Unmanaged Business Travel Still Dominates as SMBs Seek Flexible, Consumer-Style Booking
Photo Credit: Aerial view of an airport and airplanes at twilight. Navan via Getty Images
Skift Take
Despite a rebound in global corporate travel, much of the industry remains stuck in an old pattern — unmanaged, but cheaper employee travel.
A recent Euromonitor International report estimates that nearly 65% of global business travel spending, which is projected to reach $2.9 trillion by 2029, is still unmanaged.
Small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs), defined as companies with 1–200 employees, represent 26.1% of the total business travel market and are projected to grow the fastest, at a CAGR of 7.1% through 2029, according to the report, which was commissioned by Navan.
Despite frequent travel needs, SMBs remain the least likely to use a travel management company. For travel management companies (TMCs), this represents both a problem and a massive opportunity.
Unmanaged Business Travel's Pitfalls and AdvantagesEva Fouquet, SVP of Strategic Partnerships at Kayak for Business, sums up the paradox neatly: “Unmanaged travel sticks around because it feels easy, until it’s not.”
