TUI Group has officially designated Melvin Mak as the Group Director of Sustainability & ESG. He will lead the global sustainability team and report straight to Thomas Ellerbeck, who is a Member of the Executive Committee of the Group and the Chief Sustainability Officer at TUI Group. Having acted in that position as an interim for several months, Melvin Mak now inheriting the role is the one who will define TUI Group sustainability initiatives and the company’s global sustainability agenda.
An Integration of Responsible Tourism from the Start
Over 14 years in the sustainable tourism area make a circle around TUI Group that is hard to break; Melvin Mak is the person who will lead the company through steps from the ground up. He started his career in the company as the Sustainability Manager for TUI Netherlands where he was the one responsible for the understanding of the concept of sustainability and its integration into local operations. He was later promoted to Head of Sustainability for the Western Region, and finally, Head of Sustainability Strategy & Technology for the whole group among his roles during these years.
While his academic background may be considered one of his main sources of power, practical expertise is another. Melvin Mak studied at the Tio Business University in Amsterdam where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in International Tourism Management and a master’s degree from Manchester Metropolitan University in Responsible Tourism. This mix of education and experience makes him an ideal candidate to lead TUI Group sustainability initiatives among various markets and advance the Melvin Mak sustainability vision.
Driving the ‘People, Planet, Progress’ Strategy
At the center of TUI Group‘s operations lies the group-wide Sustainability Strategy, ‘People, Planet, Progress,’ which is TUI Group‘s responsibility. The strategy is aimed at achieving a triple bottom line across all business segments, from airlines, hotels, and cruises. Under Melvin Mak‘s leadership, TUI Group will take a step further in this holistic approach, so that sustainability is the main factor in the company’s growth over the long term.
As part of his new role as Group Director of Sustainability, Mak will be responsible for overseeing the setting of targets for sustainability in all business areas, he will also work closely alongside the global operational teams. Additionally, he will be part of TUI Group‘s Sustainability Council, which is a governing body composed of TUI’s Chief Executive Officer Sebastian Ebel, the Chief Officer for Sustainability Thomas Ellerbeck, and the Chief Executive Officers of the group’s various operating companies. His focus will also align with the ESG goals at TUI Group to ensure measurable progress.
A Focus on Innovation and Climate Action
TUI Group environmental commitment is indeed very ambitious since it also includes mitigating global challenges such as the reduction of emissions and the transition to climate adaptation. Some of the main areas of focus are setting and meeting Science Based Targets (SBTi), the use of sustainable fuels for aircraft and cruise operations, increasing the use of renewable energy in hotels, and enhancing the usage of public transport in both tourist areas and home markets.
One of the major things in Mak’s new role will be to investigate the newest technologies and innovations and to try their feasibility in TUI Group’s business model. His support will be crucial to the company’s transition to less polluting energy, electric mobility, and circular business practices. This transition will be in sync with global efforts to make tourism more sustainable and to prepare it for the future.
Sustainability at the Heart of Tourism
Speaking about the appointment, Thomas Ellerbeck pointed out that sustainability is no longer an option but rather a necessity for the long-term success of the tourism industry. “Sustainability is a fundamental part of TUI’s strategy and the industry’s right to exist,” he remarked.
With Melvin Mak as the new Group Director of Sustainability, the company is making a stronger commitment to the creation of a travel industry that takes care of both the people and the planet, one that is prosperous through responsible and innovative progress. This also reinforces ESG Leadership, strengthens the ESG goals at TUI Group, and continues ESG Leadership in driving meaningful change across the industry.
