Alexandria, VA ─ U.S. companies that take a strategic, well-governed approach to their business travel programs can achieve up to 30% higher revenue than their peers, according to a new return on investment (ROI) benchmarking study released today by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) and the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA).
The aggregate analysis of more than 3,200 U.S. firms across 17 industries found that every 1% increase in managed travel spending is associated with a 0.20% rise in revenue, and firms that balance strategic travel policy controls and flexibility outperform firms that do not by up to 30%.
The study, entitled “Quantifying the Return on Investment of U.S. Business Travel: Company Benchmarking Analysis,” provides landmark insights on the ROI of business travel at the company and industry levels, with actionable data for organizations seeking to optimize travel spend and drive stronger business outcomes. It is a follow-up to a companion report GBTA and ASTA released in July providing a broader view on ROI and business travel investment for U.S. firms.
The study identifies the key drivers of travel and expense (T&E) spending and provides a benchmarking framework for organizations to compare their travel investment against industry peers:
The analysis reveals that effective travel policy creation and management is a strategic driver of business performance. However, overly rigid enforcement ─ where business travel rules are applied so strictly that they restrict employees’ ability to make timely or cost-effective travel decisions ─ can limit returns, emphasizing the need for balanced compliance frameworks that maintain both control and flexibility.
The benchmarking model accounts for each company’s unique mix of attributes ─ such as revenue, employee count, number of locations, and operational intensity ─ allowing organizations to pinpoint how much they should be spending on travel relative to peers. For example, a company in the Human Health and Social Work sector was found to be underspending by $50,000 compared to its predicted benchmark, while a firm in the Information and Communication sector was overspending by $160,000, highlighting opportunities for efficiency gains or strategic investment.
The research draws on an aggregate sample of over 3,200 U.S. companies using anonymized data from Prime Numbers Technology and Dun & Bradstreet, merging firm-level travel spend, revenue, employment, and travel management enforcement data. The analysis uses advanced econometric modeling to isolate the causal impact of travel investment and management practices on company revenue.
Download the full report here. GBTA members can also access the report in the GBTA Hub.
For more information, visit GBTA Research or contact [email protected].
Founded in 1931, The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) is the leading global advocate for travel advisors, the broader travel industry and the traveling public. Its members represent 80 percent of all travel sold in the United States through the travel agency distribution channel. Together with several hundred internationally based members and travel partners, ASTA champions the essential role of travel advisors through advocacy, education and professional development. In addition to serving as a professional resource for travel advisors, ASTA maintains a long-standing commitment to elevating the travel industry by promoting integrity, expertise and consumer confidence. Learn more at www.asta.org.