Business Travel Association chief executive Clive Wratten told Barclays Travel Forum delegates the industry should stand up to its critics, and remind them travel "is a critical part of what we do as humans”.

"It’s time for us to stand up and say we will be proud of what we do, not only of the way we deliver economic growth around the world, but what activities we do to make it better for the planet,” said Wratten, speaking at the forum on Thursday (9 May) during an ESG – environmental, social and governance – panel.

Wratten said ESG was quickly going “everywhere” in travel, with the industry making strides when it comes to being more environmentally and socially conscious.

Ocean Holidays co-chief executive Harry Hastings agreed, telling forum guests there are “significant commercial opportunities” arising from doing the right thing. “Your customers and stakeholders want you to act and they want to be associated with businesses that do the right thing,” he said.

Hastings also encouraged travel professionals, especially those working in small and medium enterprises (SMEs), not to feel paralysed or overwhelmed by the scale of the action that yet needs to be done in the diversity, equity and inclusion space.

"Until people start taking shots and actually making an effort, they don’t know what success is and how good it feels once they get there,” he added.