Nearly all travel managers (99%) anticipate a challenging year ahead and emphasise the need for enhanced training and tools, especially as they are asked to take on more strategic roles. The latest SAP Concur research surveyed 600 travel managers across 6 global markets, revealing an uncertain future for travel management unless companies improve support for these critical roles.

Key findings reveal:

• 33% of travel managers have been asked to adopt more strategic roles without receiving additional training or education.
• 37% find it challenging to maintain high-quality business travel programmes under heightened stress.
• And over 41% are likely to seek new opportunities within the next 12 months.

Managing Competing Expectations

Business travellers increasingly prioritise flexibility, often diverging from company travel policies to prioritise their safety, work-life balance, or alignment with social, political, and environmental values. While 36% of travel managers struggle to reconcile these expectations with company demands for cost-cutting measures.

Happy Travellers are Better for Business

Companies that prioritise traveller needs are more likely to retain their travel managers. Among those planning to stay, 41% report their employer prioritises flexible travel options for employees over cost-cutting or sustainable travel measures. In contrast, fewer travel managers intending to stay (30%) or those less satisfied with their current roles (29%) cite sustainability or budget cuts as their company’s primary focus.

Looking Ahead

Without some immediate adjustments to support travel managers and acknowledge their contributions, many may consider opportunities with more responsive employers or explore new career paths within the next year. To retain talent, companies must provide practical solutions and enhanced tools that enable travel managers to effectively meet the growing demands of their positions.

To learn more, download the full report.