Anna Peters, creative director, Evolve, shares her experience of taking the train to IBTM World and says it’s not only more sustainable, but also enjoyable.
How many times do you ask your client to do something you wouldn’t do yourself? Presumably not often. But, when it comes to travel, I wonder if we might feel a bit less confident in our claims of best practice?
Travel is one of the largest contributors to carbon emissions of an event but when you are time-poor or working to a tight budget, we can all be guilty of taking the easy solution.
Trying to fit a square peg (sustainability) into a round hole (convenience) can be tough. So last month, wanting to attend IBTM World, I took on the challenge set by Inge at Eurostar, to see if taking the train from London to Barcelona was a viable alternative to flying. It turned out to be a very good idea.
On track
Upsides: it massively reduced our carbon footprint. One flight measures the same as 14 Eurostar journeys so is the obvious greener choice. Plus, it was just more enjoyable. Comfort and relaxation meant arriving rested and ready to go.
Downsides: it took a bit longer, but quality of time was better so that balanced out. It also required a bit more budget, but planning ahead would have paid off; book early for tickets that are comparable with flights.
One of the most enjoyable aspects was the company, as I joined fellow sustainable-travel-curious companions Inge Bauwens, senior lead for business and partnerships at Eurostar, Barbara Jamison-Woods, head of Europe at the London Convention Bureau and Mike Fletcher, a reporter from IBTM’s Show Daily newspaper.
We met at Kings Place; it’s walking distance to St Pancras and is committed to implementing best environmental practices so fitted perfectly with the values of our trip.
After a sustainably sourced lunch, including beef and lamb from Kings Place’s own farm in Northumberland, we made our way to the station, rolling a rather heavy suitcase behind.
Of course, it’s not just more luggage space that makes for a more comfortable travel experience on Eurostar: no seat belts, no dreaded middle seat or cramped leg room, plus travel Business Premier and you are treated to a meal curated by Raymond Blanc OBE, accompanied by a glass or two of Champagne. It goes without saying, we arrived in great spirits.
All aboard
Once in Paris, we could have caught our connecting train to Barcelona (Eurostar will be merging with Thalys next year, which is going to make for a more seamless travel experience across Europe) but we decided to give up some of our weekend to travel and spend the night in Paris.
Where to stay? 25hours Hotel won hands down. Convenient (literally opposite Gard du Nord) it’s also full of quirky touches incorporating the area’s multicultural history and inhabitants into the hotel décor. Plus, I loved the bikes in the foyer that are free to borrow.
The next day we booked an electric car to take us to Garde de Lyon. Was I apprehensive about spending just over six hours on a train? Yes, but the sight of the double decker TGV train was all it took to get me in the right mood.
Once on board, time genuinely sped by. The responsible ones in our group got their laptops out – each table has charging plugs and the WiFi, although sometimes patchy, meant we were always contactable, so you don’t lose a day’s work. But we also relaxed over games.
We arrived into Barcelona on time for dinner with Trees For Travel, which was helping to measure the carbon footfall of our journey.
The next day, rested and ready to go, the team joined the London Convention Bureau stand for three days at IBTM World, showcasing why London is the ideal city to host sustainable business events.
Key takeaways
If you can plan ahead and relax into the slightly slower pace, then train travel from the UK to and from Europe becomes a realistic, sustainable option for MICE planners and their delegates.
Making the most of your journey also gives you a chance for your event to start at the beginning of your journey; if you are involved in MICE travel look out for Eurostar’s onboard experiences offered with exclusive carriage hire (the ‘inside track’ on ruby for incentive groups travelling to the Rugby World Cup in France 2023 is going to be a winner) and themes can tie in with London’s cultural business sector strengths for inbound meetings and incentives to London.
I’m not, of course, saying never fly, but it’s good to know we have a real choice about how to travel.
Maybe see you on the train to IMEX Frankfurt next year?