GBTA Foundation releases 2026 business travel sustainability benchmark
The GBTA Foundation has published its 2026 Sustainability Acceleration Challenge benchmark, revealing a rise in average programme maturity to 1.5 and highlighting regional gains. The findings were released at the GBTA Sustainability Summit in Vienna on 2‑4 November 2026 and apply to companies participating in the Challenge.
In this story
At a glance
- What changes
- Average maturity score rose to 1.5 and regional scores improved
- Timing
- Results released at the GBTA Sustainability Summit 2‑4 November 2026
- Who is affected
- Companies that took part in the 2026 Sustainability Acceleration Challenge
The details
- Announced by
- GBTA Foundation
Benchmark overview
The 2026 Sustainability Acceleration Challenge analysed data from 204 companies in 28 countries. The average travel programme maturity score increased to 1.5, up from 1.4 in 2025 and 1.3 in 2024. The scale runs from zero (no action) to five (leading practice). Since its 2024 launch, 540 unique companies have participated, representing over $36 billion in travel spend.
Key performance areas
Progress was strongest in sustainable procurement and decarbonisation, with SAF purchases rising to 22 % of companies. Emissions tracking and sustainable travel decision‑making scores remained unchanged at 2.3. Policy embedding rose modestly, with 62 % of firms now including sustainability in travel policies.
- Sustainable procurement score increased from 1.5 to 1.6
- Decarbonisation score rose from 0.7 to 0.8
- SAF investment grew from 20 % to 22 % of companies
Regional results and awards
Asia Pacific showed the strongest improvement, moving its regional score from 1.3 to 2.1. Europe rebounded, rising from 1.4 to 1.7, while the Americas declined from 0.9 to 0.7. At the summit, the Foundation announced its 2026 Sustainability Acceleration Award winners, including PwC – India as Global Sustainability Leader.
- Asia Pacific regional score: 1.3 → 2.1
- Europe regional score: 1.4 → 1.7
- Americas regional score: 0.9 → 0.7
What this means for travellers
Trip planning
- Existing corporate travel bookings remain unchanged; the benchmark does not alter any travel itineraries.
- Companies can use the new scores to benchmark their own programmes when planning future travel policies.
Cost and documents
- No new fees or documentation requirements are introduced by the benchmark release.
- Companies may consider additional reporting to align with higher SAF or decarbonisation targets.
What you need to do
- Corporate travel managers should review the 2026 results to identify gaps in their sustainability programmes.
- Award recipients may publicise their recognition in stakeholder communications.
- Companies not yet participating in the Challenge can consider joining future editions.
Who this affects
-
Corporate travel managers
The benchmark provides performance data relevant to managing sustainable travel programmes.
What to do Review the 2026 scores and compare them with internal metrics.
-
Sustainability officers in multinational firms
The findings highlight progress areas such as procurement and decarbonisation that align with corporate climate goals.
What to do Use the data to set or adjust sustainability targets for travel.
-
Business travelers
Company policies may evolve based on benchmark insights, influencing travel options and sustainability features.
Frequently asked questions
What is the GBTA Foundation 2026 Sustainability Acceleration Challenge?
It is a benchmark that evaluated 204 companies across 28 countries, measuring progress in sustainable business travel and assigning a maturity score on a zero‑to‑five scale.
When were the 2026 benchmark results released?
The results were unveiled at the GBTA Sustainability Summit in Vienna, held from 2 to 4 November 2026.
Which region showed the biggest improvement in 2026?
Asia Pacific recorded the strongest gains, increasing its regional score from 1.3 to 2.1 across all sustainability categories.
Did any new sustainability awards get announced?
Yes, the GBTA Foundation announced its 2026 Sustainability Acceleration Award winners, including PwC – India as the Global Sustainability Leader.
Will the benchmark affect existing travel bookings?
No, the benchmark does not change any travel itineraries or booking requirements; it only provides performance insights for companies.
