers into our products that align with
industry best practices, including methodologies developed collaboratively between our peers within the Travalyst
Coalition.
Product features being tested include displaying estimates of flight emissions, the sustainability practices of
hotels, and electric and hybrid vehicle filters for car rentals. Some of these features have never before been
available on our sites, and we are excited to continue innovating, evolving, and enhancing the sustainability
information we provide to travelers.
Looking Ahead
Expedia Group is charting a course for a more sustainable travel industry. Our Open World social impact and
sustainability strategy outlines our commitment, and our forthcoming Climate Action Plan will deepen our vision and
roadmap for success. We will continue to collaborate with our peers, partners, travelers, and destinations across
the industry to ensure responsible travel on a truly prosperous planet for generations to come.
Find more details on our plans and progress here.
Data Sources
1 Expedia Group, traveler reviews data, January 2021-January 2022
2 Expedia Group Media Solutions, Sustainable Travel Study, 2022