The winners of the BTN Group’s third annual Business Travel
Sustainability Awards were unveiled today, on Earth Day, with suppliers,
travel teams and individuals recognized for their achievements.
Winners were selected by an independent panel of
more than 40 travel managers and consultants who sought to identify the
organizations and individuals best advancing business travel sustainability internally
and for the benefit of their clients.
Additionally, the BTN
editorial team conducted a series of interviews to help determine the
winner of the Achievement in Sustainability – Managed Travel Program
category, which went to Zurich Insurance.
The
company was praised for its comprehensive commitment to sustainability
which integrates carbon budgets and makes sustainability objectives a
component of travelers’ performance reviews.
Meanwhile, the BTN Group recognized Donna Collins
of Meetings & Incentives Worldwide as this year’s
Sustainability Champion for launching and scaling initiatives that go
far beyond carbon reduction to address food waste, water conservation
and community impact.
In the Sustainability Partner of the Year – Airline category, easyJet was triumphant for the second time in three years, while BCD Travel was named Sustainability Partner of the Year – TMC for the second consecutive year.
Blacklane, Avanti West Coast, HRS and Clarasight were all first-time winners, while Arcadis, BDO and Key Travel each received Highly Commended recognition.
For the full list of judges and 28 finalists, click here.
Winners of the BTN Group’s Business Travel Sustainability Awards 2025
Achievement in Sustainability – Managed Travel Program: Zurich Insurance
The
company has achieved a 65 percent reduction in air travel emissions in
the last two years compared to its 2019 baseline, in no small part due
to the roll-out of carbon budgets. An internally built reporting
dashboard and innovative CO2 transfer tool – which enables travelers to
reassign trip emissions and was referred to by judges as a “standout
capability” – allow the company to treat carbon as a currency, while
travelers are incentivized by linking a portion of performance bonuses
to sustainability goals. “With clear metrics, robust internal
collaboration, and employee buy-in, Zurich has proven itself a leader in
corporate travel sustainability, making it a well-deserved winner,”
according to the BTN editorial team.
Highly Commended: Arcadis & BDO
Last
year’s winner of this category, Arcadis, was praised for its strategic
and data-driven approach to sustainability, including the adoption of a
number of innovative tools and a Travel Sustainability Hub to engage and
communicate with travelers. BDO, meanwhile, was recognized for its
carbon pricing initiative and collaboration with travel partners to
create a sustainable travel ecosystem.
Sustainability Champion: Donna Collins, Sustainability Champion, Meetings & Incentives Worldwide
Donna
Collins is celebrated for her “deeply personal, impactful, and
purpose-driven approach to advancing sustainability within the meetings
and incentives space.” Judges remarked especially on her ability
to connect emotionally while delivering measurable change – balancing
storytelling, data and action in a way that felt both attainable and
inspiring. Donna’s approach of “meeting everyone where they’re at,” her
commitment to education and advocacy and her relentless drive to make
the world better for future generations have made her not just a leader
in sustainability, but a true champion and changemaker in the industry,
noted the judges.
Sustainability Partner of the Year – TMC: BCD Travel
BCD
Travel impressed the judges with its enterprise-wide sustainability
strategy that spans both internal operations and client-facing
initiatives. The company’s carbon-fee invoicing mechanism and
behavioral nudges at the point of booking were recognized as
forward-thinking tools that support real-time decision-making and
investment into decarbonization.
Highly commended: Key Travel
Key
Travel’s submission stood out for its thorough documentation,
third-party verification and tangible results. Highlights included their
innovative Carbon Neutral Hotel Rooms program and supporting a
customer in achieving a 137 percent increase in UK rail travel through
updates to the online booking tool, introducing departmental carbon budgets and green
booking guidance.
Sustainability Partner of the Year – Airline: easyJet
The
low-cost carrier was praised by judges for its “holistic and proactive
approach to sustainability, combining operational efficiency, digital
innovation and creative collaboration with corporate clients.” Judges
praised its corporate SAF program, new efficiencies in its Integrated
Control Centre, and the electrification of ground operations.
Sustainability Partner of the Year – Ground Transportation Provider – Driver Hire: Blacklane
The
judges were impressed by Blacklane’s strong commitment to electrifying
ground transportation and reducing emissions, with its submission lauded
for its transparency, client reporting and proven results,
highlighting Blacklane as a scalable, data-informed model for
sustainable business travel.
Sustainability Partner of the Year – Rail Operator: Avanti West Coast
Avanti
West Coast was recognized for its ambitious and well-structured
sustainability strategy, including a validated net-zero target by 2031
and strong collaboration with corporate clients to encourage modal shift
from air to rail. Judges highlighted the operator’s effective
commercial incentives, TMC and OBT integration, and clear operational
targets backed by SBTi-aligned goals.
Sustainability Partner of the Year – Data and Reporting Provider: HRS
Judges were impressed by HRS’s Green Stay Initiative, which has “set a
new industry benchmark by enabling measurable CO₂ reductions and
integrating sustainability into hotel sourcing and booking processes.”.
The platform’s advanced features empower travel managers to make
data-driven, eco-conscious decisions while achieving both emissions and
cost reductions.
Achievement in Sustainability Innovation: Clarasight
The
judges appreciated Clarasight’s innovative, data-driven platform that
empowers organizations to centralize and forecast emissions across
travel, finance and HR systems using existing infrastructure. By filling
a critical market gap, the solution introduces customizable scenario
planning and real-time carbon tracking, offering a forward-looking
approach that goes beyond post-booking reporting.
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