All sectors of the travel industry are making strides to lower carbon emissions, reduce waste, protect the environment and safeguard our country's destinations and natural attractions.
Why it matters: Nine out of 10 travelers want more sustainable travel options and 76% of business executives want sustainable corporate travel choices–even if it costs more.
Our industry faces a sustainability imperative, and its long-term competitiveness and viability depend on developing strategies and practices that deliver impacts beyond the bottom line.
Ensuring the many natural resources and beautiful destinations across our country are preserved for generations to come is fundamental to travel’s future.
U.S. Travel is championing industry actions and uniting industry leaders to advance strategies that enable more sustainable travel.
U.S. Travel’s Sustainability Goals:
- Spotlight industry progress by showcasing innovative technologies and calling attention to the ongoing actions and leadership of travel professionals in the sustainability space.
- Amplify industry goals and commitments to conservation, best practices, waste and emission reductions and both long and short-term investments.
- Highlight why sustainability matters and its importance to travel's future.
- Play offense by identifying and promoting proactive policies to help the industry achieve its goals.
- Defend against harmful policies that slow progress toward sustainability goals or penalize the industry without progress.
Recent Progress:
Journey To Clean—Sustainable. Responsible.
In March 2023, U.S. Travel launched Journey to Clean—Sustainable. Responsible.—a new website that celebrates actions and bold commitments the travel industry is taking to advance environmental sustainability at every stage of a traveler’s journey.
Developed with input from our Sustainable Travel Coalition, Journey to Clean spotlights more than 100 examples from over 50 contributing organizations across airports, airlines, destinations, lodging, attractions, rental cars and more that showcase the magnitude of our industrywide approach to achieving end-to-end sustainable travel.
Additional Progress:
- The U.S. Department of Transportation granted final approval for all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to begin construction of a nationwide network of EV charging stations.
- The U.S. Energy Department plans to increase production of sustainable aviation fuels.
- The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act secures historic levels of travel infrastructure investment—including for airports, railways, highways, electric vehicle charging infrastructure and more—to accelerate the future of travel mobility.
- The new National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program—announced by the Biden administration—will make nearly $5 billion available for foundational investments in a national EV charging network that will shape the future of mobility in America.
