Corporate bookings are up 45 per cent as employees take to the road more often, according to new industry figures, and the rise has sharpened demand for business travel planning tips that go further than a flight and a bed.
For UK employers, the question is what separates a trip that earns its cost from one that returns a tired employee with a backlog. Three frequent travellers, among them Joshua Wood, Business Travel Director at Booking.com for Business, have set out the habits they rely on to keep work trips productive.
Why corporate travel bookings are rising
The increase sits alongside a broader recovery in corporate travel bookings. The Global Business Travel Association forecast for 2026 puts global spending at a record 1.71 trillion dollars this year across 1.84 billion trips, and the UK recorded the second sharpest rise in corporate travel spending of any major market in 2025. The Office for National Statistics also publishes estimates of UK residents’ visits abroad.
How to plan a business trip that holds together
Build the itinerary around geography before the diary. That is the approach of Natália Honold, Co-founder of Lola Advisory Inc., who travels regularly for work between Brazil, the United States and other markets.
“I don’t just create an agenda; I build a logistics map,” she said. “Before every trip, I map every hotel, meeting, restaurant, and venue to understand travel times, traffic patterns, and whether I need a driver or can walk. A schedule can look perfect on paper, but completely fall apart if the logistics between locations aren’t planned.”
Where a traveller sleeps matters just as much, Wood argues, because the room must double as an office. “I like to look beyond the obvious and pay close attention to amenities that are going to make working a breeze. For example, reliable wifi, quiet workspaces – including a conference room when needed, and transport links. My accommodation must support my working day.”
He also warns against scattering trip details across several apps. “By using a centralised corporate travel management platform, I consolidate my bookings, confirmations, and trip details in one place, reducing admin time and preventing organisational overwhelm,” he said.
His third rule bears directly on how firms write their booking rules. “Business trips can be surprisingly unpredictable,” Wood said. “Whether a meeting overruns or something else comes up, booking free cancellation travel for your return journey removes a lot of unnecessary pressure and means you can adapt your plans more easily.” Flexibility costs money at the point of booking, one of the reasons every company needs a travel policy that sets out when a refundable fare is worth it.
Business travel planning tips that protect performance
The most expensive mistake, according to Deepak Shukla, Founder and CEO at SEO agency Pearl Lemon, is treating the calendar as the only thing worth optimising. “The primary error that business travellers make is that of maximising minutes rather than energy. Whenever I need to attend an important business meeting, I will arrive the evening before, even though that requires paying for an additional night in the hotel. A well-rested arrival is generally more valuable than packing an extra working day in.”
Shukla also divides the trip by task type rather than by hour. “Whenever I travel for work, I distinguish between deep and collaborative work. Writing, thinking strategically, and planning take place during my flights and in airport lounges because these places are completely distraction-free. All client meetings, calls, and decision-making are done once I arrive.”
Natália Honold applies the same logic to the diary itself. “I try to place my highest-stakes meetings during the part of the day when I know I’ll be at my best, and leave travel or administrative tasks for lower-energy periods. For business travel, protecting your energy is part of protecting your performance.”
For employers signing off the extra hotel night, that is the calculation to run. The best business travel planning tips cost something up front and save the far larger sum represented by a senior employee who arrives unprepared, an argument that sits alongside familiar advice on taking the stress out of business travel.
