GetThereGreen unveils travel calculator

Many online travel companies have begun implementing a green calculator into their protocol. When customers book a trip, they are able to see what their carbon footprint will be and act accordingly. GetThere, a company already popular among travel sites, has released their own carbon emission calculator, GetThereGreen.

The new function will be a welcome addition to the sites of over 3,000 companies that used the GetThere package to book over $9 billion in travel in 2007.  Discovery Communications is one corporation that uses GetThere technology, and director of travel services Yukari Sison says, “We’re using the messaging capabilities to provide travellers with localised information on their destination, such as local rail transportation options, restaurants with organic menus, etc. Messaging also asks our travellers to pause to consider sharing a rental car with a colleague making the same trip, and perhaps getting a hybrid vehicle.”

Discovery, aside form using the carbon calculator, will list green hotels on its site, hotels needing to meet a certain standard to be included.