By: Daniel Nettuno, Director, Client Management
From tech innovation to corporate air contracting, this year’s attendees were focused on a keeping corporate travel programs agile in a fast-changing landscape.
The GBTA Convention 2025 brought together the best and brightest minds in corporate travel management, and at this year’s conference, one thing was clear: the future of business travel is being redefined by bold tech shifts like New Distribution Capability (NDC) and Artificial Intelligence (AI)—and a smarter, data-driven approach to cost control and travel program optimization.
There were so many standout sessions tackling some of the industry’s most pressing challenges, and while I wasn’t up on stage myself, I had the chance to sit in on some truly insightful discussions led by my colleagues and other industry experts. Whether you couldn’t make it to the conference or just want to catch the highlights, here are a few key takeaways that stuck with me and might spark some ideas for your own corporate travel program.
Spend management strategies: Where to find real savings
When it comes to unlocking savings, hotel spend is often the biggest opportunity for corporate travel programs. However, a common challenge for business travel managers is knowing which strategies really move the needle. Are static or dynamic rates better? Are chainwide discounts effective, or is spot market content the way to go? Are potential savings from non-refundable hotel rates worth the risk? I joined a session where Ambra Christie, who leads our Hotel Spend Management team, tackled some of the biggest questions facing corporate travel buyers today. While there were some noticeable trends—like the shift toward dynamically discounted rates and pre-RFP rate targets—Ambra’s session made it clear that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to hotel spend strategy. Figuring out what works comes down to understanding your travelers, staying flexible, and using data insights to guide smarter choices.
On the air side, NDC was a hot topic. With NDC changing up how fares are distributed, we’ve seen a significant spike in air leakage, as more travelers book off-program, thinking they’re getting their company the best rates. If you aren’t keeping a close eye on your program performance, you could be missing out on significant savings opportunities. My colleague, April Bridgeman, Advito’s Managing Director, shared some powerful insights on why it’s so crucial to continuously monitor areas like fare availability, market dynamics, and booking patterns to improve your contract performance. With traditional negotiation strategies falling short, the best way to secure deals that deliver is by backing your negotiations with the right travel data. There was a lot of interest in how AI can play a valuable role here, helping travel teams analyze contracts more efficiently.
With carbon targets approaching, strategy can’t wait
With 2030 climate targets fast approaching, travel programs are feeling the pressure to turn sustainability commitments into measurable progress. At this year’s conference, there were some great sessions providing practical strategies to make a lasting impact. I sat in on a session where Matthew Patterson, who works closely with our clients on sustainability, joined a panel with our partner, Clarasight, to share what’s working (and what’s not) when it comes to reducing emissions. There were some great ideas shared, like carbon budgeting and carbon pricing, but what really stuck with me was the reminder that reducing overall travel is still the biggest lever. It’s all about finding the right balance and making sure your actions align with your goals.
Navigating travel risk management in the age of AI
While there was plenty of buzz around the transformative innovations AI is bringing to the travel industry this year, some sessions took a closer look at the new risks it also creates. Christine Connolley, our Senior Crisis Program Manager, joined a panel on day two to explore the flood of misinformation AI can create and the challenges it brings to travel risk management. Her message was clear: proactive risk strategies are key to keeping travelers safe and programs resilient.
The future of travel is a balancing act: Carbon, cost, and care
Striking the right balance between supporting your travelers, hitting emissions targets, and staying within budget is never easy. But after Matthew Patterson’s session “The Ultimate Balancing Act” it was clear that knowing the right metrics to track across each of these three categories is key. While keeping a close eye on carbon emissions and travel costs is common practice, the session uncovered some friction points that affect traveler wellbeing most people might not even think to measure. For example, how often travelers are being sent to high-risk destinations, booking indirect flights or selecting transportation with early departure or late arrival.
Whether it was navigating the rise of NDC and AI or rethinking your corporate sustainability strategy, this year’s sessions showed just how fast business travel is evolving. I left GBTA feeling inspired by the work my colleagues are doing and excited about the future of managed travel programs.
At Advito, we’re at the forefront of helping corporate travel programs stay ahead—bringing together smarter data, practical strategies, and expert insight to stay ahead of the curve. Connect with our team today to see how we can help you optimize your corporate travel strategy, reduce spend, and build a more sustainable, traveler-focused strategy.