36% of executives view reductions in business travel as a negative impact on their company’s financial performance
Singapore, July 13, 2026 — Business travel remains one of the most effective ways for organisations to build relationships, secure new business and strengthen collaboration across industries. While virtual meetings continue to play an important role, in-person engagement remains invaluable for attracting clients, closing deals and fostering long-term partnerships.
According to a study by Tourism Economics, 36% of executives believe reducing business travel has a negative impact on their company’s financial performance. As organisations continue returning to face-to-face meetings, they are also navigating an increasingly uncertain economic landscape marked by inflation, rising airfare and higher accommodation costs.
Research from the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) has highlighted the continued rise in travel costs, reinforcing the importance of adopting smarter travel strategies rather than simply reducing travel altogether.
Travel managers must now balance financial discipline with employee productivity, sustainability objectives and evolving workplace expectations such as hybrid work and blended business-leisure travel.
How to Control the Cost of Business Travel
Create New Travel Policies
Many organisations already have travel policies governing flights and accommodation, but today’s workplace requires broader guidance.
Modern travel programmes should include policies covering:
- Hybrid and remote workforce travel
- Internal offsites
- Leadership summits
- Client meetings
- Conferences
- Blended business and leisure travel
Clear guidelines should also define whether employees can extend business trips for leisure, who covers additional costs and how itinerary changes are managed. Strong travel governance helps improve compliance while preventing unnecessary expenditure.
Prioritise Quality Over Quantity
As conference registration fees, airfare and accommodation continue to increase, organisations should carefully evaluate which business trips deliver the highest return on investment.
Instead of attending every industry event, organisations should prioritise conferences and meetings that provide measurable business value through networking, customer engagement, partnership development or employee learning. Travelling less frequently—but more strategically—can significantly improve travel ROI while reducing overall costs.
Optimise Air Travel
Airfare remains one of the largest components of business travel expenditure. One practical strategy is encouraging employees to combine multiple client meetings, conferences and networking opportunities into a single trip. Consolidating travel reduces airfare, accommodation expenses and time away from work while also lowering carbon emissions associated with business travel.
Supporting ESG Objectives Through Travel
Business travel policies increasingly need to support Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) commitments. Beyond managing budgets, organisations are expected to consider sustainability, employee wellbeing and diversity and inclusion when designing travel programmes.
Companies can strengthen these initiatives by selecting travel partners that provide emissions reporting and sustainability insights. For organisations using Uber for Business, the platform includes a Sustainability Dashboard that tracks:
- Total CO₂ emissions
- Low-emission trips
- Average CO₂ emissions per mile
These insights help organisations better understand the environmental impact of business travel while supporting broader ESG reporting objectives.
The Benefits of Managed Travel
Managed travel programmes provide organisations with greater visibility and control over travel spending. Using Uber for Business, administrators can establish travel and meal programmes, enforce company policies, monitor spending and generate reporting through a single dashboard.
According to a global customer survey cited in the report, 73% of Uber for Business administrators agreed the platform helped reduce their company’s ground transportation costs, with more than half reporting savings of up to 10% through stronger policy compliance.
Managing Ground Transportation
Ground transportation remains an essential part of business travel. Research published jointly by GBTA and Uber for Business found that rideshare services have become one of the most frequently used transport options for business travellers.
Using Uber for Business, organisations can establish spending limits based on:
- Vehicle type
- Time of travel
- Location
- Travel programme
These controls help maintain compliance while giving employees the flexibility they need throughout their business trips.
Keeping Meal Expenses Under Control
Business travel extends beyond transportation. Employees frequently require meals during client meetings, conferences and travel days. Organisations can simplify meal management by establishing meal allowances, spending limits or vouchers through Uber for Business.
With Uber Eats available in more than 11,000 cities globally, organisations can provide employees with convenient meal options while maintaining budget control.
Simplifying Expense Management
Manual expense reporting continues to consume valuable administrative time. Uber for Business integrates with leading expense management platforms including SAP Concur and Coupa, allowing travel expenses to flow directly into existing finance systems. These integrations reduce manual reconciliation, minimise paperwork and improve visibility into organisational spending.
Smarter Business Travel Starts with Better Planning
Business travel remains a strategic investment for organisations looking to build relationships, develop talent and drive growth. As travel costs continue to evolve, organisations need programmes that balance cost control with employee experience, compliance and sustainability.
Technology platforms such as Uber for Business enable organisations to better manage travel spend, improve policy compliance and gain meaningful insights into travel activity across the business. Businesses looking to optimise their travel programmes can learn more about Uber for Business and its corporate travel solutions by visiting uber.com/business.
Adapted from the Uber for Business guide, “Secrets for Saving Money on Business Travel Costs.”
