Carbon tracking for corporate travel: Accountability, but at what cost?
Words by Liam Aran Barnes | Eco Stay Awards Co-founder
Corporate travel is facing a reckoning.
Its hefty carbon footprint is under scrutiny, and accountability is no longer optional. As the industry turns to carbon tracking, the promise is clear: meaningful emissions reductions and transparent reporting.
But as leaders at the GSTC 2024 Conference in Singapore showed, the reality is far more complex.
From tracking to action
At Resorts World Sentosa, carbon tracking has evolved into a strategic tool for planning sustainable corporate events.
Jen Ong, Assistant Director of Sustainability, explained how the resort uses emissions data to help clients host greener gatherings without compromising quality.
“Corporate clients want transparency now—it’s not only about looking good anymore,” Ong noted.
“We’re using carbon tracking to show the impact of events and help businesses meet their sustainability goals without sacrificing the experience.”
This focus on transparency and impact positions Resorts World Sentosa as a regional leader in sustainable corporate events, demonstrating how accountability can drive both change and client loyalty.
Big picture, big challenges
Tracking emissions for individual venues is a start, but tackling carbon at the destination level presents an entirely new set of challenges.
In Phuket, Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, Chairman of the Sustainable Tourism Development Foundation, is leading efforts to monitor emissions across the island’s tourism sector using AI and big data.
“The technology helps us pinpoint high-emission activities and develop solutions,” he said. “But implementing change on this scale isn’t easy—it requires collaboration from all stakeholders.”
Bhummikitti’s initiatives highlight both the promise and the complexity of carbon tracking at scale.
While data can identify problem areas, turning insights into action depends on collaboration across sectors—from local governments to private businesses.
“It’s not enough to monitor emissions—we need every stakeholder on board to make meaningful progress,” he added.
The key takeaway?
Carbon tracking is most powerful when paired with collective effort, turning individual insights into transformative action.
Making data hit home
The true power of carbon tracking lies not in the tools themselves, but in how they shift behaviours and attitudes.
Jonathan Kao, Managing Director of BCD Travel, spoke about the psychological power of “visual guilt” when emissions data is shared with travellers.
“Presenting carbon footprints in concrete terms changes how people think,” Kao said. “It pushes the conversation beyond cost to focus on responsible decisions.”
But while the tools are powerful, the cost of implementing them can deter smaller operators. Without accessible solutions, carbon tracking risks becoming another privilege of well-funded organisations rather than a widespread industry standard.
Read more insights from GSTC2024: Sustainability certifications for hotels: yes or no?
Tuu takeaway
Carbon tracking is moving beyond buzzwords and into boardrooms, offering a pathway to genuine accountability.
Leaders like Resorts World Sentosa, BCD Travel, and Phuket’s tourism authorities are proving that it’s possible to balance transparency with meaningful action.
But technology alone isn’t enough.
Success depends on collaboration, trust, and making these tools accessible to all.
Done right, carbon tracking could redefine corporate travel and transform the industry. Done wrong, it risks becoming yet another hollow promise.