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Business travel in India is highly dynamic, and this has been driven by factors like the shift in technology, the flow of business, and the market. See how the corporate travel industry is changing and find out the reasons behind it.
Business travel in India is undergoing a significant transformation. Companies are rethinking their travel strategies, focusing on sustainability and leveraging technology. Corporate culture in India is increasingly embracing digital tools and integrating sustainability into business travel policies. In fact, a global survey reveals that 81% of respondents believe companies should actively contribute to environmental sustainability. While this might hint at the larger picture, there are more such trends emerging in the business travel landscape.
This blog discusses Indian business travel forecasts and how it affects corporate travel planning. The future of business travel in India promises well for those who are ready to embrace this change toward more efficient travel management, environmentally friendly alternatives, and more.
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Business travel has always been essential to corporate operations, and India is no exception. In fact, the corporate travel market contributes about 20% to the overall Indian travel market, as per Deloitte’s recent report on ‘Exploring India’s Corporate Travel Market.’
India has seen a continuous increase in business travel demand because of a strong corporate structure, a strong Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) structure, and as India expands its outreach into the business world. Together, they are driving the search for growth as more businesses look for new opportunities, markets, and business partners. Being the most populous country in the world and a fast-rising giant, business travel is becoming even more crucial and laden with possibilities than at any other time in the future.
Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, business travel is back on track and flourishing, but the landscape is different. Today’s corporate travellers and companies seek more than just transportation and accommodation—they demand personalised, efficient, and tech-enabled solutions.
With digitalisation at the forefront of corporate travel, companies are turning to business travel solutions in India that provide seamless integration, efficiency, and data-driven insights. Technology transforms every step of business travel, from booking to compliance management and post-travel analysis.
Some key technological trends include:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML): These tools automate processes such as booking and itinerary planning. AI-powered chatbots also offer real-time assistance, while ML analyses travel patterns to provide personalised recommendations.
Travel Expense Management Systems (TEMS): Solutions like myBiz help companies manage their bookings and travel expenses, track travel history, and generate real-time reports, enhancing decision-making and budget management.
Mobile and Cloud Solutions: The advancement in cloud-based travel platforms has witnessed an increase in real-time coordination among employees, travel administrators, and corporate heads, eliminating management crises and ensuring seamless management from any location.
Sustainability has become a major consideration in corporate travel, as businesses are under increasing pressure to reduce their carbon footprints. Indian corporations are embracing green travel solutions, including:
Carbon Offsetting: More companies are opting for travel packages that include carbon offsetting, ensuring their travel has a minimal environmental impact.
Sustainable Travel Policies: Businesses are instituting policies that encourage the use of eco-friendly transportation options such as electric vehicles (EVs) and green-certified hotels.
By implementing these sustainable practices, organisations align themselves with broader Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives and appeal to a new demographic of eco-conscious travellers.
Another emerging trend in Indian corporate travel is the blending of business and leisure, known as bleisure travel. Post-pandemic, corporate travellers are increasingly opting to extend business trips for personal leisure, combining work and relaxation. Companies are acknowledging this trend and adjusting travel policies to offer flexibility in trip durations and personalised travel options.
Furthermore, with modern data analytic capabilities, travel management systems provide customised and personalised travel experiences and services to travellers according to their choices, past trips, and corporate policy requirements.
The rise of remote and hybrid working models is changing how businesses approach travel. With a decrease in in-office days, companies are leveraging travel to foster collaboration. Face-to-face meetings remain essential, but companies are now focusing on strategic travel—sending employees only when it adds value.
Additionally, there’s a shift towards group travel for team-building events, strategic meetings, and client engagements, often organised through corporate travel management platforms like myBiz that is adept at catering to the comprehensive travel needs of the employees and their organisations. These platforms ensure that logistics are simplified and costs are optimised, even for complex itineraries.
Corporate travel in India 2025 will continue to be shaped by data and predictive analytics. Here are key technologies that can shape up business travel experiences in 2025:
While machine learning can forecast price trends and optimise bookings, NLP has the potential to enable real-time, personalised support through chatbots, and predictive analytics can anticipate future travel needs to streamline operations. Together, these technologies enhance employee travel experiences, reduce costs, and empower travel managers with timely insights to evaluate trends, identify cost-saving opportunities, and monitor compliance effectively.
Post-pandemic, traveller safety remains a top priority for businesses. Companies are spending good money to have risk management solutions that include monitoring travellers, anticipating the status of travel risks, and providing support during emergencies.
Risk management tools now feature enhanced tracking, health advisories, and localised travel updates to offer peace of mind to both businesses and their employees.
Business travel can be stressful, and more companies recognise the need to look after their employees’ well-being as they travel. It’s becoming more common for businesses to include wellness programmes as part of their corporate travel policies and for a good reason.
Some companies are also partnering with local wellness providers to offer their employees a chance to unwind with spa treatments or other relaxing activities while travelling for extended periods of time. Invariably, when employees feel better during their trips, they tend to be more productive and energised, consequently improving their work performance.
AI is actually changing how business travel functions in India. This means that AI can take care of time-taking tasks, like booking flights or keeping track of itineraries, making it easy for you.
Think about how helpful it is to have AI-powered chatbots or virtual assistants ready to answer any questions or make the booking process quicker and easier. Moreover, AI can learn your employee’s preferences, like at what day or time they like to travel, and make personalised suggestions. Not only does it save time, but it makes the whole process simpler and more fun.
Apart from these, here are a few more prominent innovations that can play a crucial role in reshaping the way we experience business travel, making it smarter, greener, and more personalised:
Augmented Reality (AR) Meets Travel: AR can transform the booking experience by offering immersive previews of hotels, meeting venues, and more, helping travellers make confident decisions.
Personalised Travel Made Smarter: AI-powered travel assistants can offer hyper-personalised recommendations that perfectly align with travellers' schedules, preferences, and needs.
Seamless Itinerary Updates: AI and blockchain can work together to handle unexpected trip changes, like flight rescheduling or upgrades. AI can recalibrate itineraries in real-time with alternative options, while blockchain ensures secure and transparent updates and payments.
Eco-Friendly Travel Planning: AI can help companies achieve sustainability goals by analysing travel routes, accommodations, and transportation options that are more environmentally responsible.
AI also helps companies make smarter travel decisions by analysing past data. With predictive analytics, you can identify trends, manage budgets, and plan trips more effectively. For businesses in India embracing AI, it’s not just about making travel more efficient—it’s about making it better for everyone.
The Indian business travel market is set to see substantial growth. According to a recent forecast, India's business travel market could reach US$ 76.3 Billion 2032, up from its current valuation of US$ 38.7 Billion.
The factors driving this growth include:
Expansion of SMEs: Small and medium enterprises are increasingly contributing to the rise in business travel as they expand their footprint domestically and internationally.
Infrastructure Growth: The on-going development of transport infrastructure, including airports and business hubs, will continue to facilitate smoother and more efficient travel.
Increased International Business Engagement: As India strengthens its trade relationships, the demand for international corporate travel will rise significantly.
All in all, India is entering a new phase of business travel, shaped by technology, an onus on sustainability, and shifting company priorities. To keep up, corporate travel is becoming more efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly, thanks to AI solutions and eco-conscious travel practices.
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Ans. The key trends of 2024 are digitalisation, environment and sustainability, individual approach to travel, business leisure travel, and the increasing significance of business contingency in corporate travel.
Ans. Corporate travel can be managed sustainably by selecting environment-friendly hotels, using electrical cars, putting into practice carbon-neutralisation programmes, and measuring carbon footprint in travelling.
Ans. It is a marketing concept that combines business and leisure travel. It enables employees to travel for additional days and enjoy personal time, thus enhancing work satisfaction and work-life balance.
Ans. Business travel has benefited significantly from technological advancements because they have made the process automated, updated, and personalised. Technology-driven travel risk management assists organisations in optimising the use of business travel and improving employees’ mobility through mobile applications.
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