A business traveller at the airport. Picture: Pexels
As we dive into 2025, the age-old paradigm of corporate travel characterised, by quick flights, steep expenses and hurried meetings, is rapidly becoming a relic of the past.
According to Mummy Mafojane, Leader of Productive Operations at FCM, a transformative wave is sweeping through the business travel sector, compelling companies to reassess their travel programmes in the context of evolving challenges and higher costs.
“Business travel is evolving significantly. While travel continues to drive business growth, how we approach it has shifted considerably,” asserted Mafojane.
New research from FCM, based on insights from 562 global decision-makers, reveals trends that are particularly significant for South African businesses, hinting at how organisations must navigate this new terrain.
Mafojane discusses 5 business travel trends, to look out for this year.
Shift from counting trips to measuring impact
The focus on expenditure and trip volume has given way to a sharper emphasis on value creation.
With a notable 63% of business trips now dedicated to customer or stakeholder meetings, the imperative is clear: every journey must demonstrate its worth.
Mafojane encouraged companies to ask, “What is a trip truly worth?” The rise of zero-based budgeting reflects this shift, allowing organisations to reassess each trip against measurable outcomes rather than relying on inflationary adjustments from the previous year.
Prioritising traveller well-being
One of the most intriguing changes is the heightened attention to traveller wellbeing, which has become almost as crucial as standard policy compliance.
In South Africa, where health-conscious attitudes are prevalent, nearly 39% of organisations prioritise traveller wellbeing alongside traditional cost-management practices.
This trend underscores the understanding that fatigued employees struggle to perform effectively in high-stakes business scenarios.
To support this shift, travel policies are evolving to prioritise sustainable patterns that enhance employee health — pivoting away from rigid logistics.
As an example, companies are implementing measures like avoiding red-eye flights unless absolutely necessary and offering flexible return options post-conference.
Mafojane insists that “travel policies today must go beyond logistics” and focus on employee welfare while aligning with corporate objectives.
Leveraging AI for smarter travel
The role of technology in corporate travel has transformed drastically, with 77% of companies prioritising advanced travel and expense management.
Contrary to fears that AI would replace human roles, the focus is now on enhancing decision-making processes. As noted, 58% of organisations are employing AI for real-time travel disruptions, while 51% are automating expense tracking.
This shift reduces administrative burdens, allowing travel managers to concentrate on strategic decision-making.
The sustainability paradox
While sustainability is a buzzword in corporate circles, the statistics suggest a significant gap between intention and action. Despite 32% of companies touting green travel as a priority, only 26% have implemented formal carbon reduction targets.
This inconsistency reflects a broader trend in South Africa where many consumers favour energy-efficient solutions but find it difficult to actualise these ideals in practice.
To bridge this gap, companies are encouraged to adopt practical measures toward sustainability: selecting direct flights, choosing environmentally certified hotels and quantifying the environmental impact of travel decisions.
“The key is making sustainability practical,” said Mafojane, emphasising the importance of measurable results over lofty promises.
Rethinking bleisure
While the concept of blending business and leisure travel (bleisure) has gained traction in media narratives, the numbers paint a different picture.
Current data reveals that 66% of travellers add leisure components to fewer than a quarter of their trips, with 24% forgoing bleisure altogether.
This suggests that South African businesses must reassess flexibility, prioritising ease within business objectives to ensure operational effectiveness.
As noted by Mafojane, the future will see “smarter trip planning” focusing on productivity rather than optional perks. Companies are therefore encouraged to streamline itineraries to maximise value while cutting costs.
Looking ahead: The future of business travel
As we move deeper into 2025, the rhythms of business travel are clearly evolving, demanding a fresh approach from companies.
Preparing for success will require a balanced ethos between financial prudence, employee welfare, sustainability and the integration of innovative technologies.
“The future of business travel won’t revolve around doing more with less; it will be about doing better with purpose,” said Mafojane.
The modern corporation must measure not just travel costs but also their contributions to overall business growth, employee satisfaction and environmental accountability.