The small business guide to smarter travel & cost control in 2025 [Free download]
With insights from John Van den Heuvel, President, Corporate Traveler USA
Rising costs, shrinking margins. This guide helps you stay agile and cut waste—without cutting critical travel.
Practical strategies. Real ROI. Built for SMEs.
Why this guide matters
Economic uncertainty. Tariffs. Budget scrutiny. Travel’s under pressure—but it still drives revenue, relationships, and growth.
“Travel isn't a sunk cost; it's a growth lever. But it needs structure, support, and a clear link to outcomes.” – John Van den Heuvel
Inside, you'll find:
- How to travel smarter in an unpredictable economy
- ROI benchmarks by industry
- Strategic tips to reduce leakage without reducing impact
2025 business travel trends that matter to SMEs
Companies are rethinking travel, but the data shows it’s still essential.
- Corporate Traveler bookings Jan–Apr 2025: Up 17% YOY
- Traveler volume: Up 13% YOY
- Total trips: Up 17% YOY
- Tourism Review News: 42% of companies plan to increase travel spend in 2025
- Hyatt Q1 2025 business transient RevPAR: Up 12%
Top concern? Tariffs. 54% of travel professionals say these will raise prices across the board. The smart move isn’t to cut travel. It’s to manage it better.
Built for lean teams and fast-moving businesses
SMEs are being asked to do more with less
“For our customers, travel is rarely optional — but it does need to be optimized.” — John Van den Heuvel
Common SME challenges addressed in the guide:
- Untrained staff juggling travel as a side task
- Bookings made outside policy or last-minute
- Spending freezes that stall revenue-generating trips
- Weak visibility into total program costs
Don’t cut. Optimize. Learn how to protect the trips that matter and cut the waste.
From strategy to execution
What strategic travel looks like in practice
- Real-world tips to shift from reactive booking to predictive planning
- Insights on adapting travel policies to market volatility
- Industry-specific data to help you align investment with opportunity
“If you're seeing strong returns in the Northeast or in biotech, that's not the time to scale back. It's where you double down.” – John Van den Heuvel
“In sports and entertainment, you're paying us $10 to potentially save $20,000.”
— Julia Guinan, Director of Corporate Traveler, Stage, Screen, and Sports,