Research from Emburse shows enhanced savings opportunities
Almost half (48%) of corporate travel buyers expect to take more trips this year, and 57% anticipate increased travel spending, according to Emburse’s new 2025 Business Travel Snapshot. Emburse is a travel and expense management platform.
The report also showed:
- Buyers are expanding the use of AI and sustainable travel practices in response to evolving expectations.
- Remote work policies are influencing the types of trips companies are planning and funding.
- In the hotel sector, average corporate negotiated hotel rates (booked rates) stand at $209, reflecting a modest year-over-year increase of 1.4%, just $3 higher than the previous year. Despite this uptick, opportunities for cost containment remain strong, with the average hotel discount rate (the difference between market and booked rates) holding steady at 20.9%.
- On the air travel front, prices are stabilizing. While modest increases are expected, the real advantage lies in strategic engagement with NDC channels. Airlines like United have already shown measurable cost benefits via NDC, and recent shifts in American Airlines’ distribution strategy have created a more competitive environment. This gives buyers additional leverage to renegotiate contracts and improve discount structures.
- Taken together, despite forecasted price escalations in both hotel and airfare categories, the 2025 business travel market offers enhanced savings opportunities for organizations that approach supplier negotiations with data-backed agility and strategic foresight.
