Transat raises its customers’ awareness of the importance of sustainable tourism

Montreal, May 8, 2018 – Transat A.T. Inc. uses a range of communications tools to enhance customer awareness of the impacts of tourism on the environment and local populations. It recently produced two videos explaining measures implemented by hoteliers and by Transat to promote sustainable tourism. They are featured on its in-flight entertainment systems, online and via the company’s social media accounts.

Hotel certifications

The video Sustainable tourism – Transat's hotel partners in action highlights exemplary practices by five of Transat’s hotelier partners in Mexico: Karisma Hotels & Resorts, Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts, Barcelo Hotel Group, AMResorts, and Meliá Hotels International. These initiatives cover all aspect of corporate social responsibility and environmental stewardship, from reduced water and energy consumption to waste recycling, protection of natural environments, and programs available to employees.

“Marketing tourism products that consider the environment and local populations is one way that Transat promotes fair-trade and responsible tourism,” says Annick Guérard, Chief Operating Officer, Transat. “Since 2012, we have highlighted hotels with Global Sustainable Tourism Council certification on our websites and in our brochures to help travellers make responsible purchase decisions, and we’re now doing so on board our aircraft as well,” she adds.

Transat fuel management program

The video Environment – Air Transat’s fuel management initiatives profiles the fuel management program that Transat introduced in 2004 to improve performance and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its aircraft. Considered one of the most innovative and rigorous such programs in the aviation industry, it includes measures implemented before takeoff as well as during and after every flight.

These latest video vignettes join Transat’s existing tools aimed at raising its customers’ awareness of why sustainable tourism is important, and are also part of the company’s process to obtain Travelife certification.

About Transat

Transat A.T. Inc. is a leading integrated international tourism company specializing in holiday travel. It offers vacation packages, hotel stays and air travel under the Transat and Air Transat brands to some 60 destinations in 26 countries in the Americas, Europe and the Middle East. Based in Montreal, the company has 5,000 employees. Transat is firmly committed to sustainable tourism development, as reflected in its multiple corporate responsibility initiatives over the past 10 years, and was awarded Travelife Partner status in 2016 (TSX: TRZ).

Recent distinctions and awards (2017–2018)

  • Named world's second-best leisure airline at the Skytrax World Airline Awards and best in North America in the same category
  • Ranked among the top 20 carriers in the world for energy efficiency by Atmosfair
  • Voted Best Leisure/Charter Airline and Best Tour Operator at the Agent’s Choice Awards presented by Baxter Travel Media
  • Voted Best Airline and Best Tour Operator at the Trophées Uni-Vers awards organized by the Association des Agents de Voyages du Québec
  • Ranked among Canada’s Best Employers and second among airlines by Forbes
  • Named one of the Best Corporate Citizens in Canada by the research firm Corporate Knights
For further information: Information: Odette Trottier, Director, Communications and Corporate Affairs, Odette.trottier@transat.com - 514 908-8891