Asked how their focus had changed in the past year, however, respondents painted a more nuanced picture that showed how the travel management role has taken on new challenges and shown more strategic potential within the organization.

Time for More Tech

In the face of challenges like content fragmentation from NDC and exciting opportunities like artificial intelligence-powered services, well more than half of U.S.-based travel managers are spending more time and energy on program innovation and working out what new technologies and service models will allow them to manage their programs more effectively and efficiently.

A number of buyers commented on “travel becoming a more tech-driven process,” and that they spent “more time focused on technology approvals and supplier vetting.” For many, the fast-changing environment posed a challenge—“technology, ChatGPT, NDC challenges … lots of time spent figuring out how to manage these changes in a constantly moving environment,” wrote one buyer.  

Technology advancements were a welcome change for some. One buyer cited the challenge as a key element in elevating their role in the organization: “I got the promotion I was looking for, or I would have left. Now, I’m concentrating more on strategy and data, more on technology investigation,” they wrote.

Into the Data Dimension

Forty-seven percent of travel buyers are spending more time and energy providing business travel intelligence to the organization, whether in terms of policy, costs or to identify opportunities.

“Much more attention is paid to policy compliance and reporting for leadership,” wrote one buyer. Said another: “The company has much more interest in travel spend, so we spend more time reporting out to stakeholders.”

Some companies have added resources to dedicate to travel data and intelligence initiatives. “Onboarding two very experienced travel specialists has allowed our travel team to be the strongest it’s ever been,” wrote one buyer, who leads a midsize travel program and noted their organization was more focused on travel intelligence than ever. “They are diving into reports, analyzing data and discovering innovative ways to ensure the most efficient use of our travel spend.”

Syncing Up Sustainability

While the sustainability movement in the region is not as aggressive as seen in the European market, travel buyers in the U.S. presented a picture of growing awareness around the issue but in some cases a lack of clearly defined direction.  

Forty-two percent of survey respondents said sustainability had become a more intensive focus of their remit, taking time and energy away from more traditional tasks. “We have less focus on pure travel management,” one buyer wrote, “and more in terms of savings, technology and sustainability.” Yet, hold the thought on that combination of changing priorities, because it’s not as straightforward as it may seem.

Buyers told BTN they were largely focused on gathering data to establish “baseline reporting” for future emissions comparisons, but also said they were trying to get a handle on more tactical aspects of sustainability—familiarizing themselves with the types of vendors and partners that could help them put some initial carbon reduction efforts in place. One buyer said they had initiated a carbon budget strategy for the travel program.