Corporate Travel Agencies Take Steps to Cope With Client Demands

Business travel priorities are shifting fast. Corporations want stricter cost control, real-time visibility into spending, and greener transport choices. Travelers, meanwhile, expect flexibility, consumer-grade booking tools, and access to short-term rentals.

That gap is forcing travel management companies (TMCs), the travel agencies that handle business travel for corporate clients and their employees, and tech providers to adapt.

Mastercard’s latest survey highlights the challenge: While 75% of companies say they mandate use of corporate booking tools, fewer than 40% of travelers agree. Many argue that the corporate booking tools feel limited compared with consumer apps.

The disconnect helps explain why the years-long leakage trend, where employees book outside the confines of their managed travel programs, persists despite new investments in content and technology.

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