Organising business travel in a more eco-responsible way. This ambition is based on the desire, now widely shared at a global level, by governments, companies and individuals alike, to make sustainable development the major issue of the years to come. But this desire to reduce emissions and, ultimately, to become carbon neutral, must also be possible, be based on concrete evidence.
In this context, the hosting management platform for companies HRS has unveiled a new solution that enables purchasing and travel management departments to put together their hotel programmes with full knowledge of the establishments' sustainable commitments. And off you go, estimate their overall business travel footprint more accurately. " The latest Cornell Sustainability Index highlights that hotels emit an average of 45 kilograms of carbon emissions per overnight stay. Such measures are vital for companies that are taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint." explained Martin Biermann, Chief Prodcut Officer at HRS.
There was still a need to accurately assess energy consumption, water use and waste disposal, as the data provided by hotels was often patchy. Hence the 'Green Stay' initiative launched by HRS, namely a global database and is based on an exclusive rating system for hoteliers' commitments to sustainable development. " While suppliers have made progress in capturing this data, the legacy fragmentation of the global hotel market has resulted in disparate data points that are far too complex for companies to assimilate effectively.commented Martin Biermann. In response, we have taken steps to put in place a standardised global framework that proactively addresses these issues. "
The rating system is based on guidelines established by recognised organisations such as the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, the Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative, the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance and the World Travel & Tourism Council. Hotels are rated on the basis of their measurements and progress over the previous calendar year, green" hotels awarded the "Green Stay" labelclearly displayed in the HRS booking tools.
The new system, which is being piloted this quarter, is based on HRS's proprietary technology and provides procurement managers and business travellers with an intuitive system for identifying, tracking and managing their purchases. compare and prioritise hotels that help to reduce the carbon footprint of the accommodation part of a typical business trip. " The Green Stay initiative enables companies to significantly raise awareness of the new sustainability priorities for their travel programmes, while offering hoteliers a means of promoting their corresponding investments." said Tobias Ragge, CEO of HRS.
