Corporate Travel Report 2025

Selective Travel Management conducted its annual survey with clients in December 2024. The purpose of the survey was to gather feedback regarding our services in the past 12 months and what we could improve on in 2025. We also wanted to explore the most important travel factors for the year ahead as voted by our clients.

Key Findings

• 94% rate their overall experience with Selective Travel Management as positive
• 95% rate the service provided by our travel consultants as positive
• 97% rate the support provided by our Account Management team as positive
• 96% rate the service provided by our Out of Hours team as positive
• 95% rate the performance of our Corporate Booking Tool as positive
• 98% rate the support provided by our Online Helpdesk as positive
• 94% would recommend the services of our company to someone else
• Value for money is the most important factor when booking business travel in 2025

Most Important Travel Factors

1) Value for Money

According to 75% of survey respondents, value for money is the most important factor when booking business travel in 2025. After what has been a tumultuous few years for travel, costs are forecast to stabilise in the year ahead, with moderate price increases across air, accommodation, and rental. As travel budgets become tighter, businesses are looking to ensure that every pound spent delivers maximum return, whether that is via competitive pricing, customer support, access to technology, or resource savings. At Selective Travel Management, our clients benefit from exclusive rates and fares alongside our in-house suite of technology, 24/7 support, and a dedicated team to manage bookings on their behalf.

2) Travel Booking Support

For the second year in a row, customer support is the second most important factor when booking business travel in 2025. With dynamic schedules and unexpected changes becoming the norm, travellers and businesses need access to responsive, round-the-clock assistance. At Selective Travel Management, we have specialised teams to support all aspects of the booking process, from pre-trip through to post-trip. Dedicated client teams assist with offline bookings while our online team assist with any issues that may arise when using our self-booking platform. Our in-house Out of Hours team provide emergency support any time, day or night, while our Account Management team deliver additional client support and expertise.

3) Online Booking Platform / Technology

Moving up one spot from last year, online booking / technology is the third most important factor when booking business travel in 2025. As technology evolves, businesses increasingly prioritise platforms that provide efficiency, transparency, and data-driven insights to optimise travel planning and budgets. Online booking platforms play a pivotal role in streamlining business travel while analytical platforms allow smarter travel planning. At Selective Travel Management, we offer a variety of online solutions to simplify the business travel experience, from online booking and reporting to traveller tracking and profiles. Our Online Booking Tool allows users to search thousands of travel providers at a time and place that suits them, with 24/7 access.

4) Traveller Risk / Duty of Care

Moving down one spot from last year is traveller risk and duty of care. Perhaps not as crucial as it was during the pandemic, employee safety and wellbeing are still central considerations when booking business travel in 2025. With global uncertainties such as political instability, health risks, and natural disasters, businesses look to travel management companies to provide support and fulfil their duty of care obligations. At Selective Travel Management, our team of experts are knowledgeable in matters of risk and are available 24/7 to help clients throughout their journey. We leverage the latest technology to monitor real-time alerts and track our travellers in case of emergency, cancelled, or disrupted travel.

5) Sustainability

In 2025, sustainability remains an important factor in business travel decisions, but its influence has slightly waned compared to earlier years. While many companies still value environmentally friendly practices, the urgency of economic recovery and the push for operational efficiency post-pandemic have shifted priorities. However, companies with robust corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies continue to integrate green practices where feasible, ensuring sustainability remains a part of the broader conversation. At Selective Travel Management, we continue to promote greener travel and encourage sustainable travel practices where possible. From carbon offsetting and reporting to preventative travel policy measures, we can help clients drive a greener travel management programme.

6) Reporting

When it comes to booking travel in 2025, reporting plays an integral role in decision making. While not as important as the other factors on this list, reporting remains a critical factor in providing companies with the insights needed to manage costs, ensure policy compliance, lower carbon footprints, and measure return on investment. Advancements in online reporting tools have significantly streamlined the reporting process, making it almost effortless for companies to measure business travel efficiencies. At Selective Travel Management, clients can access their unique travel data via our online reporting tool, Trends. We also offer carbon reporting, a customer accounts tool, and specialised Account Management reports.