THE GREEN WATCH ➔ The long-range forecast
Five minutes with... Red Harvey
PROFILE
Account Manager, Corporate and Business Travel MARITIM HOTELS
Red has been working in the travel industry for 24 years and is responsible for managing Maritim Hotels’ corporate and business travel sales. Her role involves being a brand ambassador for the chain in the UK, representing the company at trade fares throughout Europe and building knowledge of the high standards of the Maritim brand.
AS A BUSINESS travel buyer, you will be well aware of the debate about the effect that the aviation industry has on the environment, and in particular on climate change, writes Roger Gardner. It gets a lot of media coverage and generates much active protest. Witness the Heathrow climate camp in 2007, for example. But have you ever thought about the issue the other way round – the effect that climate change may have on aviation? The weight of scientific opinion is clearly that our climate is warming and that there will be a significant impact upon our lives. The prospect of keeping to
just a 2oC warming, the ‘stabilisation’ level, around mid-century looks increasingly threatened, and the effects of a greater increase is viewed by some as the inevitable. That is expected to lead progressively to water shortages, poorer agricultural crops, increases in the spread of pests and disease, and demographic change as people are forced to alter living patterns and locations. This used to be thought of as something that would only affect future generations. Now it is thought these changes will become noticeable during our own lifetime. So how does this bear upon
aviation? In short, it is likely to cause disruption, change where we fly and affect the services we receive from airports and airlines. And, of course, it will cost us more. From a safety perspective, avoidance of weather ‘super cells’ – severe thunderstorms that have greater turbulence and wind sheer effects – will become a serious issue. The frequency of deep convective weather systems is expected to grow and this would disrupt air traffic, especially in busy areas such as Western Europe and the Eastern seaboard of the US. That same increase in 'storminess' will cause airport disruption and even threaten the operability of some coastal airports when the additional effects of sea level rise are taken into account. On average, sea levels are already ten centimetres higher than the beginning of the last century and that trend will accelerate during the course of the century. Another impact will be
that, as many already warm locations get hotter, we travellers will be changing our holiday destinations. Some sun-kissed resorts may become ‘no go’ zones during the summer as we seek out cooler destinations. Business will also be affected by these changes. Water
shortages in these hotter areas will become an issue for big infrastructure facilities like airports. This will force airlines and airports to adjust their schedules and services. Perhaps the most obvious
early effect of climate change upon aviation and thus upon us as flyers is cost. Green taxes and changes are having ever-greater impact, especially in Europe. That will become more noticeable as the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) comes into force next year in Europe. Can anything be done about
these prospective changes? Well, not really. The climate effects ahead are already unavoidable as a result of our past and present lifestyle. However, as we plan future business and its linked communications, we can try to ease our travel needs and increase the efficiency of trips when we make them. Perhaps also thinking of
those in parts of the world most likely to bear the brunt of climate change impacts, we can also buy ‘carbon offsets’ for out flights. The money raised by these schemes, operated by all airlines, is mostly used to help those communities reduce their own carbon consumption. That is just one small step towards easing global warming and its effects on us all.
What is your most memorable business travel trip and why? My first Munich Beerfest with Maritim. I was told it would be held in a ‘beer tent’ and was expecting something like a large marquee, only to find a huge ‘aircraft hanger’ semi-permanent building – it was incredible! Our hotel in Munich is a stone’s throw from the Beerfest so we were in the thick of the action!
What is your worst business travel experience and why? I am a huge Liverpool fan and I had to work during the Liverpool-Milan match in the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final. Luckily, I managed to see the dramatic second half and eventual victory.
What is your favourite destination worldwide and why? Singapore has to be top of my list. I was born there and fell in love with it all over again when I went back to visit as an adult. It’s an amazing place.
What three items do you never leave home without when on business? A good book, my phone and my laptop for keeping in touch with everyone.
What single thing could be done to improve your business travelling life? I'd love to have my own personal lane on all major roads and motorways for quick and easy journeys to and from meetings – that would be bliss!
What destinations would you like to visit next and why? I would love to go to Petra in Jordan and see the various monuments built into the mountainside. I have never heard anything except great reports from anyone who has been there.
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