Global Travel Marketplace (GTM) has announced carbon offsetting specialist Trees4Travel as the event’s sustainability partner.

Trees4Travel has been appointed to calculate and offset the carbon footprint of the event, which will be held at the Leonardo Royal London Hotel St Paul’s (September 12-14).

Furthermore, thought leadership panels at GTM will discuss the topics of sustainability, greenwashing and travel charities.

Trees4Travel’s motto is ‘People & Planet Friendly’ to reflect the fact that offsetting the carbon footprint is not a solution on its own.

Delegates can log details of their travel, accommodation and even meals on the Trees4Travel app in order for the carbon footprint of the event to be calculated – and trees are then planted as part of the drive to tackle climate change.

The trees that are planted benefit local communities that are in need of reforestation, in order to restore landscapes.

Trees4Travel also invests in green energy projects such as those developing sustainable fuel.

The Italian Government Tourism Board has already been revealed as the headline partner of the B2B event, which will be held at the Leonardo Royal London Hotel St Paul’s (September 12-14).

Atout France has been appointed as a major partner, and Vijay Daryanani, Gibraltar’s minister for business, tourism and the port, will be a speaker on the ministerial panel.

Other speakers will include Nico Nicholas, chief executive and co-founder of Trees4Travel, and Anne Lotter, executive director of Global Travel and Tourism Partnership (GTTP).

Nicholas commented: “We are proud to be inspiring positive change by working together with Global Travel Marketplace, helping in the fight against climate change and helping to make travel and events more ethical and sustainable.

“Our partnership and values are clearly aligned for a better, safer, more equitable world.”

GTM connects worldwide suppliers with UK and international travel buyers and is run by Travel Weekly parent company Jacobs Media Group (JMG).

More than 100 suppliers and 120+ international travel buyers will take part in the event, which features experiential one-to-one meetings.

Buyers include outbound tour operators, leisure travel agents, Mice [meetings, incentives, conference and events] agencies and medical tourism firms.

The estimated combined buying power of GTM buyers this year is expected to be £51.4 million, an increase on the figure of £36 million last year.

For more details and to register for GTM, visit globaltravelmarketplace.co.uk

Picture: Big Joe/Shutterstock