How Tripadvisor is Creating Unforgettable, Carbon-Neutral Experiences for its Travel Partners

As sustainability becomes a growing priority in travel and events, Tripadvisor is stepping up to meet the challenge. With growing interest from its clients and partners, sustainability is no longer a “nice-to-have” but an essential component in its services. This shift is motivating Tripadvisor to gear up for a new era of eco-conscious travel and events by embracing the opportunity to add sustainability as a standout feature to their offerings. Sustainability is proving to be a win-win for Tripadvisor: good for the planet and good for business. This case study explores how Tripadvisor and Climate Vault worked together to make major events—like the London Outernet Experience and the Türkiye Wanderer Screening—carbon neutral.

Navigating the Complexity of Measuring Large Events’ Carbon Impact

Large-scale events create complex emissions, from Scope 3 travel to energy-intensive on-site activities. By turning to the experts at Climate Vault and the Event Emissions Calculator from Climate Vault Solutions, Tripadvisor was able to understand the carbon impact of every event component including:

Travel and Lodging: Included air travel and accommodations for executives, clients, and VIPs which generated significant Scope 3 emissions.
Event Materials: Items like 8,000 gift bags and 18,000 fruit dates for the London event, flown in from Abu Dhabi and branded giveaways for the Türkiye event contributed to their large carbon footprints.
On-site Activities: Both events featured energy-intensive activities, such as large-scale digital displays at London’s Now Building and live entertainment at Potters Field.

Once emissions for each event were calculated, Tripadvisor turned once again to Climate Vault to offset the impact by procuring emission allowances equivalent to each event’s footprint from regulated compliance carbon markets. These allowances ensured immediate carbon reductions and will be converted into direct removals of historical emissions, thanks to Climate Vault’s integrated reduction and removal model.

“We were incredibly impressed with how effortlessly Climate Vault enabled us to measure emissions across our experiential events. Their solutions have not only helped us tackle some of our sustainability challenges, but have also provided us with a valuable tool to inspire the way we plan and activate events going forward.” – Ollie Preswell

The London Outernet Experience

Tripadvisor’s partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi culminated in the London Outernet Experience. Held in November 2023, the event was a showcase of cutting-edge event technology and cultural immersion that featured:

- Immersive Digital Displays: The Now Building, with its 8k reactive screens and atomized scent technology, provided an unparalleled experience for 70,000 public attendees.
- Cultural Activities: Workshops like oud-making and Sadu weaving, alongside traditional Emirati refreshments, enriched the event’s cultural fabric.
- Award-Winning Impact: The event won the Best Event award at the 2024 Digiday Awards, recognizing both its innovative engagement and its commitment to sustainability.

A Replicable Strategy: The partner was so satisfied with the success of the London event, that it was replicated in Paris in October 2024. Just as with the previous event, Tripadvisor turned to Climate Vault to help make the event carbon-neutral.

Türkiye Wanderer Screening – A Cultural Showcase

The Türkiye Wanderer Screening event, held at Potters Field in August 2024, offered an immersive journey into Antalya’s vibrant culture and natural beauty. With over 280,000 weekly footfalls at the venue, key highlights included:

Scenic Outdoor Cinema: Attendees enjoyed screenings of the Wanderer episode with deck chair seating and branded Bluetooth headphones.
Interactive Experiences: From Turkish Ebru water-marbling demonstrations to a DJ playing Mediterranean-inspired tunes, the event created a festive atmosphere.
Eco-Conscious Setup: Elements like real sand for the beach theme and local food vendors showcased a commitment to authenticity and sustainability.

“Tripadvisor is proud to be raising the bar for sustainable event planning in the travel industry. We believe the future of travel and events has to be sustainable—because unforgettable experiences shouldn’t come at the cost of the planet. We want to create amazing moments for our travelers but in a way that is environmentally mindful, and with Climate Vault’s support, we’re pleased to be driving this positive change. ” – Ollie Preswell

Carbon Neutrality Made Simple

Tripadvisor’s collaboration with Climate Vault demonstrates how leading brands can integrate sustainability into their core operations without compromising on audience engagement or event quality. By partnering with Climate Vault, they are not only reducing the carbon footprint of their experiences but also empowering their teams with an additional tool to provide to its growing base of environmentally-minded partners.

By integrating sustainability into their events, Tripadvisor has been able to:

Win prestigious awards, like the 2024 Digiday Award for Best Event for the London Outernet Experience.
Strengthen relationships with key clients, such as the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi.
Enhance their reputation as a leader in sustainable travel and events.

From measuring emissions to achieving carbon neutrality, our partnership showcases a scalable model for environmentally responsible events that other organizations, big and small, can emulate.

This case study is part of an ongoing series spotlighting the climate action taken by Climate Vault’s 2024 Carbon Champion Award recipients. The award program celebrates Climate Vault supporters who go above and beyond in their climate commitments to make a positive and meaningful impact on their business emissions and the planet. Tripadvisor was recognized as the Carbon Champion Catalyst award recipient. Meet all six 2024 honorees here.