The Road to Net Zero

Challenge

In the global telecommunications industry, sustainability is gaining momentum. Deutsche Telekom, operating globally in over 50 countries, began its partnership with HRS in 2016 to work on developing a more efficient and traveler-centric lodging program.

Responding to regulatory pressures and their business travelers demanding more sustainable hotel options, the goal was to leverage sustainability data, transparency on the hotel’s sustainability footprint, and comparability to enable two key outcomes:

• Travel Procurement to allow the implementation of a sustainable strategy as early as in the sourcing phase
• Making it possible for Deutsche Telekom’s business travelers to book more sustainable hotels so as to reduce the environmental footprint of their trip

Currently, 92% of the hotels in the program are Green Stay certified, demonstrating strong commitment to sustainability.

Key challenges included:

• Sustainability data transparency
• Comparability on hotel level
• Standardized reportings

Solution

HRS’ platform digitizes processes and consolidates data from procure-to-pay, giving Deutsche Telekom full visibility into hotel expenses and booking behaviors. This transparency allows for optimization to meet sustainability, cost, and satisfaction targets.

The program achieved:

• 31% reduction in CO₂ emissions per room night
• 45% cost avoidance compared to public market rates
• 95% online adoption rate among travelers

To reach its goals — 55% CO₂ reduction by 2030 and net zero by 2040 — Deutsche Telekom is implementing the following steps:

1. Harmonization
   Generating CO₂ emission data on property level, supported by HRS Green Stay.
2. Targets
   Defining baselines and setting reduction targets.
3. Implementation
   Promoting hotels with high emission reduction and compensation efforts.
   Hotel ranking based on sustainability scale and highlighting sustainable options in the booking process.
4. Reporting
   Monitoring CO₂ reduction progress.

Results

Deutsche Telekom achieved measurable improvements across its lodging program:

• 31% CO₂ reduction per room night
• 45% cost avoidance vs. public rates
• 95% program adoption
• 92% Green Stay–certified hotels

The company now has full transparency, a scalable strategy aligned with long-term net-zero goals, and a traveler-centric program built on sustainability and data-driven decision-making.

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