As Global Head of Sustainability for Hospitality at Amadeus, Agnes Pierce has leveraged her passion for environmental stewardship to play a pivotal role in driving the company’s sustainability initiatives. She also collaborates with industry stakeholders, including hotels, destination management companies, and other travel sector leaders, to help customers address their sustainability challenges through innovative technology. With global scope, Amadeus is committed to building a more sustainable and responsible travel ecosystem.
Both Agnes and Amadeus won Awards within the World Sustainable Travel and Hospitality Awards programme, in 2024 – keep reading to find out why and discover how you can follow in their footsteps!
About Amadeus
Amadeus, a world-leading technology company, plays a crucial role in the hospitality and travel and tourism industry by providing innovative solutions tailored for travel agencies, airlines, airports, and the hospitality sector. Its offerings include distribution solutions that connect over one million properties with travel sellers and agents, as well as IT solutions such as central reservation systems, guest management tools, business intelligence, data analytics, and media solutions. Beyond hotels, its clientele spans mobility providers, car rental companies, insurance providers, and destination management organisations (DMOs). With a global footprint and headquarters in Madrid, Spain, Amadeus continues to lead the way in technology-driven innovation.
A Personal and Corporate Commitment to Sustainability
Sustainability is embedded in Amadeus’ ethos, a commitment reflected in its inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for 13 consecutive years. The company actively collaborates with industry stakeholders to make a positive environmental impact. For Agnes Pierce, a 20-year expert at Amadeus, sustainability is both a professional and personal passion. Witnessing environmental disasters, particularly in her home region of southern France, inspired her to take action. Combining her dedication to sustainability with her expertise in the travel industry, Pierce now focuses on addressing sustainability challenges for Amadeus’ hospitality customers.
Integrating Sustainability into Strategy
Sustainability at Amadeus is guided by four key commitments: promoting environmental sustainability, driving social impact, empowering employees, and creating trust and integrity. These principles shape the company’s objectives and drive its efforts to support customers, travellers, and the broader travel industry. Within the hospitality sector, Amadeus has aligned its sustainability goals with its corporate purpose, positioning itself as a trusted sustainability partner. A group of employees from diverse departments act as “sustainability champions” and help ensure these objectives are integrated across the business.
Addressing Challenges in Hospitality Sustainability
The hospitality industry faces significant sustainability challenges. Research from Amadeus’ Travel Technology Investment Trends Report 2024 reveals that 87% of hoteliers consider sustainability objectives important or very important, yet they struggle with two main issues; understanding their ESG metrics and effectively communicating sustainable options to travellers. As consumer preferences shift toward more sustainable travel, hoteliers who showcase their efforts receive increasing recognition, with 43% of travellers willing to pay a premium for sustainable options. Inclusivity is another critical area of focus, as the industry works to make travel more accessible to underserved demographics.
Innovative Solutions for a Sustainable Future
Amadeus is addressing these challenges by aligning its product offerings with customers’ sustainability goals. Through collaborations and joint initiatives, the company explores ways to enhance visibility, improve ESG data management, and operate more efficiently. Partnering with organisations like the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, Amadeus is working on standardising sustainability data reporting and empowering the next generation of hospitality professionals. These efforts aim to make sustainability information more accessible and actionable for travellers, enabling informed choices.
Recognition and Inspiration
In recognition of its efforts, Amadeus received accolades at the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards, with its Travel4Impact programme earning the title of ‘World’s Leading Sustainable Education & Training Programme’ and Agnes Pierce being named ‘World’s Leading Sustainability Leader’. Pierce is proud of these achievements and emphasises their importance in motivating the organisation in sustainability within the company and the industry.
The Path Ahead
Looking ahead, Amadeus remains committed to advancing sustainability goals collaboratively. The company actively participates in industry discussions, such as those at NYC Climate Week and engages with stakeholders to drive meaningful progress. Pierce stresses the importance of starting small, focusing on specific areas where tangible impact can be made, and building partnerships. Collaboration, she believes, is the key to making sustainable travel a reality, as no one can tackle the journey alone. A belief shared by the Alliance.
Through its commitment to innovation and collaboration, Amadeus continues to help pave the way towards a sustainable future for travel and hospitality.
To find out more about Amadeus, visit https://amadeus.com/.