90% of business travel managers are using AI, but opportunities in corporate travel abound 

Serko, and Sabre announced the release of the 2025 State of AI in Corporate  Travel: Unlocking Opportunities, Overcoming Challenges report. The study, based on a survey of  more than 300 U.S.-based travel managers at companies with over $50 million in revenue, sheds  light on how AI and generative AI (genAI) are reshaping the business travel landscape – and where  organizations are still falling short.

“The study’s results are clear: while AI adoption in corporate travel is high, success isn’t  guaranteed,” said Darrin Grafton, CEO and co-founder of Serko. “Yes, 90% of travel managers say  they’ve implemented AI or genAI, but too many are still hitting roadblocks. Whether it’s poor  implementation, a lack of internal capabilities, or limited partner support, these challenges are  preventing organizations from realizing the full value of their investment. That’s exactly where  technology players like Serko or Sabre have an opportunity to step up.”

Key Findings: AI Momentum, But Support Gaps Remain

Widespread adoption: Over 90% of respondents report using AI or genAI, primarily for cost  savings (71%), enhancing the traveler experience (68%), and improving data analysis (63%). Positive ROI: 52% say AI has exceeded expectations; 45% say it’s meeting them. Use cases

include booking optimization (73%), pricing and cost savings (70%), and chatbot-based traveler  support (64%).

Transformational potential: Nearly half of travel managers believe AI will have a “significant” or  “transformative” impact on their programs over the next five years.

Support shortcomings: While some respondents feel supported, 49% say support from travel  partners is only “moderate,” and 11% say they’ve received little or no help. Tech provider support  shows similar results.

Biggest roadblocks: Implementation hurdles (46%), lack of internal talent (19%), and budget  constraints (14%) are slowing progress.

Tech providers must accelerate AI integration, with the customer at the center

As the study suggests, AI has moved from experimentation to expectation, but the survey indicates  too many corporate travel programs are struggling to scale their efforts effectively. That’s where  travel technology partners must take a more proactive role to bridge the gap between potential and  performance.

“The corporate travel industry is moving quickly from exploring AI and genAI to deeply embedding  it into their operations,” said Sundar Narasimhan, SVP and President, Sabre Labs. “What was once  a ‘nice-to-have’ is becoming an operational necessity. Companies that fail to integrate AI-driven  decision-making risk falling behind – not just in efficiency and cost savings, but in their ability to  deliver the seamless, personalized experiences that travelers now expect. Our focus is on helping  our customers navigate this shift with confidence, helping to ensure they have the right tools,  strategies, and support to turn AI investment into meaningful traveler and business outcomes.”

Serko and Sabre agree: it’s not enough to innovate for innovation’s sake. The responsibility lies with  technology providers to simplify implementation, provide smarter automation, and actively guide  customers through their AI transformation journeys. That means aligning roadmaps to real-world  needs, reducing integration complexity, and helping to ensure that AI delivers not only performance  improvement, but traveler-centric value.

“This is a defining moment for the industry,” added Andrew Revell, Serko’s head of AI. “Our  customers are asking not just for tools, but for trust, expertise, and a clear path forward. We are  focused on delivering on all three.”