7 Game-Changing Trends in Corporate Travel Asia: 2025 Business Travel Insights

As business travel spending is poised to surpass pre-pandemic levels for the first time in 2024 (US$1.5 trillion, compared with US$1.4 trillion in 2019), corporate travel in Asia is experiencing a rapid transformation. According to the Global Business Travel Association, Asia is expected to lead the global business travel recovery, with key markets like Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Malaysia driving innovative trends that will shape the industry in the coming years.

Kelly Jones, Managing Director of Southeast Asia, China, Hong Kong & Taiwan at ATPI, offers insights into the future of corporate travel in Asia: “Looking ahead to 2025, particularly in major Asian markets like Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Malaysia, we’re witnessing two parallel shifts. Technology is making trip planning and execution increasingly seamless, whilst simultaneously, there’s a resurgence of ‘back to basics’ approaches, evident in nature-based corporate retreats and the revival of face-to-face business meetings.”

Jones emphasises, “This duality highlights the enduring value of human connection in fostering strong business relationships. However, every journey must now be optimised to justify the return on investment,  consequent carbon impact of travel and the wellbeing of the traveller.”

In response to these changes, ATPI, a leader in corporate travel solutions in Asia, has identified seven pivotal trends that will define the landscape of business travel in Asia in 2025.

1. AI-Powered Travel Assistance: Revolutionising Business Travel in Asia

For corporate travellers in Singapore, Hong Kong, and across Asia, AI-driven personal assistants are reshaping the way trips are planned and executed. These 24/7 solutions provide personalised guidance on itineraries, company travel policies, and compliance. With an initial prompt, the AI generates friendly and helpful responses, facilitating easy follow-up questions and streamlining the booking process, making it a gamechanger for business travel in Asia.

2. Executive Field Trips: Strategic Nature-Based Retreats

Team-building activities are evolving from short bonding sessions to immersive nature-based retreats, which are becoming a hallmark of corporate travel in Asia. These corporate off-sites feature an array of engaging and sometimes extreme experiences, both domestically and abroad. From tropical bushcraft to white water rafting, these retreats aim to build camaraderie, boost employee loyalty, and foster a shared sense of purpose.

3. Multipurpose Trips: Amplifying the Value of Business Travel in Asia

As sustainability becomes a key priority in corporate travel across Asia, the concept of multipurpose trips is gaining traction. This approach maximises efficiency and value. Business travellers are now expected to combine client meetings, investigate expansion opportunities, conduct competitor analysis and they might want to tag on a vacation.

4. Blended Itineraries: A New Approach to Business Travel Policies

Rigid travel policies are giving way to more flexible and personalised approaches as companies prioritise the employee experience. This emerging trend in business travel in Asia goes beyond the typical “bleisure” trips, integrating business and personal travel needs into a single, seamless experience.

Companies are using automated systems to create blended itineraries that respect employee preferences whilst maintaining compliance with company policies. In Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan, this new approach is empowering employees, enhancing job satisfaction, and promoting a healthier work-life balance.

5. Sustainable Travel Initiatives: Meeting Corporate Responsibility Goals in Asia

Sustainability is no longer a buzzword but a central theme in corporate travel in Asia, as a recent Amadeus survey revealed that 90% of travel companies have sustainability strategies in place or plan to implement them in 2025. From Singapore to Hong Kong, companies are adopting green travel strategies that reduce their environmental impact. Popular measures include using direct flights to lower emissions, booking eco-friendly accommodations, and investing in comprehensive carbon offset programmes.

ATPI, a leader in sustainable corporate travel in Asia, is helping businesses align their travel practices with sustainability goals, offering tools and guidance for effective carbon management.

6. Digitised Expenses: Transforming Financial Processes for Business Travel in Asia

Managing expenses is a challenge for many businesses, but corporate travel in Asia is being revolutionised by digital expensing and virtual cards. This shift marks the end of cumbersome manual expense management, overhauling how business transactions are recorded, processed, and analysed. Digital expenses enhance user experience, ensure policy compliance, and bolster data security.

7. Power Networking: A New Era of Strategic Connections in Asia

Finally, power networking will emerge as a top priority for business travellers in Asia. With a renewed focus on building meaningful connections, employees are maximising every opportunity at conferences and industry events. This trend is particularly strong in Hong Kong and Singapore, where companies are crafting richer itineraries with multiple high-value interactions beyond the core event agenda.

This business travel trend in Asia is driving a resurgence in event participation and strategic networking, making each trip a critical component of the company’s broader business development strategy.

Preparing for the Future of Corporate Travel in Asia

In 2025, corporate travel in Asia will be defined by a combination of advanced technology and renewed emphasis on human connections. Whether it’s AI-powered travel assistance, sustainable travel practices, or blended itineraries, businesses across the region are adopting innovative solutions to maximise efficiency, meet sustainability goals, and deliver a better travel experience. As one of the leading providers of corporate travel solutions in Asia, ATPI is at the forefront of these changes, offering local expertise and a comprehensive suite of services to support businesses across Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, and beyond. By leveraging these trends, companies can navigate the evolving business travel landscape with confidence and foresight.