Spanish companies want sustainable travel, but don't know how to go about it

76% of Spanish companies are aware that they need to make a change in the sustainability of their corporate travel, but only 15% are confident of doing so successfully, according to a study published by SAP Concur. In general, sustainability training and lack of budget are the main barriers identified.

The Índice of Corporate Travel Sustainability uncovers how companies are performing against key dimensions of sustainability and reveals the business value, opportunities and tools needed to achieve a more sustainable approach to corporate travel.

Among the highlights highlighted by 2,450 corporate travel decision makers and 2,000 business travelers interviewed in 12 European markets, highlights include:

• Corporate travel decision makers are aware that change is needed.

Spain, 76% say they need to make a change about the sustainability of their corporate travel, but only 15% are confident they are doing so successfully.

• In Europe, 49% of automotive industry respondents feel that sustainable business travel is a big effort and a hassle, the highest percentage in the entire industry. This is despite the fact that the automotive industry claims to be more advanced in sustainability than any of the other sectors surveyed.

• One fourth (25%) of travel managers believe that sustainable corporate travel is a big effort and a hassle, the highest percentage of all management positions surveyed. On the other hand, only 10% of CFOs say it is a great effort and inconvenience.

Barriers to implementing a sustainable corporate travel policy are identified

 lack of commitment from the management team (15%) and the company's lack of a defined objective (12%), followed by the lack of commitment from the traveler (10%).

• In Spain, the biggest barriers to the adoption of a sustainable corporate travel policy are the lack of personal knowledge or training (15%), followed by lack of budget (14%).

 

• Lack of prioritization and buy-in from the management team has been cited as a particularly important barrier for CFOs (20%)

• Despite the barriers and the recognition that people don't know how, or find it difficult, to prioritize and buy-in from the management team (20%)

• Despite the barriers, and the recognition that people don't know how, or find it difficult to prioritize and buy-in from the management team, the barriers are not always the same;how, or find it difficult, to implement sustainable travel, 66% of travel decision makers in Spain say they are prepared to implement a sustainable travel program.

• Lack of data on greener options is hindering adoption on a personal level.

• 34% of corporate travel decision makers in Spain state that they don't have data or information that gives an accurate picture of the impact of their corporate travel.

It is clear that as sustainability becomes a reality in corporate travel, mastery of data will take center stage. Those who have rated their use of data as "exceptional" are 10 times more likely to rate their corporate travel as highly sustainable.

«As Europe begins to recover from the Covid pandemic, companies will need to reinvent themselves and evaluate their approach to business travel, with the aim of ensuring that sustainability is a key priority,», assures Pierre-Emmanuel Tetaz, senior vice president EMEA and general manager at SAP Concur.