The first quarter brings fresh momentum and a renewed focus on what’s ahead for business travel. At Areka, we’ve analyzed emerging trends, industry shifts, and evolving traveler needs to craft our Top 10 Bets for 2025.
From advancements in technology and sustainability initiatives to shifting market dynamics and changing traveler expectations, these forces are redefining how companies manage business travel.
1. Travel budgets
With the exception of US domestic travel, which is boosted by a new and pro-business administration, travel budgets will be under scrutiny due to the economic slowdown and geopolitical uncertainty. Demand management will be expected from travel managers.
Throughout the year, we’ll dive deeper into each trend, sharing blogs, insights, and expert perspectives to help you navigate the evolving business travel landscape. Stay tuned as we explore how these shifts will impact corporate mobility—and what they mean for your travel program.
2. Market consolidation
Buyers will adopt a “wait and see” attitude following the TMC market consolidation but may eventually consider moving to a two-player strategy if they see their buying power reduced. This may be an opportunity for new entrants, fueled by private equity money.
3. Distribution
The integration of NDC fares by the value chain will accelerate under pressure from both travel managers, who cannot afford to see off-channel bookings increase, and suppliers, who wish to evolve their distribution to more modern retailing. Content distribution will become a critical decision criterion in TMC & OBT RFPs.
4. Supplier Revenues
A steady decrease in supplier revenues driven by more direct distribution will drive TMC fees up and require more buyer attention on the fares pushed to travelers at the point of sale.
5. AI
The intensive use of AI by travel suppliers in the value chain to automate routine processes, optimize itineraries, improve traveler satisfaction, and ensure duty of care will become a unique selling point, as travel satisfaction becomes a key driver in the success of travel programs.
6. Travel management
With an increasingly complex and digitized tech stack to manage travel, the skills of travel managers and buyers will need to evolve to continue challenging suppliers and improving traveler experience.
7. CO2 reporting
As CSRD comes into play, requests to share CO2 emissions information will cascade down from the sustainability departments to the travel departments, requiring automated processes to deliver comprehensive reporting.
8. Air sustainability
Challenged by high costs and limited availability of SAF, airlines will see obstacles in shifting to more efficient aircraft as a key lever to reduce CO2, as delays in aircraft deliveries intensify.
9. Travel reporting
Leveraging business intelligence solutions, the integration of travel booking data with expense data will become a key focus to reduce leakage, monitor CO2, improve duty of care, and optimize cost control.
10. Payment
Due to the withdrawal of a major payment provider in APAC and LATAM , corporate buyers will need to reassess their strategies and initiate sourcing earlier than originally planned.
Throughout the year, we’ll dive deeper into each trend, sharing blogs, insights, and expert perspectives to help you navigate the evolving business travel landscape. Stay tuned as we explore how these shifts will impact corporate mobility—and what they mean for your travel program.
Explore more insights here and stay connected with us on LinkedIn for the latest updates!
