As 2024 wraps up, it’s the perfect time to look back on the year in business travel. You’ve probably noticed many changes this year if you’ve been traveling frequently or managing corporate trips. It’s been a year filled with updates, shifts, and travel trends 2024 that have changed how we approach business travel.
According to GBTA, 86% of global travel buyers and suppliers said business travel performed well or better than expected in 2024. Even more promising, 67% of professionals are optimistic about the industry’s future, showing a positive outlook for 2025.
This year, from higher travel costs to the rise of new technology, had its share of challenges and wins. Let’s look at the 2024 travel recap of business travel for itilite:
- What are the product updates and innovations?
- What are the achievements?
- Customer testimonials
- What’s in store for the future?
Business Travel 2024: The Year of Resilience
At the start of the year, business travel seemed poised for a rebound after the pandemic’s disruptions. While some predicted a slow recovery, 2024 proved that business travel is back in full force.
With companies across industries embracing travel for face-to-face meetings and international collaborations, business travel saw impressive growth. The industry saw a resurgence in demand for domestic and international travel, driven by a strong desire to reconnect, innovate, and expand.
The Surge in Business Travel in 2024
In the 2024 travel recap, global business travel spending is expected to hit a record US$1.5 trillion in 2024. This would surpass pre-pandemic levels by 6.2%, according to new research from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). The US will account for 30% of this total, with spending projected to reach US$472 billion, which is 13.4% higher than its 2019 spending.
itilite: Recap of 2024
2024 has been a year of significant milestones and progress as we innovate and deliver value to our customers. From introducing new features to refining existing solutions, we focused on making business travel and expense management smarter, simpler, and more efficient. This year has been about growth—not just in numbers, but in how we empower businesses to achieve more while spending less.
itilite 2024 Business Travel Recap: Product Releases & Innovations at itilite
1. Simplified Hotel Payments with Credit Card Authorization
Are you tired of juggling receipts, managing check-ins, and organizing travel for your team? itilite platform’s credit card authorization program is here to save the day! Create one-time virtual cards for each traveler, allowing hotels to charge securely—no fraud risks or manual headaches.
2. Automated Credit Card Spend Reconciliation
With itilite, credit card spends are automatically reconciled and tracked, saving you time, effort, and unnecessary stress. You don’t have to worry about reconciling your travel expenses manually again.
3. Seamless Integration with Assist ATS
We have opened our API suite to integrate with a leading ATS, Assist. Assist is a SaaS platform designed to streamline every aspect of healthcare staffing agency operations in one centralized system.
Tailored specifically for the end-to-end applicant tracking needs of the healthcare staffing industry, Assist brings over 20 years of expertise in successfully placing locum tenens professionals.
With itilite x Assist integration, users added to Assist are automatically synced with itilite, and any trips booked in itilite flow directly into Assist. This makes the entire process smooth and hassle-free for the central bookers.
Further, the integration allows our customers and partners to build custom integration and apps. Initial APIs focus on HR and expense management use cases, with plans to expand and add more as demand and usage increase.
4. A Smarter Car Rental Experience
Car rentals just got an upgrade! Our reimagined booking interface has smarter filters, enhanced membership capabilities, and a cleaner look. Finding the perfect rental car is now quicker and more convenient than ever.
5. Centralized Hotel Payments Made Easy
Stop worrying about lost receipts or check-in errors! With centralized payments and credit card authorization, hotel payments are streamlined like never before. Centralize your bookings, automate the process, and enjoy smooth, error-free travel arrangements.
6. View Live Fares While Approving
Approvers can now view live fares, sold-out options, and detailed add-ons in real time before approving a booking. This means fewer back-and-forth emails and complete transparency for everyone involved.
Redefined Business Travel 2024 With Meaningful & Strategic Partnerships
As we look at the travel recap and updates over the past year, we have made significant strides in building strategic relationships. It strengthens our understanding of market dynamics and enhances the customer experience.
1. Ground Mobility Made Easy
Traveling on the road? We’ve teamed up with Enterprise Mobility, the largest player in the U.S., to offer top-notch transportation options. Plus, partnerships with Avis, Budget, and Thrifty mean our clients get access to reliable and flexible options no matter where their journey takes them. It’s all about giving you choices that work for your needs.
2. Better Deals with Airlines
We’ve secured exceptional deals with United Airlines, covering both domestic and international travel, to help clients save more while traveling in comfort. With Delta Airlines, we’re aligning with their NGS vision to make booking smarter, more transparent, and innovative.
3. Smarter Tech with GDS Integration
Travel tech is a game-changer, and we’re embracing it fully. Our collaboration with GDS partners such as Travelport has allowed us to deliver cutting-edge solutions, including EDIFACT content, automated cancellations, and NDC content integration. It’s all designed to make corporate travel faster and more efficient for everyone involved.
4. Exceptional Member Rates for Hotel Bookings
When it comes to hotels, we’ve got it covered. Our partnerships with top brands like Hilton, Marriott, IHG, and more ensure our clients get exceptional room rates without sacrificing quality. Since July 2024, member rates for Hilton, IHG, and other major hotel chains have been available on itilite. From cost savings to premium stays, we ensure business travel feels like a breeze.
It’s All About You
Our commitment to making travel simple, seamless, and valuable for our clients is at the heart of it all. These partnerships are just the beginning of how we’re innovating to save you time, money, and effort while enhancing the overall experience.
Customer Love and Reviews
Our customers are delighted to use itilite! Don’t just take our word for it—hear it straight from those who’ve experienced the itilite difference.
| “Itilite has revolutionized the way we travel. We had formerly relied on pen and paper and individual expenses to book our travel. With many locations globally it was a mess. Thanks to ITILITE’s all encompassing and easy to use platforms, our employees book with ease and through their detailed reporting we can guarentee that every trip is documented and covered! This has been not a relief for individual employees but our company as a whole!” -Regional Treasury Co-Manager Enterprise(> 1000 emp.) |
| “I really appreciate not having to search multiple other sites to find hotel, airfare or rental cars. Everyone I know who has reached out to customer service (myself included) have been very happy with the response. I also like being able to bundle all aspects of a trip (flight, hotel and rental car). You can add your rewards accounts in you profile and even get some better deals if you are a reward member with that specific company. As someone who also approves expense reports in Itilite, that process is very user friendly, I get an email that someone has submitted and I am able to approve it quickly and effortlessly.” -Manager of Program Development and Efficacy Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.) |
2024 Awards & Recognition
As we reflect on the recognition of our 2024 travel recap, we’re proud of the strides we’ve made and excited for what lies ahead in shaping the future of corporate travel and expense management.
Looking Ahead: Business Travel in 2025 and Beyond
Staying ahead means finding smarter ways to manage business travel. That’s where itilite comes in. We’ve got your back with 24/7 support, so your team is never stuck during disruptions.
Our software makes booking, approvals, and expense management a breeze. It saves time and reduces hassle. Plus, we help you stretch your budget further with features like tracking unused credits and deal negotiations. In a time when every penny counts, itilite helps you travel smarter, easier, and more efficiently.
Book a free demo and make 2025 a great year for your business travel!
