Anna Peters , creative director , Evolve Events , explores the benefits and challenges of travelling sustainably

f you ’ re a fan of slow travel , then it ’ s been a good start to the year . Many new train routes across Europe are opening up as alternatives to short-haul flights largely fuelled by climate concerns .

Europe ’ s sleepers are also mounting a comeback with new overnight routes including London to Berlin and Paris to Milan . All of which make opportunities for sustainable travel easier and more appealing ; with a sleeper , a business traveller can attend late-night meetings , hop into a berth and arrive refreshed in a new city .

Having travelled by train last year from London to IBTM Barcelona , I was impressed by how easy it was . Plus , out go the frustrations of long security queues and tedious baggage carousels or being squished in the

Anna Peters

“ Taking a train , not a plane , can cut emissions by up to 90 % so travel obviously needs to be addressed if we ’ re going to make events carbon-free by 2050 .”

Sustainable travel options If the train isn ’ t viable , what else can we do to rethink travel options and embrace a slower sustainable approach ?

• Try to stay in eco-friendly hotels

• Make informed catering choices

• Don ’ t just hop in a cab ; consider car sharing

• Consider staying for longer ; incorporate holiday time to support the local community

• If you have to fly , it ’ s the taking off and landing part that causes the highest emissions , so minimise short-haul flights and stopovers and book with the most green airlines

middle seat . In comes the chance to rest , enjoy stunning views , stretch your legs and , if needs must , Wi-Fi to catch up with work .

According to a YouGov survey , up to 80 % of UK travellers believe it ’ s vital to make travel more sustainable . Where people lead , businesses follow . Travel can make up 70 % of an event ’ s carbon footprint . Now is the time for the events industry to offer more sustainable travel options .

How is UK travel fairing ?

As the lines blur between travel and leisure , the journey should be enjoyed as much as the destination , something train providers are waking up to with Eurostar offering business travellers a choice of onboard experiences .

But what about here in the UK ? Whilst things in Europe are moving fast , railways in Britain seem to bicker and decline . Is slower , sustainable travel really a reliable option ? The reality is that there ’ s a long way to go before the events industry will trust UK rail to deliver a good service to its clients .

Then there ’ s the cost . In the fight between budget vs sustainability , the planet often loses so it pays to be organised ; book ahead for the best prices and don ’ t accept the first option ( journey planners are built to find the fastest route so embracing the slower route can bring costs down ).

But it ’ s not all doom and gloom . Land and sea links are improving ; additional departures have been added , connecting London to Holyhead for ferries to Dublin , the Night Riviera between London Paddington and Penzance in Cornwall can be used to connect to the ferry service to the Isles of Scilly and you could even hop off the Newcastle-Amsterdam ferry , spend a day in town before catching the night sleeper to Vienna .

Taking a train , not a plane , can cut emissions by up to 90 % so travel obviously needs to be addressed if we ’ re going to make events carbon-free by 2050 . Maybe embracing sleeper routes will be the beginning of seeing tracks laid for a new golden age of rail . CN