Accor joins forces with corporate clients for annual Pan-European “Masters of Travel” Advisory Board
EXPERT GROUP WILL MEET IN FRANKFURT TO DISCUSS KEY TOPICS IMPACTING BUSINESS TRAVEL IN 2022 AND BEYOND
The advisory board will connect segment leaders from industries such as pharmaceuticals, entertainment, technology, finance, industrial equipment and professional services directly with a senior management team from Accor to explore corporate priorities relating to the hospitality industry and define a vision for the evolution of business travel.
The Master’s of Travel advisory board will come together to discuss the return of business travel and address the changes the sector and travellers need. The agenda will address the priority needs of the sector including loyalty for B2B business, hotel pricing, development and sustainability.
The advisory board is made up of global travel buyers from some of the biggest corporate companies in Europe. Corporations from the UK, Germany, Austria, Sweden, the Netherlands, Poland and Switzerland will come together to share, discuss and debate the evolution of business travel. The meeting with be hybrid, with advisors both in the room and connected virtually through Encore technology and Microsoft Teams.
Sophie Hulgard, SVP Sales Northern Europe, Accor and Co-Host of Masters of Travel, said “Business travel is expected to be impacted long term with many commentators predicting it will never return to pre-pandemic levels. However, we believe in and understand the incredible power and value of business travel, of the coming together of teams to reconnect, to grow culture, to strategize and to close deals. Covid has accelerated a change in perception and consideration of ‘necessary travel’, which we predicted would happen anyway as a conscious approach to more sustainable travel. Today more meetings can take place on Zoom and Teams, this is efficient business and has a positive impact on time and corporate carbon footprints. What’s left is necessary and purposeful travel that adds true impact to businesses and professionals. This is what Masters of Travel will discuss, how do we continue to improve essential corporate travel and meet the needs of business travellers today and tomorrow and build the future of business travel.”
Accor has committed to promoting a low-carbon mindset across the company and with all partners, developing and implementing tools and targets in a range of areas including carbon and food waste.
As part of its carbon commitment, Accor has launched a net zero carbon calculator to help Meeting & Event clients calculate the carbon footprint of their event and allow the purchase of carbon credits to balance the remaining emissions. The Masters of Travel event will be a Net Zero carbon event, carefully mapped and off-set using Accor’s Carbon Calculator.
Accor is the first major hotel international group to commit to net-zero by 2050. Accor’s science-based targets are validated by SBTi and align with the Paris Agreement. The Net Zero Carbon Calculator solution is provided in collaboration with myclimate, a Swiss non-profit organization and global leader in carbon accounting and climate protection. For the most accurate results, the calculator employs industry best practice and uses Accor’s energy, waste and procurement data. Calculations include energy and value chain emissions.
“Delivering net zero travel and accommodation is dependent on building new approaches and partnerships,” said Hulgard. “We are committed to this change, to accelerating the sector’s move to positive hospitality, supporting and inspiring the actions of our corporate clients who share our values and commitments. Sustainability will be a central discussion of the Masters of Travel session and it is important that Accor demonstrates its commitment and lead by example. As such we are proud that this will be a carbon neutral event, setting the base-line standard for the sector.”
Accor is inviting contributions from business travellers and corporate travel managers, to share their questions, insights and needs with the Masters of Travel Advisory Board. Submitted questions and topics will be discussed in Frankfurt and will form part of the resulting Masters of Travel whitepaper expected to be published in June. To submit a question, email: ACCOR.MASTERS.OF.TRAVEL@accor.com
ABOUT ACCOR
Accor is a world leading hospitality group consisting of more than 5,300 properties and 10,000 food and beverage venues throughout 110 countries. The group has one of the industry’s most diverse and fully-integrated hospitality ecosystems encompassing more than 40 luxury, premium, midscale and economy hotel brands, entertainment and nightlife venues, restaurants and bars, branded private residences, shared accommodation properties, concierge services, co-working spaces and more. Accor’s unmatched position in lifestyle hospitality – one of the fastest growing categories in the industry – is led by Ennismore, a joint venture, which Accor holds a majority shareholding. Ennismore is a creative hospitality company with a global collective of entrepreneurial and founder-built brands with purpose at their heart. Accor boasts an unrivalled portfolio of distinctive brands and approximately 260,000 team members worldwide. Members benefit from the company’s comprehensive loyalty program – ALL - Accor Live Limitless – a daily lifestyle companion that provides access to a wide variety of rewards, services and experiences. Through its Planet 21 – Acting Here, Accor Solidarity, RiiSE and ALL Heartist Fund initiatives, the Group is focused on driving positive action through business ethics, responsible tourism, environmental sustainability, community engagement, diversity and inclusivity. Founded in 1967, Accor SA is headquartered in France and publicly listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACCYY) in the United States. For more information visit group.accor.com, or follow Accor on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
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