Under Pressure: Corporate planners are burning out

Corporate travel is no longer just about booking flights, hotels, and taxis. For many travel managers, it now involves juggling budgets, managing risk, ensuring duty of care, keeping travellers happy, tracking metrics, and navigating new tools. It’s a role under heavy pressure.

A recent survey found that 37% of travel managers (1) believe rising stress makes it harder to deliver high-quality programmes. Meanwhile, TravelPerk (2) reported that 66% of business travellers feel disruptions have raised stress and negatively impacted work-life balance. These numbers highlight that the role of managing corporate travel has evolved — and many teams are at a breaking point.

The rising pressure

Business travel volumes have bounced back, but the conditions for planners have shifted significantly. Budgets are increasing in some places, yet expectations are higher. Companies now demand more from trips — results, wellbeing, sustainability.

In the 2025 SAP Concur survey (3), nearly all business travellers (97%) said they were willing to travel this year, but 90% would consider declining a trip if certain conditions weren’t met. Travel now comes with more risk, more variables, and more moving parts.

Top 3 stressors corporate planners face

1. Too many roles, too little time
   Travel managers are expected to be administrators, vendor negotiators, data analysts, wellness advocates, risk managers, and planners all at once. Many organisations cut roles during lean years, leaving planners to do more with less.
2. Budget pressure meets traveller expectation
   Budget control has always been core, but now travellers expect meaningful experiences, flexible options, and personalised service. At the same time, duty of care, safety regulations, and sustainability demands have increased. Planners are caught between cost constraints and rising traveller expectations.
3. Information overload and lack of integration
   Booking tools, dashboards, and risk platforms abound — yet many planners are still piecing insights together. Disruptions make it worse: 89% of business travellers experienced travel disruptions in 2025, with 66% reporting higher stress (2). When systems don’t talk and travellers are stranded, the planner bears the burden.

Where we come in

This is where a 1000 Mile Travel Group travel advisor becomes invaluable. A dedicated advisor relieves pressure by handling supplier negotiations, monitoring disruptions, staying on top of policy changes, and ensuring travellers are cared for — while providing meaningful data and insights. They become an extension of your team, understanding both business priorities and the human side of travel.

When a flight is cancelled or a location changes, the advisor jumps in. When budgets or policies shift, they bring options. They safeguard not just cost, but traveller wellbeing, reputation, and productivity.

The value of partnership

The smartest companies recognise that independent doesn’t mean small, and outsourced doesn’t mean disconnected. Partnering with travel advisors gives agility, expertise, and strategic support.

With a 1000 Mile Travel Group travel advisor, you get:

• Global reach and technology resources of corporate travel management
• Personal touch, accessibility, and flexibility of a dedicated partner
• Reclaim Time, Reduce Stress, Restore Confidence

If you’re a travel manager feeling the pressure, know you’re not alone. It doesn’t have to be this way. With the right partner, you can reclaim time, reduce stress, and restore confidence that your travel programme works for both your business and your team.

Work with a 1000 Mile Travel Group travel advisor and move from managing travel to owning it — with ease, support, and human-centred expertise.

 

References:
(1) Travel manager stress affecting corporate programmes
(2) The Cost of Travel Disruption in 2025
(3) Annual Study Reveals Complexity of Business Travel in 2025