Joint study highlights hurdles to sustainable business travel

arrangeMY and University College Birmingham (UCB) are proud to announce the results of a six-month market leading research initiative focused on sustainable business travel practices. Collaborating closely with three postgraduate students specialising in aviation, tourism, and hospitality from UCB, the study sheds light on the priorities and challenges UK businesses are facing with sustainable business travel.

Alexander Roques, Student Project Lead, quoted, “Working alongside the esteemed team at arrangeMY has provided myself and the other students with invaluable insights into the stance of UK businesses on sustainability within the travel sector. Our findings offer actionable recommendations for the industry as it navigates the complexities of sustainable goals.”

Professor Michelle Callanan, at UCB, praised the collaboration, stating, “Our partnership with arrangeMY has empowered three postgraduate students to directly engage with real-world challenges in the travel industry. Their contributions, grounded in research and international perspectives, align closely with UCB’s commitment to sustainability across campus, curriculum, and community.”

Despite growing awareness of environmental concerns, the research revealed that cost and location remain the top considerations for UK businesses when making business travel arrangements. This finding highlights a crucial gap between environmental aspirations and current practices.

Key findings from the research revealed that while 50% of travel bookers are encouraged by their companies to prioritise sustainability, 100% of Procurement Managers identify budget constraints as a major hurdle. Barriers in adopting more sustainable travel practices predominantly stem from cost considerations and a lack of awareness of available initiatives within the supply chain. Over half (55.6%) of ESG Managers stated being unaware of sustainable initiatives such as hospitality accreditations and two thirds (66.7%) of Procurement Managers indicated that their company does not have a policy that highlights the need to prioritise sustainable travel options.

Laura Dudley, Head of Account Management & Green Team Member at arrangeMY said, “While it’s encouraging to see more organisations embracing sustainability, our data uncovers the ongoing journey towards making it a top priority. Educating travellers about the impact of their choices and integrating sustainability into travel policies are crucial steps in this direction.”

Laura continued, “As a Travel Management Company, arrangeMY recognises its pivotal role in driving sustainable practices. We are committed to driving our own carbon reduction agenda as well as supporting clients in crafting sustainable travel policies and creating sustainable hotel programmes, by prioritising properties with minimal carbon footprints and industry accreditations such as the Greengage and Green Meetings from Green Tourism.”

Working with the students of UCB reaffirms arrangeMY’s dedication to supporting local educational institutions and homegrown talent by providing mentorship and career contacts ensuring that it supports the next generation of leaders in sustainable business travel. arrangeMY and UCB are excited to share these findings, offering actionable insights to clients and continuing to pave the way for a more sustainable future in business travel.

If you’re interested in learning more about how we can help your business embrace sustainable practices and achieve net zero targets, please reach out to our Green Team. Led by Laura Dudley, our Head of Account Management, they’re dedicated to supporting these initiatives and can provide valuable insights tailored to your needs. We look forward to discussing how we can contribute to your sustainability goals!

Laura Dudley, Head of Account Management

Direct telephone: 01905 732721

Mobile: 07951 326990

Email: laura.dudley@arrangemy.com