Business travel expenses list – The who, what, and why of paying for work trips
Exploring the awards shaping greener business travel
Sustainability has moved from a travel-industry talking point to a genuine measure of progress, performance and reputation. Across Europe, companies are under pressure to reduce the environmental impact of their corporate travel – and suppliers are being asked to prove that they’re not only offsetting carbon, but transforming how travel is planned and delivered. That shift is exactly why the business travel sustainability awards have become such a significant part of the industry calendar.What began as a small recognition programme has grown into one of the most respected sets of sustainable travel awards in Europe, bringing together travel managers, climate specialists, suppliers, ESG leaders and mobility innovators. The awards celebrate organisations that are demonstrating real, measurable change – whether through smarter routing, low-emission fleets, sustainable aviation fuel programmes, rail-first travel strategies or technology that cuts unnecessary journeys altogether.As sustainable travel climbs even higher on corporate agendas, the awards offer something increasingly important: clarity. They give travel managers insight into who is leading the way, which initiatives genuinely reduce emissions and what the future of sustainable travel looks like for businesses trying to meet ambitious climate goals without slowing down their operations.
What the business travel sustainability awards in Europe actually are
The business travel sustainability awards have quickly become one of the most influential benchmarks in the travel industry – not because they celebrate nice ideas, but because they focus on measurable action. First introduced by the BTN Group in 2023, the awards were created in response to a simple shift happening across Europe: sustainability is no longer a side project in corporate travel programmes, it is now a core performance metric.Unlike traditional sustainable travel awards, which often highlight broad commitments or marketing-led initiatives, these awards recognise companies, travel managers, analysts and suppliers who are delivering real, evidenced progress. Every entry goes through an independent judging panel made up of senior travel managers, sustainability consultants and ESG specialists who look for tangible results rather than promises.What the judges assess is detailed and deliberately rigorous. Submissions are evaluated across criteria such as:Carbon reduction performance backed by verified dataSupplier innovation, especially new technology or processes reducing emissionsBehaviour change programmes that shift how travellers choose and movePolicy alignment, ensuring sustainability goals are part of everyday decision-makingReporting transparency, including credible methodologies and meaningful metricsFor travel, HR and finance managers, understanding how these awards work is important. They act as a clear signal of which suppliers and travel teams are leading the way on sustainable travel, and which approaches are proving the most effective across Europe’s business travel ecosystem.
Who judges the awards?
The judging panel includes:Senior corporate travel managersIndependent travel consultantsSustainability and ESG specialistsIndustry analystsThis independent structure make sure that winners are chosen based on data, not sponsorship or branding.
What the awards aim to do
Highlight actions over claimsEncourage modal shift to lower-carbon options (rail, EV fleets, serviced apartments)Reward transparency and reporting disciplineShowcase suppliers with credible, science-aligned sustainability targetsProvide travel managers with trusted benchmarksThese sustainable travel awards are becoming a key reference point for procurement, HR, sustainability and finance teams selecting partners for their travel programmes.
Categories recognised across Europe
The awards span suppliers, travel programmes and individual leadership. The structure changes slightly each year, but the core categories include:Core award categoriesAward categoryWhat it recognisesWhy it mattersAchievement in Sustainability – Managed Travel ProgrammeCompanies reducing emissions through policy, behavioural change and reportingHelps travel managers benchmark best-in-class programmesSustainability ChampionIndividuals leading transformational sustainability workHighlights leadership that drives cultural changeSustainability Partner of the Year – AirlineAirlines implementing verifiable decarbonisation roadmapsGives procurement clarity on which suppliers back claims with actionSustainability Partner of the Year – Rail OperatorRail companies enabling modal shift and low-carbon business travelImportant for Europe’s rail-first strategiesSustainability Partner of the Year – Ground TransportEV expansion, fleet electrification and low-carbon routingSupports greener door-to-door journeysSustainability Partner of the Year – TMCTravel management companies embedding sustainability into tools and policiesGuides corporate decision-making at the point of saleAchievement in Sustainability – AccommodationHotels standardising reporting and reducing property emissionsHelps companies book lower-impact staysAchievement in Sustainability InnovationNew technologies, platforms or processesShows where sustainability is heading nextAchievement in Sustainability – Meetings & EventsLow-waste, low-carbon events strategyA major impact area for large organisationsAchievement in Advancing Sustainability – Data & ReportingHigh-quality carbon reporting and transparencyEssential for ESG, procurement and finance teamsThese categories map closely to the real decisions organisations must make when designing sustainable travel programmes: which airlines to trust, which accommodation providers reduce impact, which ground transport partners are electrifying their fleets and which booking systems provide reliable carbon data.
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Winners of the 2025 Business Travel Sustainability Awards (Europe)
Below is a breakdown of the 2025 winners, based on BTN Europe’s Earth Day announcement.Supplier winners CategoryWinnerWhy they stood outSustainability Partner of the Year – AirlineeasyJetHolistic sustainability approach, strong SAF collaboration, operational efficienciesSustainability Partner of the Year – Rail OperatorAvanti West CoastValidated 2031 net-zero target, strong modal shift partnershipsSustainability Partner of the Year – Ground Transport (Driver Hire)BlacklaneTransparent EV expansion, measurable emissions reportingSustainability Partner of the Year – TMCBCD TravelCarbon-fee invoicing, behavioural nudges, enterprise-wide strategyHighly Commended – TMCKey TravelDocumented results, Carbon Neutral Hotel Rooms programmeAchievement in Sustainability – Accommodation ProviderLamington GroupLeading the way in carbon-accountable hotel operationsSustainability Partner of the Year – Data & Reporting ProviderHRSGreen Stay Initiative, emissions-based hotel sourcingAchievement in Sustainability InnovationClarasightCross-department CO₂ scenario planning and real-time modellingProgramme and individual winnersCategoryWinnerWhy it mattersAchievement in Sustainability – Managed Travel ProgrammeZurich InsuranceCarbon budgets, dashboard reporting, emissions-based performance metricsHighly CommendedArcadis & BDO LLPInnovative carbon pricing and comprehensive stakeholder engagementSustainability ChampionDonna Collins, Meetings & Incentives WorldwideImpactful community-focused sustainability initiatives These winners help define what good sustainability looks like in corporate travel right now – grounded in evidence, not aspiration.
Permanent workplace
A long-term work location employees attend regularly.Travel here = ordinary commuting → non-allowable. ScenarioAllowable?WhyEngineer sent to a client site for 3 weeks✔ YesTemporary workplaceArea manager visiting stores around their region✔ YesDuties require travelEmployee going to the same office every day✘ NoOrdinary commuteContractor spending 2 years at the same project site✘ NoBecomes permanent under the 24-month ruleSales rep attending a conference in another city✔ YesBusiness attendance required
Why these awards are important for travel, HR and finance managers
A growing number of organisations now view the business travel sustainability awards as a practical benchmarking tool.
1. They spotlight suppliers who back sustainability with results
Travel managers often struggle to distinguish genuine sustainability from green marketing. Award winners have:Verified emissions reductionsTransparent dataProgrammes aligned to SBTi or similar frameworksTangible improvements, not vague commitments
2. They help procurement benchmark and source confidently
Procurement teams increasingly use sustainability scores in RFPs. The awards provide a reliable reference point for:Pre-qualifying suppliersComparing sustainability maturityUnderstanding which partners are accelerating change
3. They help organisations move from offsetting to reduction
Offsets have a role – but reductions matter more. These awards highlight suppliers doing the harder work: electrification, SAF investment, carbon budgeting, accurate reporting.
4. They reflect what employees expect
According to Microsoft’s 2024 Work Trend Index, 65% of employees consider sustainability when travelling for work.If travel feels misaligned with corporate values, employee trust erodes.
5. They push sustainability into business-as-usual
Travel managers often face senior leaders asking “What does good look like?” Now they can point directly to credible, industry-leading examples.
What sustainable travel looks like in practice (and what these awards reward)
The awards consistently recognise companies making practical, everyday changes – the types of actions any organisation can adopt. These include:Policy and behaviourRail-first travel policies for journeys under 5 hoursDepartment-level carbon budgetsBehavioural nudges inside booking toolsEncouraging multi-stop trip consolidationVirtual-first alternatives for unnecessary tripsSupplier choicesSelecting hotels with verified emissions data (e.g., HRS Green Stay)Using serviced apartments for lower emissions per nightPartnering with EV-led ground transport providersPrioritising airlines with SAF programmes and efficient fleetsTechnology and reportingCarbon reporting at point of saleScenario forecasting (“What if the team shifted 30% of flights to rail?”)Automatic emission-factor standardisationDepartment-level dashboards for HR and financeThese are the types of practical, measurable steps judges consistently reward – because they drive real-world progress rather than theoretical ambition.
How Roomex supports companies aiming for more sustainable travel
Roomex supports sustainability not through buzzwords, but by giving organisations the tools to make consistently better decisions – especially for workforce travel, where journeys often blend rail, road and hotel stays.1. Enabling lower-impact travel choicesRail-first options for many workforce tripsAccess to millions of properties worldwide – including lower-impact serviced apartmentsTransparent visibility of alternatives, letting teams choose more efficient options2. Reducing unnecessary travel admin (and its carbon footprint)Consolidated invoicing means fewer emails, PDFs and reconciliation cyclesNo paper receipts – everything is digital through RoomexPayAutomated approvals reduce back-and-forth communications3. Better visibility of emissions-linked spendRoomexAnalytics provides:Clear data on routes and accommodation typesInsight into cost driversPatterns showing where high-impact journeys can be reducedReporting that makes ESG compliance easier4. Encouraging greener choices through policyWith Roomex, companies can set:Price capsTicket preferencesAccommodation criteriaTraveller groups with tailored restrictionsThis builds sustainability directly into everyday booking behaviour – removing guesswork.5. Supporting modal shift and smarter routingRail + hotel combinations are common for field teams. By giving employees simple, centralised tools to book and manage multi-stop travel, companies naturally shift away from less efficient alternatives.
How travel managers can use these awards to evolve their programme
Here are practical ways to put the business travel sustainability awards to work.Use award criteria as internal KPIsCarbon budgetsRail-first guidanceEmissions-based approvalsBenchmark current suppliersAsk: would they qualify for an award? If not, why?Strengthen procurementAdd sustainability scoring to RFPs for airlines, hotels, ground transport and booking platforms.Audit current travel patternsIdentify routes where rail outperforms flightsTest apartment stays instead of hotelsShift suppliers with weak reportingUse award-winning examples to build buy-inLeaders respond to recognised benchmarks and these awards provide just that.
Where sustainable business travel goes next
Corporate travel is changing quickly, and sustainability is steering the direction. With stricter European regulation, better supplier reporting and growing employee expectations, sustainability has moved from an optional extra to a defining feature of modern business travel programmes.The business travel sustainability awards highlight what progress looks like today – but they also signal where the industry is heading next:More carbon-first decision makingAccelerated modal shift to railBetter integration of emissions data at point of bookingSBTi-aligned suppliers becoming standardTravel managers acting as sustainability stewards, not just coordinatorsStronger partnerships between travel, finance, HR and ESG teamsRoomex will continue supporting companies on this path, helping them travel smarter, lower their impact and give their workforce the clarity and control they need on the road.
