How the New York Mets streamlined travel for every part of the organization
Every fan sees what happens on the field. But behind the scenes, there’s a whole other game in motion. For the New York Mets, keeping the organization moving requires coordinating hundreds of trips, dozens of departments, and some of the biggest names in baseball.
When the Mets needed a partner who could handle travel at the scale and pace of a major league franchise, they turned to Corporate Traveler.
And they haven’t looked back.
A fast-paced business with no off-season
The Mets don’t just play over 80 games at home and another 80+ on the road each season. They also manage spring training, international scouting, and postseason runs that leave no time for delays.
“The Mets business is nonstop,” says Samantha Engelhardt, Chief Operating Officer. “We have players on the road, coaches on the road, scouts going to different places across the globe. We're constantly on the move, adapting, and trying to make sure that wherever we go, everyone's in the right place.”
And movement means complexity. Playoff travel hinges on a single game’s outcome, so when the Mets advanced to the National League Championship Series (NLCS) last year, Corporate Traveler was tasked with booking 89 flights in just two days. The moment they won, the travel desk kicked into full gear, coordinating urgent arrangements to get everyone to Los Angeles in time.
There are also ceremonies for club legends that require moving dozens of VIPs from across the country – sometimes internationally. Everyone has unique needs, and everything is time sensitive.
“What people may not realize is that there's so much more to an organization like the Mets than just the players’ travel,” said Julia Guinan, Director of Operations at Corporate Traveler USA.
Too many trips, not enough support
Before Corporate Traveler, the Mets’ travel process was inconsistent and manual. Some teams used a platform. Most didn’t. Responsibility often landed on people who had other jobs to do.
“I used to get a lot of phone calls at 11 or 12:00 at night from folks that were traveling,” said Gabrielle Jasper, Manager of Integrated Brand Marketing. “And unfortunately, there wasn't much that I can do.”
There was no central process. No consistency. And when things went wrong internal teams had no backup.
And the travel needs went far beyond just moving players and coaches. Business operations, sales, marketing, partnerships, finance, and procurement teams were all on the move. Each department has their own goals, priorities, and timelines.
“People may think there's an unlimited budget because it's such a huge organization, and because it's a major league professional team,” said Julia. “However, we're always focusing on saving money, leveraging our relationships, and ensuring that cost and policy compliance are at the forefront of every decision we make and every ticket we book.”
The pressure doesn’t stop at big events. Everyday travel like scouts moving between facilities, marketing teams visiting sponsors, or alumni flying in for press, adds layers of friction that pulls people away from the work they’re hired to do.
Finding the balance of people & tech
The Mets brought in Corporate Traveler to take ownership of the process in 2022. With a dedicated support team, 24/7 coverage, and a deep understanding of the Mets’ internal operations, we quickly embedded into the Mets’ operations, acting as a true extension of the internal team.
They were also looking for more than just service. The Mets needed a partner who could balance high-touch support with intuitive, modern tech. While they’d previously had access to an online booking tool, it seemed usage was limited. That changed with Melon. Now, team members can log in and quickly book trips themselves, increasing adoption, improving visibility, and helping the organization capture more savings through their negotiated rates.
And when things get complicated, like last-minute playoff runs or booking for high-profile players, the Mets rely on their team of travel managers at Corporate Traveler. They bring the institutional knowledge, problem solving, and round-the-clock responsiveness to keep everything moving. Whether it’s coordinating spring training blocks or managing changes mid-trip, their dedicated team’s support means the Mets staff don’t have to drop everything when plans shift.
“They’re available any time of the day,” said Gabrielle. “[Our people] reach out directly to the Corporate Traveler line and the dedicated Mets email. And those folks on the Corporate Traveler end are really making it possible for issues to be fixed.”
That blend of proactive service and platform efficiency isn’t only convenient, it’s delivering measurable value. In 2024, the Mets saw a $2.44 return for every $1 spent on travel management fees. From spotting lower fares before ticketing to optimizing how bookings align with policy, our team helps ensure every dollar spent is working harder across the board.
Calm in the chaos
“When things run smoothly, you can really focus on the special stuff,” Samantha said. “You're not focused on the day to day and making sure things work. When everything's working, you can make things perform at a higher level, and that's what we want to be able to do.”
At Corporate Traveler, we handle travel for more than 4000 trips in a single season, spanning every department from baseball operations to partnerships, with the same attention to detail, speed, and care.
“We're always looking for a partner to be integrated with us. They're part of our family. We bring them into the Mets ecosystem, and we always want them to be really an integral part of who we are. And for Corporate Traveler in particular, they're part of every bit of the business we do on the road, on the business, on the baseball side.” – Samantha Engelhardt, COO, NY Mets