Climate change, rather than the pandemic, will drive the latest business travel trend tipped for next year — the cluster meeting.
These are meetings that will have the lowest carbon emissions possible at their core, rather than restrictions dictated by coronavirus, and they’ll mostly avoid flying. For an international company planning a large gathering, for example, employees will head to regional points (ideally by train) in their respective countries, with virtual technology joining them up globally.
Two travel technology companies, Troop and Thrust Carbon, are at the vanguard of this movement. The latter, in particular, is forging ahead with new corporate travel agencies tie-ups, Skift has learned, helping them to calculate detailed carbon impacts. Troop is continuing its efforts to alter traditional booking behavior at the planning stage, rather than point of booking, as the wider industry becomes engulfed in hype following symbolic events like World Environment Day and…