Tui Travel shop managers could have their incentives linked to sustainability in the future, a Travel Foundation meeting heard last week.
Ian Chapman, Tui UK’s holiday experience director, said the retailer may follow the example of The Co-operative Group, which partly measures staff performance on how well they carry out sustainable practices.
He said: “It could be if a manager reduces a shop’s emissions by a certain percentage, they would be eligible for a bonus. I think it is a great idea to incentivise managers, and something we will do in future. Eventually all companies will have to work that way.”
He also revealed that more Tui Travel staff would have the chance to help develop sustainable projects in the UK or abroad as the operator strives to meet its target of having 1,000 volunteers by 2014.
As part of Project Discovery, which was set up in 2006 with the Travel Foundation, volunteers are selected from across Tui to spend one or two weeks setting up sustainable projects.
A total of 40 staff have taken part since the launch. Last year, 11 staff participated in projects, including one in Turkey helping at a centre for turtle conservation. Past projects have involved employees supporting the development of sustainable excursions in Sri Lanka and Egypt. Chapman said: “We will match volunteers’ skills to the projects.”
Leading environmentalist Jonathon Porritt, who also spoke at the event, warned the growth of all-inclusive holidays could be a “great looming challenge” for sustainable tourism.
The founder of Forum for the Future said: “Any Western travel company that’s shifting more share of value out of destinations and back into its home base has a case to argue.”