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6 minutes read
Contents
- Beisure travel
- More ground travel
- Emergence of AI in business travel
- Restristions on long-term rentals
- More demand for Middle East and Eastern Europe
- Monday is the new travel day
- Personalized flying experience
- More inclusive corporate travel policies
1. Bleisure travel
The first corporate travel trend is continuing through from 2024 is bleisure travel – the combination of business and leisure travel. Professionals, keen to take advantage of having their transport paid for, are increasing tagging on personal trips to the start or end of their business trips. A more sustainable – and affordable – alternative to separate travel itineraries.
Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash
As in-person meetings and conferences return in force, we expect to see bleisure travel continue to rise. Similarly, corporations will also focus on structuring business travel as multi-leg trips, combining multiple meetings or destinations in one trip to reduce stand-alone overnight travel. We expect fewer day trips for business travelers in 2025 with longer corporate trips.
2. More ground travel
Business travelers can expect to spend less time in the air in 2025 and more time on the ground. Train travel can often be more affordable, efficient, and faster than flying – especially between European destinations or neighboring cities. Switching to ground travel is more sustainable and time-effective, removing the stresses of airport security and long waiting times at airports.
Photo by Alexander Bagno on Unsplash
Ground travel is a great alternative for those with aerophobia with trains enabling business travelers to continue working with high-speed internet and a better working environment than on a plane or airport. Benefits of choosing rail transport for your business travel include added flexibility, fewer delays, and a more comfortable travel experience.
Train travel isn’t the only ground transport set to experience heightened demand in 2025. Car rentals, including for electric vehicles, are expected to rise as companies seek to minimize unnecessary flying, particularly for multi-leg trips where driving could be a feasible alternative to internal domestic flights.
3. Emergence of AI in business travel
AI is finding its way into our daily lives – and corporate travel is no exception. Booking platforms and stakeholders are increasingly using generative AI, from virtual travel assistants to curated travel recommendations and itineraries.
Photo by Solen Feyissa on Unsplash
AI tools streamline business travel with its automatic translations, making it easier to navigate foreign cultures or, say, automatically translate photos in real-time. Business travelers can feel more confident working in countries where their native language isn’t the most popular.
AI is also expected to make business travel more comfortable, from AI-powered beds in hotels to minimizing travel disruptions. Technological advances are also streamlining the operational side of corporate travel, from automating expense reporting to scheduling business meetings.
4. Restrictions on long-term rentals
While most business travelers often choose to stay in hotel accommodations, long-term rentals and private homes have served as a budget-friendly alternative for some corporations. However, we’re expecting to see a restriction on rentals in 2025 with a growing trend of business travelers returning to hotel accommodations.
Photo by Alesia Kazantceva on Unsplash
Business travelers will be switching back to hotel accommodations with providers offering increasingly competitive pricing and package deals in 2025.
5. More demand for Middle East and Eastern Europe
All eyes are on the Middle East for business travel in 2025. The region is predicted to experience significant growth in the second half of the decade, continuing the momentum seen in countries like Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. Therefore, we expect to see increased business travel to the region as companies increasingly turn their focus to the Middle East.
A growing number of airlines, including Virgin Atlantic and Wizz Air, are opening new routes to destinations like Jeddah and Riyadh, opening more convenient routes for business travelers. Countries like Saudi Arabia have heavily invested in its tourist infrastructure and business relationships in preparation for an influx of foreign investment and collaboration.
Photo by Spencer Davis on Unsplash
The Middle East isn’t the only region experiencing growth in business travel in 2025. Eastern Europe is also seeing an influx in investment with countries like Croatia and Hungary offering new trade routes and business opportunities.
Considered more cost-effective than Western Europe, while also opening the door to the EU, this region is set to see increased demand from business travelers in 2025. There are popular city train routes that connect business hubs like Budapest, Prague, Vienna, and Munich.
6. Monday is the new travel day
Remote and hybrid working is changing our business routines, including when corporate travelers choose to jet off. Within hybrid offices, Tuesdays and Thursdays have emerged as the most common days for professionals to attend their offices, making it a popular time for business conferences and in-person meetings.
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
As a result, one of 2025’s business travel trends will be more demand for Monday travel, from mid-afternoon flights to hotel stays with business travelers arriving early for Tuesday client meetings. Monday as the go-to travel day enables professionals to get the most from their working week with the option to bolt-on leisure travel at the end of their corporate itinerary.
7. Personalized flying experiences
Flying is about to get a lot more personalized. One of 2025’s biggest travel trends is increased personalization for flying with high-speed Wi-Fi and curated in-flight entertainment systems, loaded with TV shows, movies, and shopping options matched to the traveler by an algorithm.
Loyalty programs will be used to deliver a more personalized experience, while virtual reality headsets may make their way on-board in 2025 for business and first-class travelers on some airlines. Corporate flyers can expect a more immersive experience in 2025, aimed at promoting brand loyalty and boosting customer satisfaction as travelers face more choice, including from budget airlines.
8. More inclusive corporate travel policies
It’s best practice to audit and update your corporate travel policy annually. In 2025, we’re expecting to see more inclusive policies, supporting a diverse range of professionals and employees to feel safe and protected while traveling. When reviewing your travel policy, check that your go-to accommodation options are accessible for employees with varying mobility.
Photo by Scott Graham on Unsplash
An inclusive corporate travel policy can help your business avoid common travel mishaps and support employee wellness while traveling. Don’t forget to consider your duty of care, cultural differences, and employee safety when updating your policy. With corporate travel increasing, we expect to see a greater involvement from HR departments in creating inclusive and safe travel situations for employees.
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