The Power of Tourism
At KILROY, we recognize that we have a responsibility. Travel has wide-ranging impacts — on the climate, local communities, biodiversity, and natural resources. The travel industry contributes to global emissions and can place pressure on destinations through overuse of water, waste generation, and disruption of ecosystems or cultural practices.
At the same time, tourism is one of the most powerful tools for positive change. Done thoughtfully, it supports livelihoods, fosters cultural exchange, funds conservation efforts, and broadens global perspectives. As one of the world’s most influential economic sectors — accounting for 10% of global GDP and supporting over 320 million jobs (10% of global employment), tourism has both the scale and the reach to make positive impacts.
As a company operating in this space, we acknowledge our responsibility to reduce harm, support local benefit, and actively work toward more sustainable and equitable forms of travel. Sustainability is an ongoing process, and we’re committed to making meaningful progress, both within our business and in partnership with travelers, suppliers, and communities. Below, you’ll find some of the initiatives we have rolling to help make travel more responsible, more inclusive, and more mindful of impact.
Carbon Labeling
As part of our broader sustainability mission, we’ve introduced carbon labels on all KILROY Tripmates tours — giving travellers a transparent estimate of the CO₂ emissions generated per person.
Each label reflects emissions from:
- Local transport (buses, trains, ferries, 4x4s, internal flights and flights between countries where applicable)
- Meals
- Activities (guided tours, nature visits, cultural experiences)
- Services (guides)
- Internal operations – the impact we have from doing business and making your trip a reality (think staff, office emissions, business travel)
We’ve partnered with Ecollective to calculate these figures using industry-recognized data and methods. The goal? To help you understand your footprint, make informed travel decisions, and encourage greater accountability in the travel industry overall.
We are already extending this methodology to other segments of KILROY’s business, starting with Study Group Trips and our top itineraries, to bring the same level of transparency and accountability across more of our experiences.
Supply Chain Management
Travel experiences are shaped by the people and partners who deliver them. That’s why we’re working to better understand, measure, and improve the sustainability performance of the suppliers we collaborate with, from accommodation providers and activity operators to transport companies.
We’ve developed a supplier assessment framework focused on key areas including labor rights, environmental management, animal welfare, community engagement, and resource use. This process helps us build greater transparency across our supply chain, identify areas for improvement, and prioritize partnerships with suppliers who are aligned with our values.
By conducting regular bi-annual assessments, we track more than 60 indicators spanning education, local economy, resource management, equity and diversity, conservation, and working conditions across our supply chain. This enables us to monitor progress over time and better understand the social, cultural and economic impact of our partners.
While the work is ongoing, the goal is clear: to support a supply chain that operates responsibly, reduces harm, and contributes positively to the people and places we travel to.
Internal Operations and Training
Sustainability starts within. We know that progress depends on making steady improvements and giving our teams the tools to make informed choices. To support this, we have developed internal training programs that connect sustainability to the specific responsibilities of different teams and departments.
- Onboarding and E-learning: New employees are introduced to sustainability during onboarding through our e-learning platform, ensuring everyone has a shared understanding from the start.
- Ongoing Learning: Topic-specific trainings are available for different roles and teams, ensuring people can focus on the areas most relevant to their work.
- Continuous Development: Our programs are evolving. We update materials regularly and add workshops or discussions where they can add value, aiming to make sustainability knowledge both practical and relevant.
Operational Emissions
In 2024, we carried out an initial baseline assessment of our Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 operational emissions, supported by Ecollective. This work has given us a clearer picture of where our main impacts lie and provides a starting point for future action. With this baseline in place, we can begin setting priorities. Our focus will be on identifying practical opportunities to gradually reduce emissions, while also improving the accuracy of our data and expanding our understanding over time.
Climate Protection Financing
We know that offsetting is not a substitute for reducing emissions at the source, but it can still play a meaningful role when approached with transparency and integrity. That’s why since 2019, we have worked with myclimate on climate protection financing. As a leading climate protection organisation committed to sustainable development since 2002, myclimate channels funds into projects that deliver measurable benefits for both the climate and local communities. With a portfolio of over 210 projects in more than 48 countries, and oversight by independent organisations, myclimate is recognised for delivering transparent and credible impact.
Through this partnership:
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Travellers: can choose to offset the CO₂e emissions from their flights when booking with a travel advisor.
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Study group travellers: receive comparative information on how emissions vary by transport mode (bus, train, flight), helping them make informed choices.
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Our team: offsets all staff business travel.
The funds collected are channelled directly into high-impact climate protection projects. Currently, our contributions support:
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An efficient cookstove program in Madagascar, which reduces deforestation and improves community health by replacing open-fire cooking with clean, fuel-saving stoves.
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A reforestation project in Nicaragua, which restores degraded land, captures carbon, and supports local livelihoods.