Cvent’s Global Report Reveals Confidence in Business Travel Despite Rising Costs

Cvent, one of the leading global providers of meetings, events, and hospitality technology, has released its 2025 Global Travel Managers Report, shedding light on how corporate travel priorities and budgets are shifting worldwide. The study suggests a cautiously optimistic outlook for the year ahead: despite economic uncertainty and escalating costs, most travel managers remain confident about growth in business travel.

According to the survey, three in four travel managers (75%) expect travel volumes to rise in 2025, signalling renewed momentum across the corporate travel sector. However, budgets are expected to hold steady compared with 2024, while 71% anticipate further cost increases — a combination that could tighten margins and pressure existing travel programmes.

The report draws on insights from more than 1,600 business travel professionals across six regions and eighteen countries, offering a comprehensive snapshot of global sentiment. Among the key findings is a growing integration between corporate travel and meetings management. Today, 91% of travel managers say they are also responsible for sourcing hotels and venues for meetings and events — up sharply from 64% in 2017.

This consolidation trend, driven primarily by cost control, appears to be paying off: 83% of respondents managing travel and meetings jointly report tangible savings as a result. The data underscores how the lines between travel and event management continue to blur, as organisations seek efficiency, transparency, and greater value from every stage of their business travel operations.
 

Some key highlights from the report:

• Resilience Amid Uncertainty: Despite global economic and political shifts, business travel is bouncing back with confidence. A whopping 84% of travel managers feel positive about the current state of business travel, and 75% expect travel volumes to rise in 2025. Optimism is especially high in the Middle East and Africa, where 90% anticipate growth.
   
• Strategic Cost Management: With 71% of travel managers expecting higher costs this year, organisations are getting creative. From consolidating travel with meetings and events to negotiating smarter hotel rates, the focus is on maximising value without sacrificing essential trips. Incentive trips, internal meetings, and company retreats are the most likely to face cuts, but most companies are actually increasing their travel budgets to stay competitive.
   
• Centralised Sourcing is the New Norm: The days of managing travel and meetings separately are fading fast. Now, 91% of travel managers oversee both, unlocking cost savings (up to 20% for some!) and streamlining operations. This shift is all about efficiency, visibility, and making every travel dollar count.
   
• Hotel Negotiations Get Tougher: Negotiating with hotels isn’t what it used to be. With more complex pricing models and less flexibility from hotels, travel managers are blending fixed and dynamic rates to stay agile. The key? Building long-term, partnership-based relationships with hotel suppliers.
   
• Digital Content Drives Decisions: Travel managers are spending more time researching hotels online, with nearly half saying that detailed images, videos, and virtual tours are the most influential factors in their decision-making. But even with all this tech, many still struggle to compare hotel proposals and assess suitability — so there’s a big opportunity for hotels to stand out with richer, more relevant digital content.
   
• The Workforce is Evolving: Hybrid and remote work are now the top trends shaping travel priorities. While virtual meetings are here to stay, face-to-face events, conferences, and client meetings remain crucial for building relationships and driving growth. Millennials are leading the charge, now making up over half of travel managers and bringing fresh optimism and a tech-savvy approach to the table.

Download the report here and get the insights you need to succeed in 2025 and beyond. Your next big breakthrough could be just a click away!
 

Published by Meeting Media Company, the publisher of Headquarters Magazine (HQ) – a leading international publication based in Brussels, serving the global MICE industry and association community.