Research from GBTA and HRS Notes Growing Importance of Validated Sustainability Labels and C-Suite Pressure as Lodging Programs Consider Their Preferred Hotel Options for 2023 

Cologne, Germany & Brussels, Belgium – 7 November, 2022 – HRS, the leading global corporate travel and payment technology platform, and GBTA, the world’s largest business travel association, announced results tied to sustainability and corporate lodging from a comprehensive survey of travel management and procurement leaders from Europe and North America. The results from the survey showcase the increasing frequency of sustainability as a key factor in influencing where millions of business travelers may decide to sleep when they are on the road in 2023 and beyond.

According to the research, nearly two-thirds (65 percent) say they would prioritize hotels that have earned a validated sustainability certification (i.e. LEED or HRS Green Stay, for example). More than half (59 percent) note they would elevate these hotels in the displays in their corporate online booking solutions given to employees as they shop for hotels. GBTA and HRS shared this research in advance of GBTA’s first Sustainability Summit, taking place on 8 November in Brussels.

With many companies negotiating preferred hotel agreements for 2023 as the fourth quarter progresses, this undeniable trend is affecting a wider range of hotel contracts. As more prominent multi-national companies make the provision of sustainability-related information a prerequisite for preferred supplier status, the hospitality community is aggressively responding as they compete for volume from the lucrative corporate segment. Siemens’ public announcement along these lines on 20 October mirrors a step that more Fortune 500 programs are taking as they determine preferred hotel partners for next year.

Senior Executives Lead the Effort to Drive More Use of Carbon-Efficient Hotels

Survey respondents, with 74 percent from the U.S. and Canada, provided findings that illustrate the momentum of sustainability in corporate lodging. Highlights include:

• Nearly half (48 percent) said that senior executives and leaders have the most influence on their company’s sustainability efforts, followed by the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) department (33 percent).
• There is a gap from Europe to North America as respondents consider taking action to drive more business travelers to sustainable hotels. Europeans (78 percent) are more likely to feature hotels with validated green credentials than those based in North America (61 percent). 
• More than one-third (36 percent) say sustainability considerations will have a “moderate” to “major” impact on the hotel choices they will make for their lodging program in 2023. Another 36 percent shared that sustainability elements will have a “minor” impact, with 28 percent reporting that it will have “no impact” at all.

“The global megatrend of sustainability is accelerating in the everyday discussions taking place today that are reshaping the priorities of corporate lodging programs,” said Martin Biermann, Chief Product Officer for HRS and a member of GBTA’s Sustainability Leadership Council. “We see that today via the traction of HRS’ Green Stay Initiative, which now has hotels representing 440-plus brands in 170 countries participating. It’s encouraging to see both corporate program leaders and hotel suppliers leverage technology to support this important cause at this crucial moment.”

“With business travel coming back at a rapid pace, it’s vital for all industry participants to grasp the long-lasting changes to hotel procurement and booking that sustainability considerations are driving,” said Delphine Millot, GBTA’s Senior Vice President of Sustainability and Managing Director of the GBTA Foundation. “The C-suite is leading the charge, as per this research. Accordingly, GBTA is highly engaged on sustainability to provide more research, advocacy, tools and educational events for our members – such as this week’s Sustainability Summit – to play our role in helping the business travel community seize upon best practices and technologies to help our industry reduce its carbon footprint.”

GBTA members can download a copy of the complete report via the GBTA Hub. Media and other parties can contact Michael Brophy of HRS directly at michael.brophy@hrs.com.

METHODOLOGY

This online survey of Canadian, European and U.S.-based travel managers and procurement leaders took place from June 15-29, 2022. GBTA members and non-members were invited to participate. A total of 187 respondents completed the survey; 74 percent from North America, 26 percent from Europe.

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About HRS

HRS is reinventing the way businesses and governments work, stay and pay in today’s dynamic global marketplace. HRS’ advanced platform technology is extending its reach beyond hospitality to meetings, office space management, payment efficiency and crisis recovery. Beyond cost savings in the global post-pandemic economy, HRS clients gain from an unrivaled focus on essential aspects including safety, security and satisfaction. HRS is also recognized for its award-winning Green Stay Initiative, technology that helps corporate hotel programs achieve their NetZero targets, and its groundbreaking Crew & Passengers Solution, which leverages automation to elevate experiences for air and rail operations. Founded in 1972, HRS works with 35 percent of the global Fortune 500, as well as the world’s leading hotel chains, regional hospitality groups and payment providers. More information at www.hrs.com/enterprise.

About GBTA

The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is the world’s premier business travel and meetings trade organization headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area with operations on six continents. GBTA’s members manage more than $345 billion of global business travel and meetings expenditures annually. GBTA delivers world-class education, events, research, advocacy, and media to a growing global network of more than 28,000 travel professionals and 125,000 active contacts. Visit www.gbta.org and follow us on LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.  

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Debbie Iannaci Michael Brophy

GBTA Communications, PR and Research HRS Global Media Relations

+1 305.301.7057 +1 214-356-4326

diannaci@gbta.org michael.brophy@hrs.com