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Hogg Robinson Group (HRG) and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) have received the coveted 2008/09 Project ICARUS Award for Best Corporate Team from the Institute of Travel Management (ITM) – recognising their partnership approach to mitigating the environmental impact of PwC’s corporate travel activities.
In a statement regarding the award decision, the judging panel (comprising senior industry executives, academics and consultants) commented: “Project ICARUS perhaps would not have developed as it has without the leadership of PwC’s travel team leader and outgoing ITM Chairman Mark Avery. PwC’s desire to grow its business while making actual (not per head) reductions in CO2 emissions forced it to make some significant changes.”
The panel continued: “A focus on changing the travel behaviour of the 20 per cent of staff that creates 80 per cent of its travel demand has lead to significant adoption of videoconferencing, switches to lower emission travel modes and lobbying of travel suppliers to green their businesses. HRG (PwC’s corporate travel provider) has been instrumental in helping it achieve these changes and the strength of the partnership is such that HRG employees talk on behalf of PwC on this topic at many conferences and events.”
David Radcliffe, Chief Executive of HRG, said: “I am delighted that the partnership approach taken by HRG and PwC has been recognised with this prestigious award and offer my sincere congratulations to all those involved. I would particularly like to commend Mark Avery for his visionary approach and commitment to driving this initiative, not only internally but also industry-wide.
“HRG is committed to helping clients achieve their corporate environmental objectives and reduce (where practicable) their own carbon footprints as they relate to business travel, offering a number of environmentally-focused solutions and services.”
HRG have also developed their own in-house CO2 Calculator allowing clients to assess – in one free, simple and easy to use tool – the environmental impact of their travel choices and provides an indicative value of the cost of ‘offsetting’ those emissions by making a charitable donation. HRG also provides comprehensive emissions reporting (down to individual traveller level as required) and advice (including alternative options to travel) to help clients assess and limit their environmental impact.
Radcliffe concluded: “We are also determined to help our employees understand and consider the impact of their actions on the people, communities and wider environment around them. As a result we have introduced a number of internal initiatives which, in addition to the development of a CSR policy, include achieving multi-country ISO 14001 status.”
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For further information:
Laurie Waugh/Katy Carmen
Hogg Robinson Group
Tel: +44 (0) 1256 312623
Email: laurie.waugh@hrgworldwide.com
Veronica Rossini/Rowan Usher
Euro RSCG Biss Lancaster
Tel: +44 (0) 207 467 9200
Email: blhrg@bisslancaster.com
Notes to Editors:
Hogg Robinson Group (HRG) is the award-winning international corporate travel services company. Founded in 1845, HRG has over 60 years specific corporate travel expertise. Its corporate services interests include owned or controlled corporate travel operations in 25 of the key driver and growth markets throughout Asia Pacific, Europe and North America. Supported by contracted partners, the HRG worldwide network extends to over 100 countries.
Totally committed to a value offering for clients, HRG offers a comprehensive range of corporate travel services including Corporate Travel Management, Consulting, Events & Meetings Management and Sports as well as Expense Management through its Spendvision operation.
Project ICARUS was established initially to promote carbon reduction in travel management programmes throughout the UK business travel industry. The project is led by, and targeted primarily at national and international travel buyers/managers. The project also seeks to address other areas of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the world of travel and meetings management.
The project was conceived after the Institute of Travel Management’s (ITM) conference in 2006, when a number of leading industry figures and journalists all independently discussed their concerns with ITM about a lack of leadership on Climate Change in business travel management.
PricewaterhouseCoopers (www.pwc.com) provides industry-focused assurance, tax and advisory services to build public trust and enhance value for its clients and their stakeholders. More than 146,000 people in 150 countries across our network share their thinking, experience and solutions to develop fresh perspectives and practical advice.
'PricewaterhouseCoopers' refers to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (a limited liability partnership in the United Kingdom) or, as the context requires, the PricewaterhouseCoopers global network or other member firms in the network, each of which is a separate and independent legal entity.