The top business travel management platform in 2025

According to the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), 64% of businesses have reported increased spending on business travel in 2024 compared to 2023. In fact, according to an estimate from GBTA, business travel spending could reach nearly $2 trillion – yes, trillion – by 2028. This escalating expense underscores the need for efficient corporate travel services.

As companies continue to navigate post-pandemic dynamics when it comes to business travel, the need for effective travel management has never been more vital. Rising costs and logistics challenges have pushed companies to look for innovative and optimized business travel solutions. 

Enter the travel management platform, which reduces financial burdens and streamlines the entire process. But with so many options, choosing the right one for your business may feel overwhelming. In this article, we’ll look into the top business travel providers on the market and offer insights on their features, talk about the ideal attributes of an effective platform, and how to make the best decision for your business travel needs. So, put your seat upright, secure your tray table, and prepare for take-off into business travel management. 

Evaluating the top business travel management platforms

You don’t need to hear it from us: the cost of travel, especially business travel, is skyrocketing, whether your destination is near or far. Unfortunately, traditional methods often fail to offer cost savings, with hours lost on manual processes like booking and expense reports. 

However, the good news is that several business travel management solutions have emerged to tackle these challenges. Key players like Expensify, TravelPerk, and TripActions offer platforms to streamline travel booking and enhance expense management. Plus, other platforms, such as SAP Concur, Egencia, Brex, and Certify, also offer business travel booking software.

A deeper look at business travel management platforms

To help you choose the right platform for your business, here’s a side-by-side comparison of essential features of these corporate travel booking companies:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

	Expensify	Travel Perk	Trip Actions	SAP Concur	Certify	Egencia	Brex
Pricing model	Per user pricing	Flat monthly fee	Subscription-based	Tiered pricing	Transparent fees	Pricing on request	Based on usage
Booking functionality	End-to-end booking services with Concierge	Wide vendor integration	Advanced booking options	Extensive vendor list	Limited booking capabilities	End-to-end booking services	Focus on integration
Expense management	Automated expense capture	Limited expense management	Complete expense integration	Robust expense tools	Efficient receipt management	Expense integration available	Integrated with corporate cards
Reporting & analytics	Basic to custom insights & reports	Detailed & customizable	Advanced analytics	Custom reports	Comprehensive reports	Customizable analytics	Strong data insights
Duty of care	Get realtime employee locations and contact them in case of emergency	Full-service duty of care	Comprehensive duty of care solution	Comprehensive and integrated duty of care	Comprehensive duty of care	Duty of care with Traveller Tracker feature	Realtime employee locations and contact them in case of emergency
User interface	Intuitive, strong mobile app	User-friendly, seamless navigation	Easy navigation, top-rated app	Clean interface, mobile-friendly	Simplified interface	Crisp and professional UI	Sleek design, intuitive app
Customer support	Email & Chat	Phone & Chat	24/7 support	Multi-channel support	Email & Phone	24/7 support	Online & Chat

What makes a business travel management platform truly stand out? 

Beyond mere flight and hotel reservations, exceptional platforms provide a comprehensive solution for travel expenses. They seamlessly integrate user-friendly booking tools with robust expense management capabilities, empowering users with a holistic travel management experience. Think:

• An intuitive booking engine

• 24-hour support

• A user-friendly interface

• Self-service for booking flights, hotels, car rentals

• Ability to support loyalty & corporate programs

• Automated reporting

• Policy compliance (company travel policies)

• Duty of care (realtime traveler tracking, emergency assistance, and risk management tools)

Choosing the right platform is crucial! Did you know that corporate travel can eat up a big chunk of your budget (up to 12%, according to a corporate travel survey by Deloitte)?

While many great options are available, platforms like Expensify really stand out by offering a comprehensive suite of features designed to simplify business travel management. If you’re not thinking of streamlined booking, automated expenses, and robust reporting, that 12% could swiftly multiply. 

Expensify: The most robust travel management platform for your business 

As you can imagine, the complexity of managing business trips only adds to the challenge of keeping everything under control and on budget. Naturally, choosing the right business travel & expense solution is crucial to effectively managing these costs.

Enter Expensify, a leader in providing an intuitive and user-friendly platform for travel bookings and expense reporting. Integration is seamless with corporate cards and existing expense management systems, streamlining the process for business travelers. Expensify’s smart reporting and powerful analytics offer businesses valuable insights, enhancing strategic decision-making regarding travel spending. 

Expensify also helps businesses reduce travel costs by enforcing employee travel policies, improving employee experiences with efficient booking and expense tracking, and enhancing employee safety with advanced duty-of-care features. If your business is looking for a reliable business travel management solution, Expensify offers unmatched features that address the complexities of modern corporate travel. 

Also read: How FootballCo used Expensify for employee business travel to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and why using the Expensify Card for travel was a huge win.

Want to see Expensify Travel in action? Book a demo with our team today and buckle up for takeoff.

Beyond the basics

Travel management platforms have evolved beyond mere trip-booking tools. These platforms offer comprehensive travel solutions with features that completely transform business travel. If you’re looking at a robust business travel management platform, it should be able to do/enable you to do a lot more, such as:

• Robust travel policies

  • Adherence to company guidelines and budget limitations.

  • Creating and modifying travel policies on the go.

  • Setting dynamic budget limits for different types of trips, such as conferences, business meetings, and client visits.

  • Realtime updates to address changing business needs, regulatory requirements, or unforeseen circumstances.

  • A repository for all travel policies, ensuring easy access for everyone.

  • Using the search and filtering capabilities to help users quickly find the necessary policies.

  • Generating reports that provide insights into policy adherence, expense trends, carbon emissions and more.

• Seamless expense integration

  • Eliminate expense reporting hassles.

  • Automated expense tracking and reporting free up valuable time for more strategic endeavors.

• Powerful reporting and analytics

  • Gain insights into your travel spending with detailed reports and analytics.

  • Identify patterns, potential savings, and data-driven decisions to optimize your travel program.

Imagine less time wasted, significant cost savings, and happier employees - a triple win!

FAQs about business travel solutions

• What is a business travel program?

  A business travel program is a structured plan implemented by companies to manage their employees' travel arrangements. It encompasses managing bookings, expense reports, travel policies, and ensuring that trips align with corporate objectives and cost-efficiency standards.

• Is business travel making a comeback?

  Yes, business travel is experiencing a resurgence as companies recognize the value of face-to-face interactions in building relationships and closing deals. With the advent of more agile and secure business travel management solutions, organizations are actively resuming travel activities that align with their strategic goals.

• How do you manage business travel?

  Managing business travel involves adopting technology-driven solutions that handle booking, compliance to travel policies, expense tracking, and reporting. These solutions utilize travel management tools and corporate travel booking software to provide realtime updates, insights, and analytics, ensuring streamlined and cost-effective travel management.

• What qualifies as business travel?

  Business travel includes trips taken for work-related purposes like attending seminars or conferences, client meetings, or site visits. It is recognized by the company's travel policy, which typically covers transportation, lodging, and other necessary expenses incurred during the business trips.