According to the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), corporate travel policies across Canada and the U.S. are showing significant positive momentum as companies sharpen policy clarity, enhance the employee traveller experience through technology, and strengthen compliance frameworks.
At the same time, the GBTA’s “The State of Corporate Travel Policies: U.S. and Canada 2025,” released in partnership ALTOUR, found that travel programs continue to face important opportunities for improvement — and a shift away from lengthy, complex policies of years past — including more inclusive and AI-enabled guidance, clearer processes for non-employee travel, and better traveler education around policy basics.
Suzanne Neufang, CEO of GBTA, observed that: “Travel policies are evolving in a way that reflects today’s realities and responsible travel decisions. This research shows organizations are evolving through technology and reassessing their policies through a more inclusive lens, along with strengthening the traveler experience. At the same time, the gaps identified in the research gives our industry a roadmap for continued improvement.”
While Gabe Rizzi, President of ALTOUR, pointed out that: “Travellers want clarity, flexibility and a support system that helps them stay in policy — and companies want visibility and consistency. Travel policies have been too complex for too long. There is a clear opportunity for AI to distill key details and improve compliance. This study shows that when travel programs simplify communication, embrace technology and create policies that reflect traveller needs, everyone wins.”
Based on an online survey of U.S. and Canadian travel managers, the study highlights a marketplace in transition — one making meaningful progress while acknowledging areas still in need of modernization.
Key takeaways include:
- Nearly one-third of travel managers (32%) report that their company’s travel policy is stricter today than it was three years ago, while only 5% say theirs has become more lenient.
- Currently, policies remain long and complex: 51% of travel policies exceed 10 pages, and almost one quarter (24%) run longer than 20 pages. Only 14% of travel managers say their policies have gotten shorter in the past three years.
- The most common reason cited for employees to break travel policy? Simply because they haven’t read or aren’t familiar with the rules, according to almost a third (32%) of buyers.
Naturally, AI emerged as a powerful tool for simplifying policy education, as companies look for modern, intuitive ways to deliver guidance — an effort that could meaningfully reduce out-of-policy behavior and improve the overall travel experience:
- The enthusiasm for tech-enabled support is unmistakable: 64% of travel managers express interest in AI-generated video explainers that summarize key policy elements.
Other highlights of the report include:
- Booking outside required channels remains the single largest compliance issue, reported by 35% of respondents.
- In fact, 28% cite out-of-policy hotel stays as a major challenge. Payment, air, and meal compliance issues still exist but are less prominent.
- Only 13% of travel managers say their policies strongly address accessibility needs.
- Similarly, just 19% report clear guidance for diverse traveler groups, such as LGBTQ+ employees or women, who may face discrimination or unique safety concerns on the road.
GBTA and ALTOUR will be hosting a webinar on the topic on March 26 for those interested in finding out more about how today’s corporate travel programs are evolving to better serve both organizations and their employee travellers.
