Climate Change Data

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Environment and sustainability
• Social – diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I)
• Governance – risk and compliance

Environmental Achievements

• Achieved carbon neutrality for employee business travel effective 2019
• EcoVadis gold rating placing Amex GBT in the top 1% of travel and tourism companies rated for corporate social responsibility performance
• Launched Green Compass™ to help clients reduce emissions while enabling travel
• Formed a strategic alliance with Shell Aviation to help scale the supply of and demand for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)

Social Achievements

• Amex GBT was recognized for our achievements in DE&I at the Business Travel Awards in London
• Commitment to utilize diverse suppliers increased from 4% to 10%
• Launched global Unconscious Bias Education in multiple languages
• Launched an employee resource group dedicated to sustainability
• For the seventh consecutive year, we were recognized as one of the best places to work for LGBTQ equality, earning a 100% score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index.

Governance Achievements

• Amex GBT furthers the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and follows leading ESG frameworks
• Amex GBT targets and tracks 100% completion of mandatory Risk and Compliance training for all colleagues annually
• As a joint venture of American Express, we are the most highly regulated travel management and meetings and events company – and we will become publicly listed in 2022

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Climate change
• Wasted resources
• Loss of biodiversity
• Supply chain disruptions

Mitigation Strategies

• Committed to set science-based and net-zero emissions targets
• Scaling sustainable solutions, including carbon calculations and reporting, credible carbon credits to offset travel emissions, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to decarbonize air travel
• Building capacity with respect to regulatory matters and ESG issues via dedicated training sessions, a website portal, and constant communication with travel partners.
• Increased commitment to utilize diverse suppliers

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: 100% of targeted vendors subject to an ESG assessment

Responsible Procurement

• Supply Chain Shared Values
• ESG clauses on environmental sustainability; social, labor and human rights; governance, ethical, risk and compliance requirements

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Extreme weather events
• Natural disasters

Transition Risks

• Current and emerging regulations
• Technology risks
• Legal risks
• Reputational risks
• Client requirements

Opportunities

• Increased revenues resulting from demand for innovative products and services
• Increased revenues resulting from access to new markets (e.g., sustainable aviation fuel)
• Reduced operating costs and environmental impact at our global facilities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: Global Reporting Initiative, Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures, United Nations Global Compact, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Certifications: ISO 14001

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• Goal 4 (Quality Education)
• Goal 5 (Gender Equality)
• Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)
• Goal 10 (Reduced Inequalities)
• Goal 13 (Climate Action)

Amex GBT's initiatives contribute to these goals through various programs and partnerships, such as the Back to School in Times of Crisis initiative with UNICEF USA.

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• Green Compass™
• Insights and Premier Insights™
• Neo™ travel and expense platform
• Event Carbon Calculator

Awards & Recognition

• EcoVadis gold rating
• Business Travel Awards Europe (three awards)
• Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index (100% score)
• Business Travel News 2021 Hot List
• Travel Weekly’s 2021 Power List
• Nordic Business Travel Summit’s 2021 Extra Mile Supplier Award
• MeetingsNet’s 2021 CMI 25
• Hong Kong Data Privacy Commissioner Privacy Friendly Award Gold Certificate

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Environmental Sustainability
• Social Impact
• Governance

Environmental Achievements

• Hilton achieved a 50% reduction in carbon emission intensity, a 39% reduction in water intensity, and a 70% reduction in landfill intensity within its managed hotels since 2018.

Social Achievements

• Not disclosed

Governance Achievements

• Not disclosed

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Lack of transparent access to data (60%), Lack of clarity on environmental regulations (48%), Higher costs (76%), Fragmentation of standards (35%)
• Lack of awareness of hotel chain sustainability programs (86%)

Mitigation Strategies

• Develop and identify targets and metrics to track performance. Communicate with hotel partners. Design an internal communication plan. Review policy and governance.

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: Not disclosed

Responsible Procurement

• Not disclosed

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Not disclosed

Transition Risks

• Not disclosed

Opportunities

• Not disclosed

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: Null

Certifications: Null

Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• Not disclosed

Not disclosed

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• Not disclosed

Awards & Recognition

• Not disclosed

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Sustainability

Environmental Achievements

• Launched a SAF pilot program with Shell Aviation aimed at driving up SAF production.
• Amex GBT has developed a minimum marketable product (MMP) for NDC connections with all airlines and distribution partners to promote NDC standardization in the industry and drive adoption.

Social Achievements

• United’s Aviate Academy aims to help people from underrepresented communities start a career in flying.
• Amex GBT introduced solutions to help travelers manage flight disruptions.

Governance Achievements

• Not disclosed

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Global economic uncertainty
• Airline capacity and schedule remain below 2019 levels
• Higher costs for every input, especially fuel (64.7% more expensive than a year previously)
• Airline and airport labor shortages
• Supply chain challenges at aircraft manufacturers
• Foreign exchange (forex) effects impacting air programs
• NDC adoption remains low (<1% of total corporate air sector)
• Carrier-imposed fuel surcharges (YQ/YR) adding significant costs
• Content discrimination by airlines restricting content and fares available through certain channels
• Impact of travel on the environment
• Lack of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supply
• Changing work environments and distributed work models impacting travel patterns
• Airlines hardening negotiation postures during contract renewals
• Travel disruptions due to staffing shortages and cancellations

Mitigation Strategies

• Using the Prophet algorithm for time series modeling to combine historical transaction data with various factors to generate Air Monitor 2023.
• Generating synthetic data for 2020-2021 to address skewed data from global travel disruption.
• Verification of modeled forecasts by GBC subject matter experts.
• Airlines are expected to put more capacity on business routes as business demand recovers.
• Airports are beginning to resolve staffing problems (e.g., Heathrow lifting capacity caps).
• Amex GBT developed a minimum marketable product (MMP) for NDC connections.
• Program managers and stakeholders should challenge airlines that restrict content and/or impose additional costs.
• Amex GBT launched a SAF pilot program with Shell Aviation.
• Amex GBT offers considerations to help corporate travel managers and buyers negotiate the evolving contracting landscape.
• Amex GBT introduced solutions to help travelers manage flight disruptions.

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: Not disclosed

Responsible Procurement

• Not disclosed

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Not disclosed

Transition Risks

• Not disclosed

Opportunities

• Development of energy-efficient products and sustainable aviation fuel

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: Null

Certifications: Null

Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• Not disclosed

Not disclosed

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)

Awards & Recognition

• Not disclosed