Corporate Traveler Boosts Sustainability Capabilities

To support this vital segment, the company has unveiled a new offering to help customers make decisions around their travel options including CO₂ reporting and compensating through carbon positive programs that contribute to impactful climate action. An exclusive preview will be available at The Business Travel Show Europe (June 29-30, 2022).

Tom Walley, Global Managing Director for Corporate Traveler explained that these easy to use options have been designed and introduced with customer needs in mind to help address and meet their environmental goals.

“As a business, we are committed to identifying the tools and services to help SMEs succeed in their business aims, whether it be maximizing their productivity, keeping their travelers safe or adjusting to new priorities as they propel their businesses forward in this changed world.

“At a time when it matters more than ever, we’re making sustainable travel choices more visible and accessible to our customers by providing the reporting, guidance, tools and nudges needed to help them take positive action. By minimizing their travel impact, they can ensure that every trip counts,” said Walley.

Corporate Traveler’s own research among customers and prospects shows there is a huge appetite for sustainable travel products with 68 percent of those *surveyed saying they are already making a commitment to reducing their CO₂ emissions. However, there is still significant scope for development, as only 21 percent have a formal business travel sustainability program in place. And while half (51 percent) admitted they haven’t yet implemented a dedicated program, 60 percent of these respondents said they do plan to introduce one in the near future

With this in mind, Corporate Traveler has signed a global agreement with Thrust Carbon to provide emission information to enable customers to track and measure their carbon footprint and help them select more environmentally friendly travel options.

Mark Corbett, Founder & Director of Thrust Carbon, commented: “Fundamentally, travelers need to understand the emissions cost of their decisions, just as they do the financial cost. Together with Corporate Traveler, we are transforming how individuals can travel with greater responsibility, lower emissions, and ultimately build a path towards net zero.”

This functionality will initially be integrated into Melon – Corporate Traveler’s industry-leading travel management platform – to offer a range of features that make direct use of the Thrust calculator and build upon Melon’s already formidable capabilities. The first of these to be delivered will be a CO₂ reporting dashboard alongside the ability for customers to view emissions data for flights, hotels and car rentals throughout the booking journey. A carbon emissions search results filter and sustainable hotel badging will be introduced with further features to be added in line with evolving customer demands.

Over the coming months, CO₂ reporting using the Thrust Carbon emissions data will be made available to all Corporate Traveler customers whether booking their travel online or offline.

Alongside the ability to measure their carbon footprint, Corporate Traveler is also partnering with award-winning environmental company Trees4Travel to help customers fast-track to their net-zero goals through carbon positive travel. By turning trips into trees, customers will contribute to reducing CO₂ emissions and restoring biodiversity in developing countries while providing valued support and income to local communities.

Nico Nicholas, CEO of Trees4Travel, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Corporate Traveler.  Our planet & people positive tree growing programs are backed up by simultaneous UN certified carbon credit investments, ensuring travelers’ carbon reduction begins as quickly as possible the moment they ‘click go’. What’s more, our programs are designed to align with up to  13 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”

Using the Thrust calculator, Corporate Traveler will calculate and provide a customer’s carbon emissions data to Trees4Travel to determine the equivalent number of trees to be planted to make each trip planet and people positive. For example, a three-night hotel stay plus return economy flights (up to two hours) equates to three trees at a cost of just £6.

Trees4Travel will also provide a reporting dashboard to enable customers to keep track of their progress. This cost-effective carbon positive solution is optional and available to Corporate Traveler customers *globally no matter which online booking tool they currently use.

Walley said that the introduction of these new tools are especially timely as business travel continues to ramp up at pace as new priorities for travelers emerge.

“The desire to travel and connect face-to-face has increased for businesses… alongside a new set of requirements. With global corporate travel bookings closing in on pre-pandemic levels, these new tools provide a level of transparency that will empower travelers with clear and relevant information to help them take action.”

Learn more about our sustainability capabilities here.