TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Business travel is back and buzzing!
After a few years of turbulence, the world of corporate trips is evolving faster than ever. From the rise of bleisure (business + leisure) and eco-friendly travel solutions to new tech innovations making it all run smoother. Today’s road warriors are navigating a landscape that's as dynamic as their itineraries.
Whether you’re a frequent flyer, a travel manager or just curious about what’s next, let us unpack the latest trends that will shape business travel in 2025 for you. So, fasten your seatbelt, stow your tray table and get ready to take off into the future of work on the move!
As we head into 2025, we predict that business travel will be smarter, greener and more personalised than ever.
Technology will play a pivotal role, with AI-powered tools streamlining travel planning, offering tailored itineraries and automating expense management.
Sustainability will continue to take centre stage, with companies prioritising eco-friendly travel options like carbon-neutral flights and greener accommodations to meet their environmental goals.
The blending of work and leisure — dubbed bleisure — will continue to expand, with the lines between work and leisure becoming ever more blurred during business travel. In fact, our recent survey concluded that 75% of European business travellers are interested in incorporating bleisure when they travel for work.
Sounding good? Then let’s delve a little deeper into the emerging corporate travel trends for 2025.
Companies are prioritising employee wellbeing in their corporate travel policies by adopting a more holistic and employee-centric approach. So, we can expect to see them focusing more on the following:
Flexible Travel Options: offering greater flexibility in travel schedules, allowing employees to choose convenient times and routes to reduce stress and fatigue
Health-Focused Accommodation: incorporating wellness amenities, such as gyms, healthy dining options and relaxing environments
Mental Health Support: access to mental health professionals, wellness apps or mindfulness training as part of travel perks
Bleisure Opportunities: encouraging employees to blend business with leisure by extending trips or adding downtime to recharge is becoming standard practice
Minimising Burnout: limiting back-to-back trips, providing adequate rest periods between travel and discouraging ‘red-eye’ flights
Technology and Travel Assistants: AI-powered travel tools are being deployed to handle logistics and reduce the stress of planning and managing trips, enabling employees to focus on their work
Travel Insurance and Support: comprehensive insurance and 24/7 travel assistance ensure employees feel secure and supported, no matter where they go
By embedding wellbeing into travel policies, companies are fostering happier, healthier and more productive teams.
Super-commuting is reshaping business travel by blurring the lines between traditional commuting, remote work and occasional long-distance travel. As more professionals embrace hybrid work models and choose to live farther from their workplaces, super-commuting is introducing several new dynamics to business travel.
One of the most important is the introduction of colleague-to-colleague business trips. Professionals are no longer travelling just to meet up with customers. They’re also travelling to connect face-to-face with members of their own team living across the globe.
Super-commuting reflects today’s work styles, where location is less tied to productivity, but face-to-face interaction remains important. It’s driving innovation in how businesses approach travel policies, employee wellbeing and sustainability. For businesses, understanding and optimising super-commuting is crucial for staying competitive in the hybrid work era.
Automation and AI are poised to revolutionise business travel in 2025 by streamlining processes, enhancing personalisation and improving efficiency. Here’s how:
Streamlined Booking and Expense Management: AI-powered tools can automate booking processes, recommending optimal travel options based on preferences, budgets, and schedules. Expense management systems can then automatically categorise and process receipts, saving employees time and reducing administrative tasks.
Hyper-Personalised Travel Experiences: AI algorithms can analyse past travel behaviour to offer tailored recommendations for flights, accommodations and dining. Real-time updates and virtual assistants can ensure seamless travel experiences, anticipating and addressing potential disruptions.
Enhanced Safety and Security: Automated systems can monitor global conditions, providing instant alerts about travel risks, delays or health concerns. AI can also enable businesses to track employee locations during trips, ensuring their safety and compliance with company policies.
We predict that automation and AI will make business travel more efficient, cost-effective and employee-friendly in 2025. Which, of course, will allow companies to focus on the value of face-to-face interactions while minimising logistical hassles.
As we head into 2025, there’s no doubt that bleisure is now firmly installed as a cornerstone of corporate travel culture.
Employees are increasingly extending work trips to explore destinations, thanks to flexible travel policies and hybrid work models. Companies are also embracing and encouraging the trend, viewing it as a way to enhance employee satisfaction and productivity. Popular destinations are beginning to cater to this dual-purpose travel with coworking spaces, wellness amenities and curated local experiences.
The new generation of business travellers don’t even wait until the end of their business activities to add some bleisure. They seamlessly blend the two, skipping the hotel breakfast to head out and sample the local culture before work and heading off with colleagues to explore the sights and sounds after.
As sustainability gains traction, eco-conscious bleisure options like green hotels and carbon-neutral activities are also on the rise, making it a win-win for both travellers and businesses.
Safety is one of those things that might not always be front and centre, but it’s always essential—especially when it comes to business travel. Sure, cybersecurity is grabbing a lot of attention these days, but we can’t afford to forget the basics: secure hotels, reliable transportation, and solid emergency plans.
One part of travel that’s often underestimated is the "last mile"—that final stretch from the airport or train station to your actual destination. It might seem small, but it’s where a lot of unexpected risks can pop up.
That’s why safety needs to stay a priority, especially during the last mile. Employers have a duty to make sure their teams are protected, whether that’s through safe transport options or training employees to handle potential risks. Not only does this keep people safer, but it also sets the tone for smarter, more responsible travel overall. Curious to learn more? Download the full GBTA study on business travel safety now!
FREENOW's Super Mobility App is the ultimate solution for business travellers navigating the evolving landscape of corporate travel in 2025. By integrating multiple transportation options — taxis, rideshares, e-scooters and public transport — into a single platform, the app empowers users to travel efficiently and sustainably. Real-time updates, expense tracking and seamless integration with corporate policies simplify travel management, while AI-powered features personalise journeys for maximum convenience.
As trends like super-commuting, bleisure and eco-friendly travel reshape business mobility, FREENOW ensures travellers stay agile, productive and environmentally conscious, making it an indispensable tool for the modern corporate road warrior. Check out our article on The Ultimate Business Trip Packing List!
