Business travel has resumed after the pandemic slowdown, but it is not simply back to business as usual. Many shifts have emerged in how, where, when, and why employees travel for their jobs.
Staying ahead of business travel trends is critical for managing costs, keeping travelers happy, and aligning programs with overall corporate priorities.
Here are the top business travel trends right now and how you can adapt program policies to address new realities:
Bleisure Travel
The blending of business and leisure trips has been growing for years, but the pandemic supercharged this trend. Extended remote work allowed employees to tag vacation time onto work trips more freely.
Bleisure travel offers benefits. Allowing personal time can make travel feel less arduous and stressful for employees. It also saves costs when airfare and hotel expenses can be combined rather than paying separately for a vacation.
However, bleisure also risks employees vacationing on the company's dime or being less focused on work objectives.
To balance advantages and risks, consider these policy adaptations:
Formally allow personal time extensions but require employees to cover incremental costs
Limit holiday extensions to 3-5 days to maintain focus on business goals
Set thresholds for excessive bleisure travel like no more than 2 trips per quarter
Require pre-approval for lengthier bleisure trips
Ask travelers to share their full itinerary to differentiate business vs. leisure components
With clear guidelines, your program can support some bleisure travel without concerns over abuse.
Sustainable Travel
Eco-conscious travel is increasingly prioritized by companies to reduce carbon footprints.
However, sustainable practices often come with trade-offs impacting cost, convenience, or comfort.
Consider these policy shifts to promote sustainability without sacrificing traveler satisfaction:
Favor airlines with carbon offset programs, even if fares are slightly higher
Subsidize high-speed and overnight train travel when feasible as an alternative to flying
Adjust hotel guidelines to prioritize eco-certified properties
Require use of public transportation for ground travel when viable
Replace expensed plastic water bottles with reusable containers
Share tips with travelers for reducing waste while on the road
Add a carbon emission tracker in online booking tools to nudge greener choices
With traveler education and incentives, sustainability goals and traveler satisfaction can complement rather than compete.
Remote Work Travel
Many employees are now combining business trips with remote work. Travelers work extra days from a desirable destination before or after a work event.
To keep these trips focused while offering needed flexibility:
Set limits for the remote work portion of trips - no more than 2 extra days recommended
Remind employees remote work days are still standard work days, not vacation
Require pre-trip approval for extended work travel
Suggest employees work from the business destination itself to limit distractions
EstablishProtected work time is still expected when working remotely while traveling
With guardrails on remote work travel, employees can integrate trips with remote work without wandering astray.
Serviced Apartments
Extended business trips are on the rise. To better accommodate assignments of 1-3 months abroad, more companies use serviced apartments rather than hotels. Apartments offer home amenities and often save costs.
To integrate serviced apartments into travel programs:
Research global providers with consistent quality of properties and services
Establish preferred partnerships with providers in common destinations
Create customized relocation packages that include meals, wifi, laundry, and cleaning
Set standard guidelines for the size of properties based on length of stay and family needs
Develop a streamlined booking process through your corporate travel manager
Consider covering costs for 1-2 rooms to allow family to visit occasionally
With the right provider partnerships and policy structure, serviced apartments can be seamless to book while providing a “home away from home.”
Health & Safety Focus
Since the pandemic, health and safety have remained top of mind for business travelers.
Companies must continue to provide support to ease concerns.
Maintain flexible rebooking policies for changing plans when health risks emerge
Cover costs for PCR/antigen testing required for trips
Research destinations’ healthcare infrastructure in case of emergencies
Provide medical kits with N95/KN95 masks, sanitizer, thermometers and medication
Develop protocols for getting ill while traveling - isolation, care, rebooking
Communicate safety precautions at airports, hotels, venues
Outline contingency plans and emergency resources for travelers
Share tips and best practices for staying healthy before, during, and after trips
By continuing to prioritize health and communicate safety measures, you can reassure travelers that well-being remains a priority.
Micro Trips
Rather than a few big trips per year, travelers are taking more frequent, shorter excursions, such as quick 2- to 3-day trips to regional offices.
Adapt policies to accommodate faster-paced trips:
Work with airlines to get discounts on more flexible short-haul fares
Negotiate day-use rates at airport hotels for quick overnight stays
Establish exceptions from advance purchase requirements for rapid trips
Adjust expense processes to expedite approvals and reimbursement for 24-48 hour trips
Set guidelines on what trip necessities the company will provide vs. employees bringing their own
Identify ways to minimize and digitize paperwork needed for agile trips
Help frequent micro travelers access travel support services like lounge access
With the right foundations, quick trips can happen seamlessly without excessive burden or policy headaches.
While business travel looks different than before, the updated trends provide new opportunities to meet employee and organizational needs. Monitor these trends continuously and keep innovating programs to align with emerging realities.
With adaptable policies and travel management, your company can navigate the ongoing evolution in corporate travel.