Business Travel Demands Spend Management, Virtual Cards

The corporate road warrior may log many a mile in 2025.

The pandemic is but a memory; the face-to-face meeting, the conventions, the trade shows and meet-ups with vendors and suppliers look to be on a sustainable rebound.

In the waning weeks of last year, the Global Business Travel Association corporate travel firms said that business travel met or exceeded expectations in 2024. More than two-thirds of firms say they are optimistic for 2025. A majority of corporates see boosting their own travel budgets for in-person meetings and conferences. 

Three in five buyers of commercial travel services say their employees are attending more meetings and conferences than had been seen last year. For the companies sending those employees out, controlling costs remains paramount and has been cited by 78% of firms queried.

Corporate Cards and Reconciliation

Corporate cards and expense management systems are being linked to help streamline the efforts to monitor and reconcile costs.