According to a recent poll conducted by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), there is strong optimism that 2025 will see an increase in business travel.
“GBTA’s findings illustrate an industry at a pivotal point. Business travel is more than rebounding, it’s transforming − driven by the need to manage costs and risk, ensure strong traveller productivity and experience, and drive responsible growth.”
What is driving business travel trends?
Meeting clients face-to-face is still imperative to building relationships and is essential for roles like sales, consulting, logistics and event management, to name a few. And with remote work now a part of everyday business life, business travel is also important for in-person collaboration. In fact, according to GBTA almost 87% of companies believe that in-person meetings boost growth and performance.
However, the travel landscape has undergone a substantial transformation.
What has changed the travel landscape?
The balance of power is shifting from TMCs to travellers, creating an increasingly competitive environment. Business travellers expect services and technologies that are as smooth as what they use in their personal lives. They are closer than ever to the details of planning, booking, and managing their trips.
New booking tools, travel apps, and AI are redefining expectations for a smooth and personalized experience. The idea of choice goes beyond just picking flight times, baggage allowances, or meals like chicken or pasta. They want business travel services to understand their profiles, predict their needs, fill in the information automatically, and offer the best options to make the process easier.
As companies adapt to the evolving work and travel landscape, business travel in 2025 is expected to be shaped by several key trends, including:
Bleisure travel – The trend of “bleisure travel” − blending work trips with leisure travel – will continue to rise in popularity. This is largely driven by flexible remote working travel policies and employees’ need for personal growth and exploration.
‘Linked’ business trips (combining multiple meetings and/or stops in a single trip) remain popular.
Maximising value from fewer but longer trips is as much about sustainability as it is about wellness, a growing focus for businesses. According to Trainline Partner Solutions, 52% of businesses have already committed to reducing their business travel emissions, and 82% plan to support employees in choosing low-carbon travel options.
Sustainability and Carbon Tracking: Organisations are prioritising greener travel practices by tracking and reducing their carbon footprints. Tools to monitor emissions and nudge employees toward sustainable travel options, such as eco-friendly transportation, are gaining prominence
AI and Automation in Travel Management: Advanced AI tools are being adopted to streamline processes, from personalized booking to expense reporting. These systems also enable dynamic policy adjustments and help control costs by offering smarter pricing forecasts
Virtual Payment Solutions: Virtual corporate cards with spending controls and integration into mobile wallets are becoming the norm, simplifying payment processes and ensuring detailed tracking of travel expenses
Pricing Stabilisation: While travel costs have seen significant increases recently, 2025 is expected to bring moderate stabilisation in airfares, hotel rates, and ground transportation, offering businesses a chance to better manage budgets
These trends reflect a shift toward more flexible, sustainable, and technology-driven business travel practices as companies align with employees’ changing needs and global challenges.
With evolving expectations, AI and technology advancements, heightened scrutiny on sustainability, and other emerging trends, achieving seamless business travel has become increasingly complex for TMCs, their clients, and suppliers. This makes finding the right travel management partner a critical task for your travel management programme.
Anticipating the trends outlined by GBTA, we have made significant strides in developing solutions to future-proof our business travel strategy.