Conference Matters 142

MOBILITY

'Some trips, such as the annual ski trip, are jeopardised'

Total package According to Janneke van Aartrijk, Program Manager Sustainability at ATPI, it is not easy to trade one flight for one train trip. “We regu larly take our clients by train for short trips, but sustainability is a much broader story that goes step by step. How have companies structured their sustainability goals? The next step is how to deal with suppliers and others. That’s where we come in. When discussing sustainability with our clients, we usually include it in the various options we present to them. One client wants a very cool weekend somewhere far away with all the bells and whistles, while another makes a more conscious choice and combines their event with other meetings. How you design an event also makes a difference: the hotel, transport on site, the food, whether or not to use water bottles - there are so many elements that can impact it. It’s a total package in which ATPI opts for the approach of measuring, reducing and, where possible, compensating. ATPI uses a measuring tool with a CO2 report that provides the option to compensate through certified offset projects. We see that it works because the numbers tell the tale. I expect there will be more conscious flying. People can choose better airlines and invest in sustainable aviation fuel, which are all factors that help.”

13 locations that were evaluated, according to KiM. However, trains need to actually run on time. High demand However, a lot still has to change, says Rob van Helvoort, owner of Travel Legends, an incentive specialist in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. “For a few years now, we’ve seen a lot of demand for train travel from our clients. Many large companies abide by the policy that they fly as little as possible or not at all. Some trips, such as the annual ski trip, are jeo pardised. It’s almost impossible to arrange trips for a few days by train. First, tickets are extremely expensive in comparison, and second, travelling is often complicated. Then, there’s also the fact that train companies do not cater to groups at all. For example, Dutch Railways (NS) has not accepted new contracts for the group depart ment for a year. Moreover, their accessibility is limited. If they cooperated a bit more, a lot more could be achieved. Today, booking a train ticket is more difficult than your average math test. The fact that you can only book international tickets three months in advance doesn’t make it any easier. How can you adjust your plans? All of this is frustrating.” Van Helvoort has noticed that his clients are looking for solutions closer to home. “Last year, we organised trips to Friesland and Maastricht. Belgium is also a favourite. We’ve adapted our offer accordingly.”

Rob van Helvoort

Janneke van Aartrijk

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