The journey to net zero: building a greener corporate-travel industry

The past three years have yielded uncertainty in nearly every arena of daily life. But in the corporate-travel realm, one thing is certain: smart and sustainable partnerships are set to play a more significant role in the future.

Sustainable travel is undoubtedly a buzz phrase and big business. 94% of people we spoke to as part of a survey claim they would maintain (27%) or increase (67%) their interest in sustainable travel over the next three years.

At the corporate level, travel managers at half of the companies profiled in a study of the U.S. and Canada expect to focus more on the social and environmental impact of their business travel programs post-pandemic.

Yet not everywhere is at the same point in the journey towards a greener travel future. Whilst Australians are likely to be maintaining existing engagement, U.S. buyers are just beginning their trajectory, and only one-quarter of companies consider their “carbon footprint” to be of critical importance.

In a complex global landscape where brands rush to reassure us of their sustainability credentials, yet where we’re falling far short of emissions targets, it’s challenging to decipher which brands are truly taking substantive steps towards a lower carbon future and is tempting to avoid “sustainable” brand choices altogether.

But Mario Rauter, Brand Director at Eurostar, looks at this differently, explaining that “Sustainable travel is, in general, a misconception of travel without impact. All travel has impact. So, then the question is, can you turn a negative impact into a positive?”  

For organizations to continue operating in-person internationally and reach ambitious emissions targets, working with companies that provide positive climate impact is essential. That means making thoughtful partnership choices. When planning corporate travel, it is, therefore, worth considering the following: 

Who is walking the talk?

As Mario comments, “the thing we’re trying to educate people about is that airlines are mostly offsetting their co2; we’re just creating less of it”. Their ‘Greener Way to Go’ campaign highlights that not only does one Eurostar trip from London to Paris emit less than 1/14 of the equivalent flight, but they are training drivers to use a standardized driving technique that reduces energy usage by up to 5%. They’ve also built beehives in Kent, joined the UN’s race to Net Zero and have adapted the entire customer experience to reduce environmental impact. Eurostar operates from a sustainable standpoint, inside and out, and thereby offers businesses an opportunity to collaboratively work towards reaching emissions targets.

Who is evolving the entire journey for customers?

The team at Marriott International is keenly aware of the growing need for customers to make considered choices at every step of the travel journey.

Denise Naguib, Global VP for Sustainability and Supplier Diversity at the hospitality giant, has seen a shift in recent years, telling us that travellers feel empowered “knowing that they can make different decisions using their buying power. And that either helps companies continue to do more good, or it signals to those who aren’t doing the right things that it matters to a major constituency.”

Therefore, the company’s new proprietary web feature makes the sustainability attributes of each of its hotels visible, guiding travel booking decisions for the benefit of the planet rather than purely the pocket.

Building a sustainable future for corporate travel begins with brands making a transparent, climate-positive impact and enabling their customers to make considered choices at every step of their journey. In so doing, businesses can aid one another in meeting ambitious carbon reduction targets and help rebuild a sustainable, corporate-travel future.

 

Emma Lewis is a Senior Strategist

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