Growing up, I developed an early love for travel—whether it was riding horses in New York, learning to swim and fish at the Bayberry Beach Club, or listening to far-off radio stations from Eastern Europe and Africa. I’ve always been drawn to the idea of movement, of connecting people and places, and of seeing the world beyond my own corner. That same curiosity eventually shaped my professional life too, leading me into the travel industry and the founding of BizTravelSolutions.
Over the years, I’ve had a front-row seat to how travel has evolved—how we plan trips, how we manage expenses, and how we navigate global business. But now we’re in the middle of an even bigger shift. Climate change isn’t something we can talk about in the abstract anymore. It’s here. It’s real. And it’s challenging every industry, especially travel, to rethink how we move through the world.
In my experience, the smartest response isn’t panic. It’s innovation. That’s why I’m excited about what I see emerging at the intersection of travel and climate-conscious technology. We’re not just changing how we book flights or file reimbursements. We’re changing the entire infrastructure of how travel works—and if we get it right, we can keep the best parts of mobility while drastically reducing the environmental cost.
Why Travel Needs a Tech-Driven Climate Strategy
Business travel, in particular, has a complicated relationship with sustainability. On one hand, it’s essential. Deals get closed face-to-face. Partnerships grow over shared meals and on-site visits. Culture builds in ways that Zoom just can’t replicate. But on the other hand, flights, ground transportation, and hotel stays all come with a carbon footprint. And at scale, those emissions add up fast.
When we started expanding BizTravelSolutions and our related platforms like Global SUV and Global EVS, I began to think more about how technology could not only make travel easier but also smarter and greener. It’s not just about tracking expenses anymore. It’s about tracking impact.
That’s where climate-conscious technology comes in. From AI-powered itinerary planning that favors low-emission routes to platforms that calculate and offset carbon in real time, we’re starting to see tools that let travelers and companies make better decisions without sacrificing efficiency.
The Rise of Sustainable Ground Transportation
One of the most exciting developments has been the growth of electric vehicles in corporate ground transportation. Global EVS is one example of how companies are turning toward electric fleets for airport transfers, business meetings, and conference travel. It’s a small shift on paper, but it has a big ripple effect.
A traditional SUV still gets you from point A to point B—but an electric version does it without tailpipe emissions. That may not seem groundbreaking for one trip, but when you multiply it across hundreds or thousands of rides over time, the environmental benefits become very real. And customers are starting to care. They’re asking for sustainability metrics. They’re making choices based on values, not just convenience.
This change is also about future-proofing. Regulations are tightening, fuel prices are volatile, and cities are building low-emission zones that favor electric mobility. So adopting these tools now isn’t just ethical—it’s strategic.
Smarter Planning with AI and Data
Another area I find fascinating is how artificial intelligence is being used to optimize travel planning. At BizTravelSolutions, we’re working on ways to integrate sustainability filters directly into the travel request and approval process. That means helping a company choose the greenest available option—not just the cheapest one.
Let’s say an employee is flying from New York to Chicago. The AI assistant might recommend a nonstop flight over a connecting one to reduce emissions. Or it might suggest a high-speed rail route instead of a short-haul flight, depending on the city pair. All of this happens quietly in the background, but it empowers better decisions up front.
We’re also seeing growth in real-time carbon tracking. Employees can see the carbon footprint of their travel as they book it. That kind of transparency encourages accountability and opens the door to more robust corporate sustainability programs.
A New Responsibility for Business Leaders
As a CEO, I’ve come to believe that climate responsibility isn’t just for environmental departments or marketing teams. It’s a leadership issue. If we want our companies to thrive in a changing world, we have to take sustainability seriously—not just as a goal, but as a core part of how we operate.
That doesn’t mean giving up travel altogether. But it does mean asking better questions. Can we meet virtually instead of flying? Can we consolidate trips? Are there cleaner ways to get where we’re going? Can we offset what we can’t reduce?
And most importantly, can we build the tools that make all of this easier for everyone involved?
The Road Ahead
The intersection of travel and climate-conscious tech is still being paved, but we’re already seeing signs of progress. From electric fleets to carbon calculators, from smarter booking systems to transparent reporting, we have the beginnings of a new infrastructure—one that aligns global business with global responsibility.
Personally, I don’t think this is about sacrifice. I think it’s about evolution. We can keep exploring, connecting, and growing our businesses. We can still send our teams out into the world to build relationships and learn new things. But we can do it with a lighter footprint, and a sharper awareness of the world we’re helping to shape.
For me, this isn’t just professional. It’s personal. I want the next generation—including my son’s—to inherit a world that still feels wide open and full of possibility. That starts with the decisions we make today. And as someone who’s always believed in the power of smart travel, I believe the future belongs to those who make that power sustainable.