Google adds sustainability credentials to travel searches

Global –To help identify greener travel choices, Google is rolling out a series of new search tools and filtering options.

Travellers conscious of their carbon footprint can now filter out flights and hotel results on Google based on their sustainability rating.

New filters include a Low Emissions option for flights, and an Eco-certified label for properties and hotels, based on information provided by organisations like the US Green Building Council and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, which are importing their databases of eco-certified hotels to the search engine.

Google also launched a direct purchase option for train tickets on Google Search for travel in several countries, hoping to incentivise train travel over more polluting car or plane journeys.

Globally, 81% of travellers say that sustainable travel is important to them (source: Booking.com). Accelerating Post-conscious travel, such large-scale initiatives that enable them to act on this preference will be welcomed by this group.