Webjet introduces hotel carbon offsetting, in New Zealand online travel agent first

Expanding Webjet’s successful Sustainable Traveller program, hotel offsetting offers more eco-friendly travel options for carbon conscious travellers.

Leading online travel agency, Webjet, has announced the addition of hotel bookings to its successful Sustainable Traveller carbon offset program, becoming the only New Zealand online travel agent to offer carbon offsetting for flight, hotel and holiday package bookings.

Available now, Webjet customers can choose to offset their hotel booking when checking out. Supported by Tasman Environmental Markets (TEM) BlueHalo technology, carbon calculations for hotel stays are made by factoring in emissions associated with each room night spent in the accommodation, as well as hotel location, star rating and actual room size. Once the booking has been offset, Webjet purchases the equivalent number of carbon offsets to equalise the customers share of emissions.

One hundred per cent of the offset contributions made by Webjet customers go to supporting independently verified projects with a focus on positively mitigating climate change, protecting wildlife and nourishing communities. These include native forest rejuvenation in New Zealand, introducing efficient cookstoves in Africa and renewable energy in India.

The introduction of hotel offsetting expands Webjet’s successful Sustainable Traveller program, launched in 2020 in Australia. In line with growing consumer demand for more eco-friendly travel options, Sustainable Traveller was introduced in New Zealand in 2021, and since then carbon offset bookings from 1 March 2022 – 28 Feb 2023 grew 184% compared to 1 March 2021 – 28 Feb 2022. Over 11,000 customers have opted into the program, collectively offsetting an outstanding 4,500 tonnes* of CO2 from the Earth’s atmosphere**.

Webjet OTA CEO, David Galt, comments: “The continued success of Sustainable Traveller proves that small contributions can make a big impact. At Webjet we acknowledge our responsibility to operate in an environmentally responsible manner, and our customers are also increasingly looking for ways to tread more lightly as they travel. 

“That’s why, three years after launching Sustainable Traveller, we’re proud to expand the program and become the first New Zealand online travel agent to offer carbon offsetting on hotel bookings as well as flights. So far, the response and feedback from customers has been fantastic”.

To find out more about the program, please visit, www.webjet.co.nz/about/sustainable-traveller.