As we say goodbye to the old and welcome to the new, we look back at 2024, and can see some great highlights. 2024 saw the surprising recovery of the industry, and a rise in business travel. Many companies called employees back to the office, and if they haven’t been called back yet, employees like those from Amazon are being expected back to the office in 2025.
We also saw an increase in technological advances designed to make business travel management easier, and a rise in concerns over sustainability meaning that companies thought more about whether to travel or not to travel.
With the start of a new year, travel agents and corporate travel management companies need to be prepared for the unexpected. A new year brings new promises and also changes what to expect in the way of corporate travel trends. In this article we will uncover the top travel trends 2025, and answer your most frequently asked questions for the coming year in this business travel forecast 2025.
Corporate travel management trends 2025
Let’s take a look at some of the top corporate travel management trends for 2025.
1. Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence solidified its importance in the travel industry this year. Next year, integrating AI into the travel experience is not a question of how, it’s a question of when because it’s not just about convenience but rather helping to create a seamless travel journey. While businesses use AI to plan and optimize their travel routes, travel management companies will have to be sure they don’t fall behind.
They will likely (if they’re not already doing so) leverageAI to find the best prices and support businesses’ duty of care responsibilities by confirming that travelers arrive safely at their destination. Technology will support customers and offer hyper-personalized services to keep companies happy.
AI will also simplify otherwise cumbersome processes like expense tracking. AI receipt scanning technology, for example, makes expense management effortless for today’s busy business travelers. Travel managers should stay ahead of the trends and find ways to incorporateAI into the overall travel experience. In fact, according to a GBTA study, two out of five respondents (44%) look forward to the impact of AI on the business travel industry.
2. Apps for a more connected travel and expense journey
Corporate travel management apps will continue to improve, allowing companies to book their trips on the go from a corporate travel and expense management app, and will help simplify the expense management process by helping to make this possible on the road, with no need to log into the platform from your computer.
Business travelers have come to expect mobile apps for planning, booking and managing their trips – just like the many apps they use in their personal lives.They will look for business travel services that remember their preferences, filling-in information automatically and predicting the best options for each individual traveler.
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3. Importance of data and intelligence
More and more companies will want to leverage big data to understand their business travel trends. They will want to use tools that allow them to better understand where their travel spend is going, which departments are spending more, and find room for optimization. Harnessing big data will be a game changer that allows businesses to spend smarter.
4. Sustainability will continue to be important
Sustainability is another business travel trend that is here to stay and will continue to be important in 2025. 19% of respondents to the GBTA survey stated that sustainability would be one of their main concerns for 2025. Sustainability is a higher priority in Europe with more than one third of travel buyers stating that sustainability would be a top three priority for next year.
Corporate travel management companies and platforms will need to find ways to unlock sustainable options for travel. Take Europe for example, companies will soon need to report on their carbon footprint. They’ll rely on apps and travel platforms that display accurate CO2 emissions for their flights and highlight alternative (more sustainable) travel options like trains wherever possible.
Sustainability also means that businesses will be more conscious about whether an in-person meeting is really necessary or if it can be replaced with a Zoom meeting.
5. Many will say goodbye to fully remote work
Many companies, especially in the tech world like Amazon, Apple and Google, have said goodbye to fully remote work meaning that more and more workers will be asked to go back to the office in 2025. This means that companies will likely travel less for team-buildings and do them in the office. Conferences and business meetings will likely continue to rise whereas team buildings for virtual teams may be on the decline as more and more companies go back to the office.
The GBTA survey shows that 59% of travel buyers are seeing a rise in in-person meetings and conferences, with 45% of travel buyers saying their employees want to travel more.
Saying goodbye to remote work doesn’t mean bleisure will go away. In fact, many employees will capitalize on their business trips to mix them with leisure as well, adding on a few days before or after their trip to sightsee and relax. The GBTA survey notes that 46% of companies are seeing a rise in “blended” and “bleisure” travel, with blended trips growing in all regions.
6. More precise budgeting to counteract rising prices
As prices continue to rise with inflation, travel managers and companies in 2025 will need to better manage prices to the dime. This means going through each expense, each category and breaking down the trip or meeting to itsessentials to get better control of costs. Three-quarters of travel buyers (78%) said that cost control will be key in 2025 as a strategic priority and getting return on investment in travel was cited as being a priority for 49%.
Many travel managers have already started planning for increased company travel spend in 2025 due to rising prices and also the rising importance of traveling for business. 74% of travel buyers stated rising travel costs and budgets as a main concern for next year.
7. The human touch will continue to be important
Even though technology is taking over business travel in a big way, companies will notice a difference with the travel management companies and platforms where there is also a human touch. At its core, business travel connects employees with their company’s mission and goals. Stepping outside of the office is a great way to reconnect with this sense of purpose and give perspective.
Business travel forecast 2025 FAQs
Will business travel increase or decrease in the future?
Business travel is likely to increase in the future. It has reestablished and if not surpassed pre-COVID levels, and it will likely continue this upward trend. Travel management services will be needed more than ever.
What are some tips for consistent business travelers?
Consistent business travelers should keep an eye on prices and continue to rely on technology to help streamline and make the whole business travel process seamless.
How to save my company money on business travel
You can save your company money on business travel by using a corporate travel and expense management platform like GetGoing that allows you to get access to the best corporate negotiated rates and unlock the corporate buying power of their sister company BCD Travel.
What are the major trends in the tourism industry today?
Major trends in the tourism industry today and in the travel industry in general for 2025 include sustainability, the use of AI, more precise budgeting, and leveraging technology to streamline the business travel processes.
What are the future trends in sustainable tourism and travel?
Future trends in sustainable tourism and travel involve traveling less, finding sustainable alternatives to flights, using carshare and bikeshare when possible to get around a destination, and finding ways to offset carbon emissions.
What is the future of travel in 2025?
The future of travel in 2025 is hard to predict, but without a doubt artificial intelligence will be incorporated more and more into planning and organizing a trip. Prices globally seem to be on a rise, which means prices for travel may also be affected. 2024 already surpassed expectations in terms of performance expectations.
What is the future of business travel?
The future of business travel is seen with optimism worldwide, with an increase in yearly budget, and a strong desire for expansion with 67% of professionals noting an optimistic outlook for the industry’s future according to GBTA. There will certainly be an eye on the global economy. It is also expected that corporate travel budgets will increase to support sales initiatives, conferences and meetings as well as internal collaboration.
What is the business travel market in 2025?
The business travel market in 2025 is promising and expected to continue to grow beyond pre-pandemic levels.