The Business of Travel Thriving Through Change: How Sustainability can give your travel program a competitive edge | The Carbon Compass
Building Fannie Mae's Green Products
- Chrissa Pagitsas built Fannie Mae's green mortgage and green bond businesses from scratch.
- These sustainable financial products delivered both business value and environmental benefits.
Travel Product Components Matter
- The travel industry product is complex, composed of transportation, lodging, food, and experiences.
- All these components offer opportunities for increased sustainability to meet traveler expectations.
Thriving Through Change: Why Now is the Time to Invest in Sustainability in Travel
Sustainability drives business growth by improving existing products through environmental and social considerations. Krista Pagitsas explains how green mortgages at Fannie Mae succeeded because they enhanced net operating income for borrowers and created better housing. In travel, every component—from transportation to lodging—offers opportunities to build more sustainable products that travelers value.
In uncertain times, Krista advises not to retreat but to experiment with new pilots and partnerships, preparing businesses for the inevitable future change. Despite regulatory rollbacks on climate policy, companies in the travel industry must step up to meet demand for sustainable options, as sustainability enhances traveler experience and business resilience.
Attending sustainability-focused conferences provides vital technical knowledge and networking to solve problems faster and build better travel products. Krista encourages industry leaders to invest in sustainability now rather than pull back, making events like the GBTA Sustainability Summit essential for guiding these investments.