Booking Holdings 2023 Sustainability Report showcases its continued efforts and achievements in promoting sustainable tourism.
Under its mission to make experiencing the world easier for everyone, Booking Holdings is committed to reducing environmental impact, supporting people, and enabling more sustainable travel.
Reducing Environmental Impact
Booking Holdings achieved an 84% reduction in absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions compared to the 2019 baseline. This was primarily due to the transition to 100% renewable electricity in its offices. Furthermore, there was a 22% reduction in Scope 3 emissions from the 2019 baseline despite increased business activities. This reduction was supported by engaging with major vendors to measure and reduce their emissions.
Supporting People and Communities
The company represents 140 nationalities and has been recognized on Forbes’ Best Employers for Diversity and the World’s Top Companies for Women lists. The Vendor Diversity Program, launched in 2023, aims to foster partnerships with diverse vendors in sourcing and procurement.
Promoting Sustainable Travel
Over 1.4 million accommodations shared their sustainability practices on Booking Holdings platforms, with more than 16,000 partners receiving third-party sustainability certifications. Booking Holdings has also introduced eco-friendly travel options, including electric and hybrid car rentals in 73 countries and lower-impact taxi services in 274 cities.
[Photo taken from page 3 of the Booking Holdings 2023 Sustainability report]
“We continued to build and act upon our understanding of the social, environmental, and economic impacts of our business in 2023… Throughout the year, we made progress on our commitments and targets… Looking ahead, we will continue to work on our sustainability efforts, both in our operations and in collaboration with the wider industry.’’ Said Glenn D. Fogel, CEF at Booking Holdings, and Kate Heiny, Vice President of Sustainability at Booking Holdings.
Collaborations and Initiatives
Booking Holdings Inc. is the world’s leading provider of online travel and related services across more than 220 countries and territories through five primary consumer-facing brands: Booking.com, Priceline, Agoda, KAYAK, and OpenTable.
Booking.com has been a GSTC member since 2019, same as Agoda, which participated in Bangkok’s PM 2.5 Reduction Coalition and hosted tech camps for students to encourage sustainable practices. Agoda also sponsored many GSTC Sustainable Tourism Courses in Southeast Asia through 2023.
Booking.com partnered with BeCause, enabling real-time data updates on sustainability certifications for accommodations helping travelers make informed decisions.
In 2023, KAYAK launched the City Index for Mindful Travelers (CIMT), an interactive guide to help travelers consider sustainability factors like airport carbon accreditation, air quality, public transportation, and electric vehicle charging stations. The CIMT evaluated 167 cities in 63 countries across 28 factors to aid informed travel decisions.
Future Goals
Booking Holdings is committed to reaching net-zero GHG emissions across its value chain by 2040, a decade ahead of the Paris Agreement goals. The company continues to work on its climate action plan, validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
For more detailed insights, you can access the full Booking Holdings 2023 Sustainability Report here.
