Rategang Moroke | Manager | Operations | Corporate Traveller | mail me |
Trends shaping business travel reveal a shift toward wellness, personalisation and clearer communication to meet evolving traveller needs.
The business travel industry is growing rapidly. According to GBTA research, 52% of companies plan to increase travel budgets in 2025. However, it’s not just the number of trips increasing; expectations for work travel are also evolving significantly.
Travellers now expect work trips to align with their routines, priorities, and changing approaches to work and productivity. Travel managers are at the centre of these shifts.
The requests they receive hold insights into how business travel is evolving and where policies need adjustments. These are not just one-off asks, they reflect what truly matters to travellers.
So, what were travellers asking for in 2024? We polled travel managers to discover the trends shaping today’s business travel. From health-focused requests to detailed preferences, the findings show key lessons for companies to improve travel policies.
The rise of wellness requests
One traveller called their manager with an unusual request: a scale in their hotel room, not for luggage but fitness tracking. This request was not unique. Many travellers now aim to maintain health goals through gym access, healthier meals, or balanced routines.
What this tells us about business travellers
Wellness matters. Travellers want business travel to support their health goals and personal routines.
How to adapt your business travel policy
Wellness is becoming a normal part of business travel. We suggest integrating health-friendly options into programmes. Choose hotels with gyms or health amenities, and provide meal stipends for healthier dining choices. These details matter to your travellers and enhance their overall experience.
Personal preferences shape travel experience
Not all upgrades are appreciated. One traveller declined a two-bedroom suite, saying it felt excessive for a solo trip. Another traveller flagged their airline meal requirements, specifying vegetarian options without eggs or fish, highlighting the importance of personalisation.
What this tells us about business travellers
Preferences, no matter how minor, significantly impact how supported and comfortable travellers feel on their trips.
How to adapt your business travel policy
Take personalisation seriously by creating smarter traveller profiles and regularly updating them. Track preferences like room sizes, dietary needs, and seating arrangements.
Clarity matters, even for seasoned travellers
Experienced travellers can also feel overwhelmed. One asked if their 10:00 pm flight time had been converted to the destination time zone. Another traveller drove to the wrong London airport and frantically asked if the pilot could wait.
What this tells us about business travellers
Tight schedules and unclear logistics create stress, even for seasoned travellers, leading to confusion.
How to adapt your business travel policy
Clear communication solves most logistical frustrations. Automate reminders. Include details like flight times, terminal locations, and step-by-step directions for unfamiliar destinations.
Reassurance is as important as resolution
One traveller in London felt too overwhelmed to call their hotel’s front desk for luggage assistance. Instead, they called their travel manager in South Africa, highlighting the importance of emotional support during stressful moments.
What this tells us about business travellers
Even small tasks can feel monumental when travellers are tired, working late, or far from home.
How to adapt your business travel policy
Offer human-first support. Technology can handle bookings and reminders. But travellers need empathetic assistance for reassurance in challenging moments.
