The era of quick fly-in, fly-out trips is coming to an end. Today, it’s not uncommon for travelling professionals to stay in new locations for weeks or even months at a time. As the nature of corporate travel continues to change, so will the needs of your employees. But how can you refine your travel and mobility programmes to align with these critical changes?
This blog will explore the six major corporate travel trends for 2026 — including the evolution of Duty of Care, the demands of ESG reporting, and the rise of self-serve booking workflows — and outline what you must prioritise in 2025 to future-proof your extended-stay strategy.
Having a strong travel programme in 2025 means being prepared for a wide spectrum of corporate assignments, including the complex, long-term ones.
The landscape of business travel is fundamentally shifting from short trips to comprehensive long-term mobility planning.
This pivot is driven by three key factors: the rise of "bleisure" travel, which means that a two-day conference can easily stretch into a two-week stay; the enduring popularity of hybrid work, which can require employees to travel for weeks or months for specialised training or team collaboration; and the subsequent increase in project-based relocations that are quickly becoming the new norm, making strategic planning for extended stays an absolute must.
As global mobility managers, you’re responsible for:
To ensure your team's well-being, manage risk effectively, and deliver maximum value, here's a look at the foundational pillars that will future-proof your travel programmes.
A company's duty of care is now guided by the ISO 31030 standard, an internationally recognised framework for travel risk management. It moves beyond simply tracking travellers to a proactive system of risk assessment, preparedness, and real-time support, essential for employees in new and unfamiliar locations.
The CSRD will require companies to provide detailed, verifiable data on their environmental impact. This makes it crucial that your travel programme is designed to capture granular data on emissions and actively favour suppliers with strong sustainability credentials.
The days of guesswork are over. Leveraging big data and analytics is key to optimising corporate travel management. This includes everything from forecasting costs and identifying opportunities for savings to tracking traveller satisfaction and ensuring policy compliance in real-time.
Modern business travellers want flexibility and autonomy over travel bookings, but companies still need control. The solution? Self-serve platforms with configurable workflows that allow employees to book within pre-approved policies and budgets, ensuring compliance without sacrificing convenience.
With decentralised teams and the search for new talent pools, business travel is moving beyond major hubs. Global mobility teams must have the resources and inventory to support employees in smaller, regional cities (Tier 2 and 3 locations).
Unlike simple chatbots, agentic AI can perform complex, multi-step tasks autonomously. For corporate accommodation, this means an AI agent could not only search for a suitable apartment but also handle the entire end-to-end booking process, from checking availability to coordinating with the employee, all with minimal oversight.
Now that you know the key shifts shaping business travel, let's dive into the practical steps for aligning your strategy with these corporate travel industry trends.
Focus on creating a seamless experience for both the traveller and your global mobility team. Here's what to prioritise:
Once these priorities are in motion, your mobility team can shift gears and begin actively driving strategic value for the company. Think about shifting your focus from simple transactions to holistic traveller care. This means investing in advanced tools that provide real-time duty of care alerts, offering pre-trip training, and maintaining open lines of communication with travellers.
AltoVita delivers a powerful booking platform to secure your extended-stay programme for 2025 and beyond.
Give your travellers the freedom they want with the control you need. Our all-in-one platform, AltoVerse, allows employees to browse a curated inventory and book their own stays, all while staying within your pre-set policy parameters.
Gain unparalleled visibility into your travel spend with AltoInsights. Our real-time analytics dashboards provide the data necessary for strategic decision-making and comprehensive CSRD reporting, helping you meet your sustainability goals.
AltoCurate doesn’t simply list any property, we vet every single one. Our curated network ensures high-quality, safe, and comfortable accommodations across 35,000 locations worldwide, including those crucial Tier 2 and 3 locations where your business is expanding.
Explore how leading companies are already leveraging these corporate travel trends in 2025 to strengthen their travel programmes and gain a competitive edge.