Why booking a hotel still feels like a gamble for CO₂ data and what corporates can do about it

Business travel is under growing pressure to decarbonize. While CO₂ data for flights and rail has become relatively reliable, one major piece of the travel puzzle remains frustratingly opaque: hotels.

For corporate travel managers and sustainability teams, getting consistent, accurate hotel emissions data still feels like rolling the dice. Some properties offer detailed environmental impact reports. Others provide vague estimates or nothing at all. And that’s a serious problem for companies setting Scope 3 targets and trying to track emissions across the full business trip.

Why is hotel CO₂ data so hard to get? And what can be done about it?

The hidden complexity behind hotel emissions

Unlike flights, where fuel burn and distance provide a standardized foundation for calculating emissions, hotel stays vary dramatically in impact. Here’s why:

• Energy sources and efficiency differ wildly. A luxury hotel in a major city and an eco-lodge in the countryside might charge the same nightly rate but have vastly different emissions footprints.
• Few hotels track guest-night emissions directly. Most rely on outdated averages or modelled estimates rather than metered data tied to occupancy.
• Reporting lacks standardization. Even when data is available, formats and methodologies vary, making it hard to compare properties or consolidate emissions accurately.

The result? Many corporates are forced to rely on assumptions or default averages, which can distort reporting and hinder emissions reduction efforts.

Eco-labels help, but they’re not a silver bullet

Eco-certifications like Green Key, EarthCheck, and EU Ecolabel help companies identify hotels making sustainability efforts. But they come with limitations:

• Criteria vary widely. Some certifications focus on construction materials; others on water or energy use.
• Verification is inconsistent. Some require independent audits, while others depend on self-reporting.
• Coverage remains low. Many business-oriented hotels don’t participate at all.

Most importantly, eco-labels don’t necessarily include actual CO₂ emissions figures — the data corporates need for GHG Protocol or SBTi-aligned reporting.

Where the industry is moving

There are reasons for cautious optimism. Platforms like HRS and Booking.com have begun to collect and structure hotel emissions data across significant parts of their networks. For example, HRS now reports standardized CO₂ data for over 30,000 hotels. While full integration into booking flows is still in progress, the groundwork is being laid.

Industry efforts like the WTTC’s Hotel Sustainability Basics and the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance’s Pathway to Net Positive Hospitality are also helping to define a common baseline. Over 15,000 hotels are expected to align with these frameworks by 2025 — a sign that the sector is starting to move toward consistent, comparable reporting.

What corporates can do right now

You don’t have to wait for the entire industry to catch up. Here’s how corporate travel and sustainability teams can take action today:

1. Request actual CO₂ emissions data in RFPs

When sourcing hotels, don’t just ask for certifications. Explicitly request:

• kg CO₂e per guest-night
• The data year and methodology used (e.g. HCMI – Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative)
• Whether data is metered or modelled

Hotels using HCMI can report anywhere from 15–40 kg CO₂e per room-night, depending on energy sources and region. Including these requirements in RFPs puts pressure on suppliers to measure and disclose their footprint — and helps corporates select based on real impact, not assumptions.

2. Use partners that integrate standardized emissions data

Work with TMCs, booking platforms, or partners like SQUAKE that:

• Offer verified CO₂ data based on recognized standards like HCMI
• Support hotel-level granularity, not just country or region averages
• Update emissions data at least annually

This makes it easier to maintain high-quality, auditable reporting across your hotel bookings, without adding manual effort.

3. Apply standardized assumptions when actual data is unavailable

If a hotel can’t provide actual emissions, apply default values based on accepted methodologies (e.g. HCMI, DEFRA/BEIS) to maintain consistency. For example:

• Urban business hotel (Europe): ~30–40 kg CO₂e/night

This allows you to fill in data gaps without compromising the integrity of your reports.

4. Drive traveller behaviour through education and tools

Deploy internal tools or booking filters that:

• Highlight hotels with verified emissions data or trusted eco-labels
• Offer CO₂e comparisons at booking to nudge travellers toward lower-emissions stays
• Promote internal policies encouraging bookings at hotels emitting ≤20 kg CO₂e/night, where available

These small nudges can have a big impact: Booking.com reports that adding sustainability criteria to search filters can increase eco-preference by up to 35%.

5. Monitor and participate in industry initiatives

Stay engaged with the groups shaping the future of hotel emissions reporting:

• Hotel Sustainability Basics (WTTC)
• Pathway to Net Positive Hospitality (Sustainable Hospitality Alliance)
• SBTi guidance for travel and accommodation emissions
• FLAG and ICT sector frameworks for Scope 3 reporting

Getting involved helps you stay ahead of regulatory and reporting changes, and signal to suppliers that emissions data matters.

Conclusion

Booking a hotel should not feel like a gamble for sustainability-minded companies. As suppliers step up with better data and corporates push for transparency through sourcing and education, the industry can move beyond rough estimates toward real, reliable emissions reporting.

At SQUAKE, we’re here to help close the data gaps, standardize the messy middle, and bring clarity to your hotel CO₂ footprint. If you’re ready to move beyond assumptions, let’s talk.

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