New Business Travel Show Europe data shows 93% of corporates have sustainable travel programmes but 77% are yet to set carbon budgets

Ahead of 2023’s Earth Day this Saturday - whose theme is ‘Invest in Our Planet’ - newly released Business Travel Show Europe data shows that the majority (93%) of corporates have now adopted a sustainable travel programme. 19% are also investing in SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) and the same number have blocked air options over rail in their OBT.

The poll – answered by 289 travel and procurement managers – also revealed that 77% do not set or monitor carbon budgets. Of those that do, 18% manage this through their online booking tool (OBT), but over half (57%) claim their OBT lacks the necessary functionality. A further 14% simply have no plans for carbon budgeting.

Business Travel Show Europe is the leading corporate travel event in Europe. Taking place 28-29 June at ExCeL London, it features two jam-packed days of meetings, content and networking designed specifically for business travel buyers.

Of the 7% of travel and procurement managers without a sustainable travel policy:

• 33% blame cost
• 22% lack of commitment from SMT/leadership
• 11% OBT/technology is not set up for carbon budgeting/offsetting or helping us to choose greener options

Business Travel Show Europe also asked, ‘How sustainable is your travel programme?’ and comparing this year’s responses with last year showed a potentially concerning drop in several key areas. For example, the number of corporates:

• Actively reducing internal travel – dropped from 25% to 6%
• Restricting how many people travel overseas to the same meeting – dropped from 18% to 13%
• Offsetting aviation-relation emissions – dropped from 22% to 13%
• Restricting unnecessary trips – dropped from 26% to 16%

The research also highlighted an increase in what some may consider ‘softer’ activity:

• 33% (compared to 17%) saying they are conscious of the human rights impact of their travel programme and make choices to limit this.
• 31% (compared to 27%) offer travellers information on their carbon footprint.
• 26% (compared to 12%) providing employees with a safe space to discuss the impact of travel on their wellbeing.

Question: how sustainable is your travel programme?

BTN Group Executive Vice President Louis Magliaro:

“We talk io corporate travel and procurement managers daily. We know that sustainability is high on their agenda and getting buy in from stakeholders – particularly for travel managers - to create and deliver more sustainable programmes is a big priority for them.

“But we also know that the pandemic halted progress in this area for many and, now that costs are rising and the pressure to make savings is increasing, this will also impact the speed of progression. The good news is there is so much innovation and content at Business Travel Show Europe designed to help everyone to invest in our planet and be more environmentally conscious and responsible.”

The poll was answered by 289 travel and procurement managers from around the world (64% UK, 22% Europe, 14% rest of the world). Business Travel Show Europe returns to ExCeL London from 28-29 June 2023 alongside TravelTech Show and The Meetings Show. It brings together over 750 buyers and 200 exhibitors for high-level, in-person networking and a premium conference agenda.

Over 100 exhibitors are already confirmed and can be viewed here.

Registration is open now with free tickets available to qualified travel bookers, buyers and managers. The hosted buyer programme is also accepting applications from global, national and EMEA travel managers with a minimum £1 million annual spend.