Sabre announced the appointment of Niklas Andréen as Chief Commercial Officer, Airline Tech, to accelerate execution following its AI-native platform rebuild. Andréen will lead global airline sales, account management, and commercial strategy, driving adoption of Sabre Mosaic. Additionally, Darren Rickey was appointed Senior Vice President of Strategic Commercial Partnerships.
Amex GBT reported Q4 and full-year 2025 results: full-year revenue of $2,718 million, up 12%; Adjusted EBITDA of $532 million, up 11%. The company reiterated 2026 guidance for revenue growth of 19%-21% and doubled its share repurchase authorization to $600 million.
SAP Concur introduces the 'Beyond the Balance Sheet' series, a thought-leadership series for modern finance leaders. Each 20-minute episode covers trends shaping finance, including growth strategy, AI, and the evolving role of business travel. Episodes include 'Vision for Growth', 'AI — Hype or Game-Changer?', 'The Role of Business Travel', and 'Integrations: Making Every Connection Count'.
Amex GBT announced an increase of $300 million to its share repurchase authorization, bringing it to $600 million. The company also reported strong preliminary Q4 2025 results: revenue up 34% to $792 million, TTV up 45% to $10 billion, and adjusted EBITDA up 17% to $130 million. Full-year revenue grew 12% to $2.718 billion, TTV up 17% to $36 billion. The company reiterated 2026 guidance with revenue growth of 19-21%.
KAYAK, part of Booking Holdings, has appointed Peer Bueller as CEO. Bueller joined KAYAK in 2016 as CFO and added COO in 2021. Co-founder Steve Hafner will become Executive Chair and take a new role at Booking Holdings focused on AI innovation. Bueller will continue to drive growth including KAYAK for Business.
Almosafer and VisitBritain expanded their strategic partnership at WTM London to promote Britain as a top destination for Saudi travelers. The collaboration will develop high-value packages showcasing Britain's nations and regions. VisitBritain forecasts 404,000 visits from Saudi Arabia to the UK this year, with spending of £975 million in 2025, up 26% on 2024. Britain remains a premium destination for Almosafer across leisure and business segments.
Amadeus Cytric has launched its global Prime Partner Program to recognize and empower partners across the business travel ecosystem. At its core is a group of TMCs meeting rigorous performance, governance, and strategic alignment standards, including Arrive Agencies, BCD Travel, DER BUSINESS Travel, Lufthansa City Center, Nautalia Empresas, Travel Support, and Viajes El Corte Inglés Empresas. Prime Partners gain access to operational support and a first look at new Amadeus Cytric innovations.
Amadeus released global research, 'Connected Journeys: How Technology Will Transform Travel in the Next Decade'. It found 79% of Singapore respondents would consider using biometric gateways to replace repetitive document and identity checks at key airport touchpoints such as check-in, boarding and immigration, above the global average of 69%. 36% are interested in biometric security to speed up queues, 33% in real-time traffic and arrival updates, and 62% would check luggage from home. 32% would prefer a single 'super app' consolidating travel information; among business travellers, 34% prefer one consolidated app and 32% value smart luggage tracking. Generative AI usage nearly doubled fro…
SAP Concur published an article emphasizing the importance of corporate duty of care, citing its 7th Annual Global Business Travel Survey: 65% of business leaders perceive more risk in today's environment and 75% say employees' expectations about duty of care are higher than ever; 53% of CFOs think travel managers should do more to support traveler safety, while only 38% of travelers feel their travel manager is doing enough to ensure their wellbeing; 92% of travelers are willing to decline a business trip for reasons like safety, social or environmental concerns, or work-life balance impact, and 40% would refuse a trip out of safety or social concerns about the destination. The article not…
SAP Concur analyzed international air bookings in Concur Travel from Jan 1 to Jun 30, 2025, comparing with the same period in 2024. Global international business travel volume rose 2.6% year over year in H1 2025, up 4.5% in Q1 and 0.6% in Q2. U.S. business travelers paid the most for international flights at $2,675 per ticket on average; Japanese travelers about $1,950; Italian travelers $719. The U.S. remained the top global destination, accounting for 15.3% of international business trips.
SAP Concur reviews its four early-2025 predictions for business travel, finance and AI. Slowing inflation made T&E budgets go further, with average transaction amounts flat or slightly down; 89% of travelers, 93% of travel managers and 90% of CFOs expect no budget cuts. AI adoption accelerated, with 57% of finance departments saying general finance tasks are highly automated and 88% of travelers comfortable using AI for some elements. TMC consolidation continued with the Amex GBT-CWT merger; NDC adoption grew slowly amid content fragmentation.
SAP Concur's seventh annual Global Business Travel Survey covered 3,750 business travelers across 24 markets, analyzing differences among Gen Z, millennials, Gen X and baby boomers. 97% are willing to travel for business, but Gen Z and millennials are more likely dissatisfied with current travel frequency. Younger generations more often report company travel cuts and are more open to AI and recommendations; older generations prefer manually sorting options. Air safety concern is similar across generations, 64% for Gen Z versus 52% for boomers.
SAP Concur's seventh annual Global Business Travel Survey found 88% of global business travelers are comfortable using AI-powered automation for some elements of business travel, rising to 94% among U.S. travelers. Gen Z (95%) and millennials (91%) show the highest comfort. 44% are comfortable with AI re-booking before a trip and 39% with AI curating options during initial booking. 67% of CFOs believe employees may use AI to falsify travel expenses, and 55% expect AI approvals to catch more errors and fraud than their teams currently do.
SAP Concur analyzed 2024 expense transaction data and found higher business travel spending than the previous year. Domestic air travel volume for business trips rose 3% year over year, while international travel volume increased nearly 6%. Total expense transactions increased 13% year over year, with an average transaction of $102. Lodging, ground transportation, and meals saw the highest transaction increases at 17%, 16%, and 13% respectively. Average transaction amounts remained largely flat, with lodging falling from $140 to $136 and air rising from $425 to $438. On average, 15-20% of expense reports contain non-compliant spend.
SAP Concur published a Seattle travel guide for Fusion 2025 attendees, with over 3,000 attendees from around the world expected. The guide covers transportation from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (about 15 miles from downtown) via Link Light Rail, downtown walking and public transit options, and recommended restaurants and attractions. The article cites SAP Concur booking data showing nearly a quarter of all business expenses are for meals, and over 30 million flights were booked in Concur Travel in the past year, with business travel bookings up 3% for domestic and 6% for international flights.
SAP Concur analyzed domestic and international air travel bookings in Concur Travel from January 1 to December 31, 2024, comparing airfare and travel volume to the same period in 2023. Results show domestic travel volume up nearly 3% year over year and international travel volume up nearly 6%. July saw the largest domestic booking increase at 11%, while December saw the largest international increase at 16%. Average domestic airfare remained elevated compared to 2023, peaking at $597 in March and dropping to $540 in August. International airfare was flat in the first half and accelerated in the second half, rising 11% in December.
SAP Concur experts predict 2025 business travel and expense management trends: organizations will expect more from every travel dollar, AI will handle more work, TMCs will continue consolidating, content fragmentation will slow, and NDC benefits will emerge. CFO priorities include growth, AI adoption, ESG integration, cybersecurity, and talent management. Surveys show 76% of travelers enjoy travel and 67% see it as career-critical.
SAP Concur has released a 'Before You Go' checklist for business travelers, aiming to help employees with varying levels of experience better prepare for trips. The checklist covers preparation, booking, planning, and packing, and suggests travel managers and HR share it as a company resource. SAP Concur also offers customizable templates and lists, and mentions tools like Concur Travel, TripLink, TripIt Pro, and ExpenseIt. In the past 12 months, more than 30 million flights were booked in Concur Travel.
The second article in the SAP Concur and Financial Times series explores how companies can make sustainability progress measurable through technology. It notes that hundreds of sustainability regulations and initiatives have been established globally, and companies face pressure to shift from a shareholder model to a stakeholder model. According to the 2024 SAP Concur Global Business Travel Survey, around 29% of business travelers and 33% of travel managers said their company is more focused on increasing sustainable travel options than meeting employee flexibility expectations or cutting travel costs. The article emphasizes that data collection and analysis are key to measuring sustainabil…
The U.S. Department of State reissued its Sint Maarten travel advisory on August 19, 2024, keeping it at Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) after a periodic review with no changes. The advisory references enrolling in STEP, reviewing the Country Security Report for the Dutch Caribbean, preparing a contingency plan, and consulting CDC travel health information.
The U.S. Department of State reissued its Netherlands travel advisory on August 9, 2024, keeping it at Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) due to terrorism after a periodic review with no changes. The advisory notes terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets, government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas. Travelers are advised to be aware of their surroundings, stay alert in crowded locations, follow local authority instructions, monitor local media, and enroll in STEP.
The U.S. Department of State reissued its Palau travel advisory on August 6, 2024, keeping it at Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) after a periodic review with no changes. The advisory references enrolling in STEP, following the Embassy on Facebook, reviewing the Country Security Report, consulting CDC travel health information, preparing a contingency plan, and reviewing the Traveler's Checklist.
SAP Concur published an article reflecting on its 30-year history, claiming it was first to establish expense reporting as a service, first to create an integrated travel and expense platform, and first to build AI and machine learning into T&E solutions. It describes redefining the expense experience, business travel, and intelligent data through timely notifications, policy tips, smart receipt handling, real-time credit card authorizations, preference-based booking, sustainability metrics, and generative AI and predictive auditing.
SAP Concur launched the Hotel Connector API for new Concur Travel, displaying TMC or hotel aggregator rates directly in the platform to combine consumer-grade choice with corporate compliance controls. The feature supports connecting to multiple content aggregators, giving access to up to six million accommodation options versus 650,000 with GDS only. HRS is the first hotel-focused technology provider to go live with fully certified features through Hotel Connector. Features include richer content and amenities, omni-search, optimized booking workflows, sustainability indicators, more payment options, and e-receipt integration.
SAP Concur released business travel management tools during the GBTA Convention and published results from its sixth annual Global Business Travel Survey of 600 travel managers across six markets. The survey found 99% say their job will be more challenging in the next 12 months, 37% say delivering high-quality programs despite increased stress is difficult, and 31% struggle to remain motivated due to feeling undervalued. 21% are likely to seek a travel manager position at a different company, and 20% may seek a role outside travel management. SAP Concur also released Concur Expense data: average airfare expense was $770 in 2023, up 10% from $698 in 2019; average gasoline expense transaction…
SAP Concur describes how AI travel planners are used in business travel. The article says AI travel planners use algorithms and machine learning to analyze large datasets and offer personalized recommendations, continuously learning from real human feedback. Applications include automating flight, hotel, and rental car bookings through AI-powered travel management platforms; maintaining compliance with corporate travel policies while minimizing manual effort; simplifying expense management with AI-driven systems; and using predictive analysis to optimize travel plans, reduce expenses, and provide real-time insights to address security threats or health concerns. The article also notes AI vi…
Amtrak, the U.S. National Railroad Passenger Corporation, has officially joined the Concur TripLink ecosystem. The article says the integration lets business travelers book directly on Amtrak.com and the Amtrak mobile app, connect their Amtrak loyalty program, capture negotiated rates, and automatically sync the itinerary and e-receipt with SAP Concur solutions. Amtrak also features a direct connect integration with Concur Travel, letting travelers book a train reservation the same way they book air, hotel, or car reservations. The article says Concur TripLink serves a growing ecosystem of air, hotel, rail, and car suppliers, is used by over 14,000 customers, and supports more than 11 milli…
This SAP Concur blog cites surveys showing employee happiness declined 10 times faster in 2023 than the prior three years, and dissatisfaction could cost a median-size company $228-$355 million annually in productivity. It advises not sacrificing growth opportunities, valuing purpose, and leveraging technology for efficiency.
SAP Concur President Charlie Sultan writes that rising business travel demand, increasing costs, and NDC adoption are shifting power from TMCs and customers to suppliers. Citing GBTA, 59% of travel managers expect more business trips in 2024, and 67% expect higher travel spend.
This SAP Concur blog post outlines nine business travel trends for 2024, including digital transformation, bleisure travel, sustainability, safety and well-being, cost optimization, TMC evolution, cross-department collaboration, corporate incentives, and multi-channel booking. It highlights technologies like AI, virtual queuing, and biometrics to improve efficiency, and notes TMCs must adapt to digital and sustainability demands.
This SAP Concur blog post introduces four risk management strategies: risk acceptance, risk transference, risk avoidance, and risk reduction. It applies these to business travel and expense management, highlighting the role of technology like AI, data analytics, and mobile apps in risk monitoring and compliance.
SAP Concur analyzed U.S.-origin business travel bookings on Concur Travel from November to December 2023. The busiest business travel day in November was November 13, with Dallas and Chicago as the top two destinations. During Thanksgiving (November 17-26), Las Vegas claimed the top spot, with more than three times as many business travelers as Phoenix in tenth place. December 4 was the busiest travel day in December, with Dallas again ranking first. During Christmas and New Year (December 21-January 3), Orlando ranked first, with more than double the number of business travelers compared to Phoenix in second place.
SAP Concur's blog publishes a business travel planning guide covering cost control and productivity balance, steps to streamline travel processes, useful planning apps, and strategies for delays and cancellations. The article notes 1-2% of flights are canceled and 20-25% are delayed by more than 15 minutes, recommending contingency plans and travel insurance.
An IDC report shows SAP maintained the No. 1 ranking in the 2022 travel and expense management software market with 49.4% share, $1.281 billion in revenue, and 16.3% year-over-year growth. It also cites the 2023 Global Business Travel Survey finding that 67% of global business travelers are very willing to travel for work in the next 12 months, and a 30% increase in U.S. airline passengers between 2021 and 2022.
SAP Concur partnered with Wakefield Research for the fifth-annual Global Business Travel Survey, finding increased willingness among SMB employees to travel for business. 67% are very willing to travel in the next 12 months, and 92% believe their career future depends on successful business travel.
SAP Concur's fifth annual Global Business Travel Survey, covering 3,850 business travelers in 25 markets, reveals generational differences from baby boomers to Gen Z in willingness to travel, satisfaction, economic impact, changing expectations, career advancement, safety and discrimination, and sustainability.
SAP Concur released findings from its 2023 Global Business Travel Survey, now in its fifth year. The survey shows 92% of business travelers believe their career future depends on business travel, yet 62% have not had equal opportunities due to demographics, sexual orientation, physical appearance, or health conditions. Demand for flexibility is rising: 48% want flexibility to ensure safety, 47% for work-life balance, and 34% to add personal travel.
SAP Concur released its fifth annual Global Business Travel Survey of 700 travel managers across seven markets. The survey shows 47% of travel managers say their role is more stressful than 12 months ago, and 41% cite inflation driving up travel costs. 98% say lagging data and analytics hinder their job, and 98% expect their company to change travel policies in the next year.
The U.S. Department of State has issued a Level 2 "Exercise Increased Caution" advisory for Eritrea, citing travel restrictions, limited consular assistance, landmines, and wrongful detentions. The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Eritrea, and U.S. government employees must obtain special authorization to travel outside Asmara. U.S. citizens, including dual nationals, have been arrested and detained without charge or on false charges, and the Department has determined that a risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals by the Eritrean government exists. Eritrean law enforcement officials routinely block U.S. government officials' access t…
SAP Concur's 2023 Global Business Travel Survey found that 94% of LGBTQ+ business travelers have personally experienced discrimination while traveling for work, and 90% have hidden their sexual orientation on a business trip, citing safety (55%) and privacy (55%) as top reasons. 82% of LGBTQ+ travelers changed accommodations in the past 12 months because they felt unsafe, compared with 53% of all business travelers. 92% of LGBTQ+ travelers feel they have not had equal opportunity to travel for business. The survey was conducted by Wakefield Research between April 7-28, 2023, among 3,850 business travelers in 25 markets.