The complete business travel packing checklist for first-time and seasoned travellers Because no one delivers their best work when they’re busy hunting for a missing charger Business travel has a way of exposing all the small things we usually take for granted at home. The charger you thought was already in your bag. The shirt you definitely meant to iron. The document you were sure you saved somewhere obvious. No matter if it’s your first work trip or your hundredth, packing has a habit of turning into a last-minute scramble – and the consequences aren’t always minor. One forgotten item can throw off a meeting, delay a site visit or leave you paying airport prices for something you own three of already. What most travellers realise, often the hard way, is that packing isn’t really about stuffing a suitcase. It’s about preparing yourself to work comfortably and confidently away from home. And the more mobile your role (field teams, engineers, project crews, supervisors, auditors, area managers) the more that preparation shapes the success of the trip itself. A business travel packing checklist isn’t about being rigid or over-organised. It’s about taking the guesswork out of an already busy week and freeing up headspace for the work you’re actually travelling to do. It helps first-timers avoid rookie mistakes, and it helps seasoned travellers stay consistent even when trips stack up back-to-back. Below, we’ll build the complete checklist, one that goes further than clothes and toiletries, and reflects what modern mobile workers actually need on the road. Why you need a business travel packing checklist (and why memory isn’t enough) Most travellers will confidently say they “never forget anything”, right up until the moment they’re halfway to the airport and realise the presentation clicker is still on their desk, their laptop charger is plugged in behind the sofa, or the only umbrella they own is sitting politely in the hallway. Business travel isn’t always revolving around clothes and toiletries – it’s a moving mix of meetings, deadlines, logistics, tech, documents, compliance, safety considerations and the occasional policy landmine. A proper business travel packing checklist cuts through the questions and protects you from the quiet chaos that happens when even one essential item is missing. A good checklist will support: ✔ Different types of trips A one-night site visit, a four-day conference and a two-week overseas project all require different gear. A structured list lets you adjust quickly without starting from scratch every time. ✔ Different roles A quantity surveyor does not pack like a regional sales manager, and a travelling engineer doesn’t think about the same risks as a consultant flying between client offices. A checklist levels the playing field. ✔ Different company expectations Some businesses provide a corporate card. Others require receipts uploaded in-trip. Some require PPE. Others expect formal attire. A checklist keeps those rules visible and helps travellers stay compliant. ✔ Unexpected disruption Delays, lost luggage, changed meeting locations, weather issues – these things never feel urgent until they are. With a checklist, you’re not improvising under pressure. Pre-trip planning: what to sort out before you touch a suitcase Packing is only one part of preparing for business travel. Experienced travellers know the “before you pack” stage determines how smooth the entire trip will be. Here’s what to sort first: 1. Confirm your itinerary (and the purpose of the trip) It sounds obvious, but it’s amazing how often travellers pack before remembering that one day includes a client dinner, another requires PPE on-site, and the final day is mostly travel and admin. Your itinerary dictates your packing, not the other way around. 2. Check your company’s travel policy Even seasoned travellers skip this step and pay for it later. Policies usually include: Approved travel suppliers Hotel requirements (breakfast, room caps, locations) Allowed expenses PPE rules for on-site visits Safety requirements depending on destination Out-of-hours travel guidance If you use Roomex, these rules are built into the booking flow so travellers don’t miss them. Looking for comfortable accommodation and simple expense management tailored specifically for the mobile workforce? Discover how Roomex can streamline your travel needs, offering hassle-free booking and expense solutions designed to keep your team focused on the job. Try Roomex today and experience the difference in efficiency and convenience for your mobile workforce. Request a Demo 3. Understand your payment method Will you use a corporate card? A virtual card? Your own money and claim later?This affects: Which receipts you must keep Whether your hotel requires deposits Whether you need backup payment cards What reimbursement timelines look like (With RoomexPay, travellers don’t pay out of pocket – which removes the biggest stress point.) 4. Check travel documents and logistics Before you even think about clothes, confirm: Passport validity Visa requirements Real ID requirements (if relevant) Airport/train station transfers Hotel check-in instructions Local worksite rules (PPE, access cards, induction documents) Skipping these is how last-minute chaos begins. 5. Review weather and local conditions Rain in Manchester. Heat in Madrid. Snow in Warsaw. Humidity in Singapore.Your bag should reflect the forecast, not wishful thinking. What to consider before you start packing for business travel Before you look at a suitcase, there’s a moment every traveller (whether it’s their first trip or their fiftieth) has to pause and think about what this journey actually demands. Business travel isn’t “going somewhere with a laptop”. It’s a mix of work, logistics, personal comfort and contingency planning, all packed into a very small physical space. And the decisions you make before you pack are what determine if your trip runs smoothly or becomes a string of small frustrations. Here are the factors professional business travellers always run through before they touch a packing cube. 1. The purpose and structure of your trip No two business trips are the same. A one-night client dinner requires a different setup than three days on a construction site, an internal strategy workshop or a week at an industry conference. Before building your business travel packing checklist,..

Business travel expenses list – The who, what, and why of paying for work trips Exploring the awards shaping greener business travel Sustainability has moved from a travel-industry talking point to a genuine measure of progress, performance and reputation. Across Europe, companies are under pressure to reduce the environmental impact of their corporate travel – and suppliers are being asked to prove that they’re not only offsetting carbon, but transforming how travel is planned and delivered. That shift is exactly why the business travel sustainability awards have become such a significant part of the industry calendar. What began as a small recognition programme has grown into one of the most respected sets of sustainable travel awards in Europe, bringing together travel managers, climate specialists, suppliers, ESG leaders and mobility innovators. The awards celebrate organisations that are demonstrating real, measurable change – whether through smarter routing, low-emission fleets, sustainable aviation fuel programmes, rail-first travel strategies or technology that cuts unnecessary journeys altogether. As sustainable travel climbs even higher on corporate agendas, the awards offer something increasingly important: clarity. They give travel managers insight into who is leading the way, which initiatives genuinely reduce emissions and what the future of sustainable travel looks like for businesses trying to meet ambitious climate goals without slowing down their operations. What the business travel sustainability awards in Europe actually are The business travel sustainability awards have quickly become one of the most influential benchmarks in the travel industry – not because they celebrate nice ideas, but because they focus on measurable action. First introduced by the BTN Group in 2023, the awards were created in response to a simple shift happening across Europe: sustainability is no longer a side project in corporate travel programmes, it is now a core performance metric. Unlike traditional sustainable travel awards, which often highlight broad commitments or marketing-led initiatives, these awards recognise companies, travel managers, analysts and suppliers who are delivering real, evidenced progress. Every entry goes through an independent judging panel made up of senior travel managers, sustainability consultants and ESG specialists who look for tangible results rather than promises. What the judges assess is detailed and deliberately rigorous. Submissions are evaluated across criteria such as: Carbon reduction performance backed by verified data Supplier innovation, especially new technology or processes reducing emissions Behaviour change programmes that shift how travellers choose and move Policy alignment, ensuring sustainability goals are part of everyday decision-making Reporting transparency, including credible methodologies and meaningful metrics For travel, HR and finance managers, understanding how these awards work is important. They act as a clear signal of which suppliers and travel teams are leading the way on sustainable travel, and which approaches are proving the most effective across Europe’s business travel ecosystem. Who judges the awards? The judging panel includes: Senior corporate travel managers Independent travel consultants Sustainability and ESG specialists Industry analysts This independent structure make sure that winners are chosen based on data, not sponsorship or branding. What the awards aim to do Highlight actions over claims Encourage modal shift to lower-carbon options (rail, EV fleets, serviced apartments) Reward transparency and reporting discipline Showcase suppliers with credible, science-aligned sustainability targets Provide travel managers with trusted benchmarks These sustainable travel awards are becoming a key reference point for procurement, HR, sustainability and finance teams selecting partners for their travel programmes. Categories recognised across Europe The awards span suppliers, travel programmes and individual leadership. The structure changes slightly each year, but the core categories include: Core award categories Award category What it recognises Why it matters Achievement in Sustainability – Managed Travel Programme Companies reducing emissions through policy, behavioural change and reporting Helps travel managers benchmark best-in-class programmes Sustainability Champion Individuals leading transformational sustainability work Highlights leadership that drives cultural change Sustainability Partner of the Year – Airline Airlines implementing verifiable decarbonisation roadmaps Gives procurement clarity on which suppliers back claims with action Sustainability Partner of the Year – Rail Operator Rail companies enabling modal shift and low-carbon business travel Important for Europe’s rail-first strategies Sustainability Partner of the Year – Ground Transport EV expansion, fleet electrification and low-carbon routing Supports greener door-to-door journeys Sustainability Partner of the Year – TMC Travel management companies embedding sustainability into tools and policies Guides corporate decision-making at the point of sale Achievement in Sustainability – Accommodation Hotels standardising reporting and reducing property emissions Helps companies book lower-impact stays Achievement in Sustainability Innovation New technologies, platforms or processes Shows where sustainability is heading next Achievement in Sustainability – Meetings & Events Low-waste, low-carbon events strategy A major impact area for large organisations Achievement in Advancing Sustainability – Data & Reporting High-quality carbon reporting and transparency Essential for ESG, procurement and finance teams These categories map closely to the real decisions organisations must make when designing sustainable travel programmes: which airlines to trust, which accommodation providers reduce impact, which ground transport partners are electrifying their fleets and which booking systems provide reliable carbon data. Looking for comfortable accommodation and simple expense management tailored specifically for the mobile workforce? Discover how Roomex can streamline your travel needs, offering hassle-free booking and expense solutions designed to keep your team focused on the job. Try Roomex today and experience the difference in efficiency and convenience for your mobile workforce. Request a Demo Winners of the 2025 Business Travel Sustainability Awards (Europe) Below is a breakdown of the 2025 winners, based on BTN Europe’s Earth Day announcement. Supplier winners   Category Winner Why they stood out Sustainability Partner of the Year – Airline easyJet Holistic sustainability approach, strong SAF collaboration, operational efficiencies Sustainability Partner of the Year – Rail Operator Avanti West Coast Validated 2031 net-zero target, strong modal shift partnerships Sustainability Partner of the Year – Ground Transport (Driver Hire) Blacklane Transparent EV expansion, measurable emissions reporting Sustainability Partner of the Year – TMC BCD Travel Carbon-fee invoicing, behavioural nudges, enterprise-wide strategy Highly Commended – TMC Key Travel Documented results, Carbon Neutral Hotel Rooms programme Achievement in Sustainability – Accommodation Provider Lamington Group..

Business travel expenses list – The who, what, and why of paying for work trips A clear, practical breakdown of what counts as business travel Business travel expenses are one of those topics everyone thinks they understand… until they actually have to deal with them. For employees, they can feel like a guessing game – what counts, what doesn’t, which receipts matter and which mysteriously don’t, and why a perfectly reasonable sandwich suddenly becomes “non-compliant”. For finance teams, they’re a constant balancing act: approving claims quickly enough to keep travellers happy, but accurately enough to keep budgets in check. And yet, getting your business travel expenses list right really does matter. Done well, it keeps spend predictable, protects staff from being out of pocket and gives finance the clarity they need to plan with confidence. Done badly, it creates confusion, delays and the kind of avoidable admin that drags down everyone’s day. The stakes are even higher now that prices are rising across transport, accommodation and meals, and businesses are trying to stretch budgets without making travel harder than it needs to be. A clear, practical approach to travel expenses, paired with modern tools that reduce manual work, can transform the way teams travel and the way organisations operate. Below, we’ll break down what should be included in every business travel expenses list, why certain costs qualify while others don’t, and how smarter travel and expense management keeps both travellers and finance teams moving in the same direction. Why business travel expenses are important Business travel is often described as routine, but anyone managing it knows it never really is. You’ve got employees travelling to sites at short notice, last-minute hotel bookings, client lunches, mileage claims, out-of-hours phone calls and the inevitable missing receipt that turns up a month later in someone’s jacket pocket. And behind every trip is a cost that needs to be tracked, approved and justified – often by teams already stretched thin. This is where a clear, accurate business travel expenses list becomes incredibly important. It is the foundation of travel and expense management, the reference point that keeps budgets under control, and the way businesses protect employees from being left out of pocket after doing their job. When companies understand what counts, what doesn’t and how the rules work, they can keep travel running smoothly and reduce the friction that usually surrounds expense claims. What counts as a business travel expense? At its simplest, business travel expenses cover any cost an employee must pay while travelling wholly and exclusively for work. HMRC follows this rule closely, which means the purpose of the journey matters just as much as the journey itself. Here are the core categories featured in any reliable business travel expenses list: ✔ Transport Costs associated with getting from A to B for work, including: Train, bus and tube fares Flights Taxis and ride-hailing Mileage in a personal vehicle Car hire Road charges (tolls, congestion charges, bridge fees) Parking fees ✔ Accommodation When an employee must stay overnight for work: Hotels, serviced apartments, contractor accommodation Reasonable service charges Internet fees needed for work Hotel parking ✔ Meals and subsistence Meals purchased while travelling for work, during work hours or in line with HMRC’s subsistence rules. ✔ Work-related necessities Often overlooked, but valid: Printing costs Work calls outside standard plans SIMs or data packages needed for the trip Small tools or supplies required on site ✔ Incidental expenses Small but essential costs incurred only because of the trip: Currency exchange fees Laundry on extended stays Safety equipment required for site access All of these fall under legitimate travel expense categories when the reason for travelling is clear and business-related. What business travel does not include Confusion usually arises at the edges, especially when a trip contains both personal and business elements. HMRC is strict here. ❌ Not allowed: Ordinary commuting (home → permanent workplace → home) Family members travelling along Hotel upgrades without business justification Leisure activities, entertainment or tourism Add-ons not needed for work (room service, movies, minibar) Clothes or toiletries unless required for safety or uniform purposes ❌ Mixed-purpose trips A big one: if an employee adds leisure days before or after a business trip, only the business portion qualifies as a travel expense. Understanding HMRC rules without the headache HMRC’s guidance can feel deliberately cryptic, but the core concept is simple:If you have to travel somewhere to perform your job, the associated costs are usually allowable. Two key definitions matter most. Looking for comfortable accommodation and simple expense management tailored specifically for the mobile workforce? Discover how Roomex can streamline your travel needs, offering hassle-free booking and expense solutions designed to keep your team focused on the job. Try Roomex today and experience the difference in efficiency and convenience for your mobile workforce. Request a Demo Temporary workplace A place an employee attends for business for under 24 months, AND for less than 40% of their working time. Travel here = allowable. Permanent workplace A long-term work location employees attend regularly. Travel here = ordinary commuting → non-allowable.   Scenario Allowable? Why Engineer sent to a client site for 3 weeks ✔ Yes Temporary workplace Area manager visiting stores around their region ✔ Yes Duties require travel Employee going to the same office every day ✘ No Ordinary commute Contractor spending 2 years at the same project site ✘ No Becomes permanent under the 24-month rule Sales rep attending a conference in another city ✔ Yes Business attendance required The complete business travel expenses list Here is your comprehensive, modern business travel expenses list – covering every type of cost a business should consider: Transport Train tickets Taxis Flights Bus and tube fares Mileage rates (HMRC-approved) Car hire Congestion charges Tolls Parking Accommodation Hotels Serviced apartments Contractor lodging Project accommodation Hotel Wi-Fi Hotel parking Meals Breakfast, lunch, dinner during work travel Subsistence allowances Meal costs when working off-site or overnight Work necessities Printing Work phone calls Internet/data for work use..

Train travel for work – the complete 2025 guide for workforce mobility Everything organisations need to plan smarter and keep mobile teams moving Train travel for work has a rhythm most people know well: early alarms, crowded platforms, a quick coffee, and a quiet hope that today isn’t the day signalling faults or engineering works derail the plan. For the typical business traveller, a routine site visit can mean multiple connections, shifting schedules and a constant eye on the departure board. Even so, rail remains how mobile teams get things done. The rail network recorded 1.7 billion passenger journeys in the year ending 2024, and more than 451 million between April and June 2025 – slightly above the same pre-pandemic quarter, showing just how many workers still rely on trains to reach jobs, sites and clients. Reliability, however, has not kept pace with demand. Only around 67% of recorded station stops arrived on time in 2024, and cancellations remain higher than before the pandemic. For businesses, that translates into missed appointments, added overtime, extra hotel nights and a steady stream of project delays. For travellers, it often means long days, disrupted routines and a growing sense of fatigue. It’s why more organisations are tightening how they plan rail journeys, standardising which train travel planner tools teams should use and adopting approaches that genuinely support dispersed, on-the-move workers. The right business travel platform now plays a central role in keeping people moving, staying ahead of train travel disruption and managing the real cost of keeping a mobile workforce on the road. Why train travel for work is growing in popularity For many organisations, rail isn’t just a practical way to get from A to B – it’s how dispersed teams keep operations moving. A single day might involve an engineer travelling between maintenance jobs, a field technician covering several regions or an area manager visiting stores across multiple towns. When your workforce depends on reaching specific locations at specific times, train travel for work becomes a core part of delivering projects on schedule. Why workers continue to rely on trains Rail offers several advantages that make it particularly suited to workforce travel: More predictable journey times than road travel, especially on busy commuter routes Productive travel windows, giving staff time to catch up on emails, reporting or documentation Efficient multi-stop travel, allowing workers to visit multiple sites in one day Lower fatigue, since trains offer rest between physically demanding tasks For teams covering long distances or tight schedules, those extra pockets of productivity and downtime genuinely matter. What has changed Reliance on rail has increased, but so have the challenges that come with it. Organisations are dealing with: Rising fares, especially for late bookings More frequent train travel disruption, with cancellations and delays affecting day plans Inconsistent booking behaviour, leading to higher costs and gaps in duty of care Scattered receipts and ticket formats, which create friction for finance Limited visibility of who is travelling, when and at what cost The traditional approach (letting employees book however they prefer) now creates real problems for cost control, scheduling and safety. Why organisations are rethinking their approach To manage rail travel more effectively, many businesses are standardising the full process: how bookings are made, which train travel planner tools staff use and how policies are enforced. The focus is shifting towards platforms that support workforce mobility at scale, rather than corporate office travel alone. Modern travel management now prioritises: Clear fare visibility, including split-ticket options Centralised approvals that keep spending aligned with policy Real-time disruption updates to minimise project delays Duty of care tracking so managers know where people are Consolidated monthly invoicing to simplify accounting Custom policies that control cost without slowing teams down In an environment where delays can derail entire project days, businesses are recognising that the process behind rail travel is just as important as the journey itself. Looking for comfortable accommodation and simple expense management tailored specifically for the mobile workforce? Discover how Roomex can streamline your travel needs, offering hassle-free booking and expense solutions designed to keep your team focused on the job. Try Roomex today and experience the difference in efficiency and convenience for your mobile workforce. Request a Demo Understanding train travel disruption and why it derails more than journeys If you manage a mobile workforce, you already know that train travel disruption isn’t only an inconvenience. A delayed or cancelled service quickly becomes a domino effect: missed site slots, rescheduled shifts, lost labour hours, overtime, extra hotel nights and frustrated teams trying to piece their day back together. And while disruption has always existed, the scale and frequency in recent years has changed the way organisations need to plan. What disruption actually looks like now According to the Office of Rail and Road, only 67% of recorded station stops arrived on time in 2024, and cancellations remain above pre-pandemic levels. This isn’t a one-off issue, it’s a pattern. Disruption tends to fall into a few categories: Operational delays – train faults, crew shortages, dispatch issues Infrastructure problems – signalling faults, track work, speed restrictions Weather-related disruption – flooding, high winds, extreme heat Congestion – busy commuter routes, knock-on delays from other services Short-notice timetable changes – often linked to engineering works When several of these collide, even straightforward journeys become unpredictable. How disruption impacts your business For organisations with workers travelling daily or weekly, disruption creates very real operational and financial challenges: Missed appointments and project delays Unplanned overtime, especially for workers travelling long distances Additional hotel nights when staff can’t get home Rearranged labour and rota changes mid-day Lost productivity when workers spend hours waiting at stations Duty of care concerns, particularly for lone or late-night travellers Even a single delay can turn into hundreds of pounds in additional cost once labour hours, travel changes and accommodation are factored in. Why businesses need earlier warning and better visibility Most teams don’t struggle because they’re unaware disruption exists – they struggle because they..

How a travel management company helps you secure delayed flight compensation Because busy teams need clearer processes and fewer travel disruptions Flight disruption has quietly become one of the biggest drains on business travel budgets. And 2025 has been especially unforgiving. Delays across Europe have surged by 54% this year, with 16% of all flights operated by the top 20 European airlines affected. Weather, crew shortages, operational issues, strikes, runway closures – the reasons vary, but the impact lands on your business every single time. For travellers, a missed or delayed flight means stress and lost time. For companies, it means rearranged meetings, extra hotel nights, overtime costs, frustrated staff and complicated paperwork. And while most employees qualify for delayed flight compensation, claiming it often falls through the cracks because nobody has the time (or energy) to fight airlines for weeks on end. That’s where a travel management company can help. Instead of travellers chasing forms and hunting for evidence, your TMC handles the entire process – checking eligibility, gathering proof, submitting claims and keeping everything aligned with your business travel insurance. It’s support that matters whether your team is flying short-haul for site visits or booking business class flights for long-haul operations. Below, we’ll break down exactly how compensation works, why so many businesses miss out, and how the right travel management partner (including Roomex) makes sure you actually recover the money you’re owed. How delayed flight compensation actually works When a flight gets pushed back or cancelled, most travellers know they might be entitled to money back. What fewer people realise is just how much compensation is available – and how often businesses miss out simply because nobody files the claim. Under EU261, UK261 and equivalent global regulations, airlines must compensate passengers when their flight arrives significantly late, unless the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances such as severe weather or air traffic control restrictions. Here’s how the rules typically work: Support gets stretched Travellers may be eligible for delayed flight compensation when: Their arrival is delayed by 3 hours or more Their flight is cancelled with short notice They are denied boarding due to overbooking Their airline is responsible for the disruption (e.g., staffing, maintenance, scheduling, crew hours) This applies no matter if the ticket was economy or business class flights, and whether the passenger travelled for leisure or work. What companies can actually claim The compensation amount varies by distance, not ticket price. We’ll dig into the exact amounts later in the blog, but most payments fall between €250 and €600 per traveller. For businesses, that adds up quickly. A team of four delayed on a work trip could be owed €2,400 in compensation alone – not including additional reimbursement for meals, accommodation or transport the airline must legally cover. Why businesses struggle to claim Even when companies know compensation is available, claiming it is a time-sink. The most common blockers include: Missing documentation (boarding passes, booking references, timestamps) Unclear eligibility Staff not reporting delays because they assume it’s pointless Teams travelling without structured support Administrative backlogs Airlines taking weeks to respond or asking for more information This is where a good business travel platform becomes invaluable. Instead of travellers chasing airline forms, the system handles everything centrally with the right proof, timestamps and reporting. Looking for comfortable accommodation and simple expense management tailored specifically for the mobile workforce? Discover how Roomex can streamline your travel needs, offering hassle-free booking and expense solutions designed to keep your team focused on the job. Try Roomex today and experience the difference in efficiency and convenience for your mobile workforce. Request a Demo Workforce travel doesn’t fit neatly into corporate workflows Most platforms are built for office-based business travellers hopping between client meetings. They’re not designed for engineers, installers or contractors who need practical, affordable stays – often for weeks at a time. How this impacts your business travel insurance Many companies rely on business travel insurance to cover unexpected costs, but insurance and airline compensation are not the same thing. Insurance typically covers incidentals such as: Replacement items for lost baggage Hotel nights when airlines refuse Emergency costs But insurance won’t claim compensation on your behalf. And insurers often require proof that the airline refused to compensate first. This is exactly why pairing robust insurance with a travel management company lifts the pressure: the TMC ensures the airline meets its legal obligations before anything needs to flow through insurance. Why using a travel management company gives you a better chance of getting compensated Most travellers don’t claim compensation on their own. Not because they don’t qualify, but because they don’t have the time, the proof, or the patience to navigate airline forms. For companies managing dozens or hundreds of trips a month, those missed claims add up to serious lost money. This is where a dedicated business travel platform like ours becomes more than a booking tool. It acts as a safety net that catches every disruption, documents it properly, and submits claims long before they fall through the cracks. Here’s why companies who use a managed platform recover more compensation 1. Every delay is logged automatically Employees often forget the exact arrival time or lose the boarding pass that proves a delay. A travel platform tracks itineraries in real time, so when a flight is pushed back or cancelled, you already have: Timestamped proof The original itinerary The final arrival time The reason for the disruption (where available) That’s the documentation airlines look for when processing delayed flight compensation. 2. No more incomplete or missed claims Airlines reject thousands of claims every year because the traveller forgets a document or fills in a detail incorrectly. A managed solution standardises the process so every claim includes: Flight number Distance category Delay duration Passenger details Proof of booking Proof of delay It takes the admin away from travellers and dramatically improves the success rate. 3. Centralised claims reduce time and pressure on employees Employees already balance travel, meetings..

The best TravelPerk alternatives for business travel For teams who need better control and real support Every travel manager eventually reaches the same crossroads: the tools that worked when the business was smaller stop holding up once travel gets busier, budgets tighten, or traveller support becomes more important. That’s usually when teams start reviewing TravelPerk alternatives – not because something dramatic went wrong, but because the business has outgrown the basics. Maybe your travellers need clearer routes to support when plans change mid-journey. Maybe finance needs cleaner reporting. Maybe you’re juggling project-based or workforce travel that doesn’t follow the neat patterns most corporate tools are built around. Or maybe you simply want a business travel platform that gives you proper control without the admin spiral. Whatever the reason, you’re not alone. Companies across the UK and Ireland are reassessing their tools and looking for platforms that can handle day-to-day reality, not just ideal scenarios. Below, we’ve pulled together seven options worth exploring – each with different strengths, and each solving a slightly different problem. And because workforce travel isn’t the same as office-based corporate travel, we’ll also show you where Roomex fits in for teams who need certainty and spend visibility at scale. Why teams start looking for TravelPerk alternatives Travel platforms tend to work well until they suddenly… don’t. The cracks usually show up in the same places: Support gets stretched Travellers run into issues – missed connections, hotel problems, last-minute changes – and the help they need isn’t always available when they actually need it. Reporting feels surface-level Finance teams want project codes, cost centres, night-by-night spend, or visibility by region or team. Basic dashboards don’t cut it once your travel volume grows. Too many tools in the mix When you’re using one platform for booking, another for expenses, another for reporting and another for approvals, the admin spirals quickly. Looking for comfortable accommodation and simple expense management tailored specifically for the mobile workforce? Discover how Roomex can streamline your travel needs, offering hassle-free booking and expense solutions designed to keep your team focused on the job. Try Roomex today and experience the difference in efficiency and convenience for your mobile workforce. Request a Demo Workforce travel doesn’t fit neatly into corporate workflows Most platforms are built for office-based business travellers hopping between client meetings. They’re not designed for engineers, installers or contractors who need practical, affordable stays – often for weeks at a time. Budgets need stronger guardrails Travel agencies give structure and control. Online booking gives freedom and speed. But for companies managing regular workforce or project-based travel, neither option fully solves the problem. That’s where Roomex comes in. Roomex sits in the middle, combining the ease of online booking with the control and visibility of a travel management provider. It’s built for teams who book travel often, need accurate reporting, and don’t want to chase receipts or approvals again. The best TravelPerk alternatives to think about in the new year Below are seven platforms that travel, finance and operations teams often move to when they outgrow TravelPerk. Each one solves a different set of problems – from deeper reporting to stronger support to tools built specifically for mobile or project-based workforces. 1. Roomex — the workforce travel specialist Let’s start with the platform built for a very different type of business traveller: people who move between sites, work long rotations, and need practical stays rather than boutique business hotels. Roomex focuses on workforce accommodation, not corporate city breaks. The platform gives companies access to thousands of workforce-suitable hotels and apartments, automated check-ins, invoicing on account (no traveller credit cards needed), and a real duty-of-care map so teams always know where people are. Why teams choose Roomex as a TravelPerk alternative: Unrivalled supply of workforce-friendly stays across the UK, Ireland and Europe RoomexAnalytics for real-time spend tracking, policy compliance and project-level reporting RoomexPay removes out-of-pocket spend entirely Live support from people who handle workforce travel every day Custom policies and one-click approvals designed for operational teams, not office managers Exclusive Roomex Rates that cut accommodation costs by up to 21% If your travellers are engineers, installers, surveyors, contractors or field teams, Roomex tends to replace three tools at once – a booking platform, an expenses process, and your manual traveller-tracking spreadsheet. 2. Navan — strong for companies wanting travel + expenses Navan (formerly TripActions) suits teams who want everything (booking, payments, expenses) in a single system. It’s built with a polished UX and strong AI-driven recommendations, which makes it appealing for tech-forward companies. What makes Navan a solid TravelPerk alternative, but not quite as strong as Roomex? Combined travel and expenses Very strong mobile app AI booking assistance Large global inventory Built-in policy enforcement Helpful for fast-growing companies that want fewer tools to manage Navan handles standard corporate travel well, but it isn’t designed for long-stay or workforce accommodation in the way Roomex is. 3. Egencia — best for global organisations with complex needs Previously part of Expedia Group and now under American Express GBT, Egencia has deep global supply and a more traditional TMC-style structure. Why companies move from TravelPerk to Egencia: Mature support model with 24/7 global agents Huge inventory across flights, hotels and car hire Strong duty-of-care tools Advanced reporting for multi-country travel programmes Enterprise-grade integrations with HRIS, ERP and expense tools Egencia is a fit for organisations that need global coverage, negotiated rates and a more consultative travel management approach. 4. SAP Concur Travel — enterprise-level structure and controls Concur is known for its expense product, but its travel module is still widely used by enterprises. It shines when you need deep customisation or tight audit trails. Why teams consider Concur a TravelPerk alternative: Configurable approval workflows Direct tie-in with Concur Expense Wide GDS connectivity Strong compliance and audit controls Supports multi-entity, multi-currency operations The trade-off: Concur is powerful, but typically slower to roll out and heavier to maintain. 5. CWT — ideal for companies that want deep support and a..

Best Goodwings alternatives for smarter business travel in 2025 Smarter options for teams who need cost control and traveller support Corporate travel has become more demanding to manage — and flights and hotels are only one part of the job. Travel managers and finance teams now need tools that track emissions, keep spending under control, support travellers on the road and still make bookings painless. Goodwings is a popular name in this space for its sustainability focus, but it doesn’t cover every need for every business. That’s why many companies are looking at other platforms too. Some want stronger policy controls. Others need better pricing, local accommodation options or full visibility of travel spend. And with travel budgets on the rise again, choosing the right Goodwings alternative can make a big difference across finance, HR and operations. In this guide, you’ll find nine platforms worth thinking about — from sustainability-focused options to full travel management solutions like Roomex, built for businesses with people constantly on the move. What Goodwings offers and why businesses consider alternatives Goodwings has built its reputation around one core idea: making corporate travel more sustainable. It allows companies to book hotels and automatically calculate the carbon footprint of those stays. The platform then funds verified climate projects to help offset emissions, and provides reporting to help businesses track their environmental commitments. But while sustainability is a clear strength, it’s not the only factor businesses consider when choosing a travel partner. Here’s where gaps start to appear: Limited booking coverage – Goodwings focuses mainly on hotels. Flights, trains and ground transport often still need to be arranged elsewhere. No built-in expense management – Finance teams still have to process receipts, reimbursements and approvals through separate tools. Not ideal for field-based or mobile workforces – Companies that book large volumes of short-term stays for engineers, construction teams or contractors often need more flexible inventory and payment options. Cost and scalability – For growing businesses, sustainability tools are valuable, but only work long-term if they’re paired with budget control, automation and traveller support. That’s why many teams – especially in HR, finance, operations and travel management – are now comparing Goodwings alternatives that combine sustainability with cost control, support on the road and full visibility of spend. 1. Roomex — ideal for teams managing workforce travel and accommodation If your company frequently books travel for engineers, construction crews, field service teams or contractors, Roomex is one of the strongest Goodwings alternatives to consider. Unlike platforms built for corporate travellers flying to conferences or client meetings, Roomex specialises in workforce travel — short-notice bookings, long stays, group travel and cost tracking at scale. Why Roomex? ✔ Accommodation built for mobile workforcesAccess thousands of workforce-suitable hotels and serviced apartments — close to project sites, industrial areas or remote locations, not just central city business districts. ✔ No more paying upfrontWith RoomexPay, employees don’t use personal cards. Bookings, payments and receipts are handled centrally — no expense forms, no late claims and no staff left out of pocket. ✔ Real-time spend visibilityFinance teams can view all hotel costs in one dashboard, filter by project, region or employee, and export data instantly for reports or audits. ✔ Duty of care and traveller trackingA live map shows where staff are staying or travelling next. If plans change, support is available via phone or live chat — 24/7. ✔ Sustainability without the adminRoomex works with sustainability partners to help companies calculate emissions and choose greener accommodation options, without extra tools. Who Roomex works best for Field service, construction, energy, logistics and engineering businesses Finance teams who want full control of spend without processing thousands of receipts HR and travel managers who need visibility, approvals and traveller support in one place Companies who want sustainability reporting — but also need scale, savings and operational ease Looking for comfortable accommodation and simple expense management tailored specifically for the mobile workforce? Discover how Roomex can streamline your travel needs, offering hassle-free booking and expense solutions designed to keep your team focused on the job. Try Roomex today and experience the difference in efficiency and convenience for your mobile workforce. Request a Demo 2. American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) For larger organisations with complex travel needs, Amex GBT remains one of the most established travel assistance companies in the industry. It offers a full corporate travel ecosystem, from booking and duty of care to meetings and sustainability programmes. While Goodwings is primarily known for its carbon offsetting and sustainable booking approach, Amex GBT combines that with scale, global service teams and strong policy compliance tools. Why Amex GBT makes the list ✔ Global reach and 24/7 traveller supportWith travel counsellors available worldwide, employees aren’t left to handle flight cancellations or rerouting alone. ✔ Policy compliance built-inTravel approvals and budgets are synced with the booking platform, reducing off-policy bookings and surprise costs. ✔ Emissions reporting and sustainability toolsCompanies can track travel-related emissions and set reduction goals across airlines, rail and hotels. ✔ Corporate card and expense integrationsWorks well with American Express cards and expense systems to make reconciliation and reporting easier for finance teams. Best for Medium to large enterprises with international travel Companies needing a combination of sustainability data and controlled booking workflows Businesses that want traveller support in every time zone 3. BCD Travel BCD Travel is a long-standing corporate travel management company that focuses on data-driven decisions, traveller safety and spend visibility. Unlike Goodwings, which leans heavily into carbon offsetting and climate-focused bookings, BCD offers a broader corporate travel structure with sustainability as one feature rather than the core product. It’s well-suited to organisations that want strong control over budgets, analytics and global support — without losing flexibility. Why BCD Travel ✔ Data and reporting through DecisionSource®BCD’s analytics platform gives finance and travel managers real-time data on spend, booking behaviours and policy compliance. ✔ Duty of care and traveller trackingLive risk alerts, traveller location tracking and incident monitoring help teams stay compliant with safety..

The top travel assistance companies businesses rely on Built for teams who handle policies, approvals and traveller safety Corporate travel has become more demanding in recent years. More people are travelling for work, trips are lasting longer and expectations around safety and support are far higher than they used to be. For travel, HR and finance teams, that means booking flights and hotels is no longer enough — traveller wellbeing, policy compliance and risk management now sit at the centre of every trip. That’s why more companies are turning to travel assistance companies. These are the organisations working behind the scenes to keep travellers supported when plans change, flights are cancelled, medical help is needed abroad or documentation goes missing. They offer real-time help when things go wrong, and give companies confidence that their duty of care obligations are being met. In other words, travel assistance isn’t about luxury perks. It’s about protecting people, staying compliant and making sure business travel keeps moving even when problems arise. Next, let’s get clear on what travel assistance actually involves and how it differs from traditional travel booking. What is travel assistance (and how is it different from travel booking)? Travel assistance is not the same as travel booking. Booking gets your employees from A to B — flights, hotels, ground transport and the itinerary they’ll follow. Travel assistance supports them when something goes wrong along the way. It’s the difference between reserving a hotel room and getting help when a traveller arrives and the booking isn’t recognised. Or between booking a flight and having someone organise a new one when the original is cancelled and they’re stranded overseas. Here’s how the two compare in practice: Travel booking Travel assistance Flights, hotels, trains Medical emergencies abroad Trip itineraries Flight disruption support Policy-approved hotel rates Lost passport or documents Group bookings Emergency evacuation or repatriation Expense documentation 24/7 traveller support and duty of care updates In summary, travel assistance is the safety net. Some providers specialise purely in emergency medical help and repatriation (like Allianz Assistance or International SOS). Others, such as large travel management companies, package assistance with booking, spend control and reporting. Platforms like Roomex sit in-between — handling bookings, payments and visibility, while supporting travellers with real human help when things go off-plan. As duty of care rules tighten and employee expectations rise, businesses are no longer asking if they should provide travel assistance, but who they should trust to deliver it. Why businesses are investing in travel assistance now Travel has picked up again, and with it, the risks, costs and responsibilities that come with sending people on the road. What’s changed is the expectation. Travellers don’t just want flights and hotels booked; they want to know someone has their back if things go wrong. And companies can no longer afford to treat that as an afterthought. Three big shifts are driving the rise in demand for travel assistance companies: 1. Duty of care isn’t optional Employers are legally and ethically responsible for their travellers’ safety. If someone gets caught in extreme weather, political unrest, a medical emergency or even a missed connection, companies are expected to provide help — not apologies. A travel policy alone doesn’t solve that. Real support comes from having a partner who can: Locate travellers at any time Contact them during crises Organise medical support or evacuation Rebook flights and accommodation when plans collapse 2. Travel disruptions are more frequent (and more costly) Flight cancellations, strikes, lost luggage, last-minute schedule changes — none of that is new. But it’s more common and more expensive than before. Every disrupted trip doesn’t only bring a frustrated traveller — it brings missed meetings, wasted spend, extra hotel nights, and pressure on finance to explain why budgets keep creeping up. Travel assistance providers reduce that impact by fixing problems fast, before they snowball. Looking for comfortable accommodation and simple expense management tailored specifically for the mobile workforce? Discover how Roomex can streamline your travel needs, offering hassle-free booking and expense solutions designed to keep your team focused on the job. Try Roomex today and experience the difference in efficiency and convenience for your mobile workforce. Request a Demo 3. Traveller expectations have changed People are travelling more frequently for work, often alone and to unfamiliar places. Many are extending work trips for leisure too. They want flexibility, but also reassurance. What’s shifted is how they define “support.” Not a chatbot. Not an email ticket. They expect a human response — someone who can pick up the phone, talk to the airline, book a new hotel or speak to an embassy if needed. Clearly, travel assistance has gone from a “nice extra” to a core part of responsible travel planning. Which raises the real question — who should you trust with it? Next, we’ll look at the travel assistance companies businesses rely on most. The top travel assistance companies businesses rely on Not all travel assistance companies work the same way. Some focus on emergency medical support. Others combine booking, spend tracking and traveller protection in one platform. The best choice depends on how your business travels, how often, and how much support your employees realistically need on the road. Below are the providers most commonly trusted by corporate travel, HR and finance teams — including a mix of global travel management companies and specialist assistance providers. 1. American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT One of the biggest names in business travel, Amex GBT mixes bookings, policy management and travel assistance into a single platform. Why businesses choose them: 24/7 traveller support in 140+ countries Disruption alerts + automatic rebooking during flight cancellations Traveller tracking and risk updates for duty of care Integrations with expense tools like SAP Concur and HR systems Best for: Enterprise businesses with frequent international travel and centralised policies. 2. BCD Travel Known for data-driven travel programmes and traveller safety tools, BCD provides both proactive risk management and on-demand assistance. Key features: Real-time alerts..

Latest bleisure travel trends shaping corporate travel in 2025 Insight for teams who manage budgets, travellers and policies A work trip isn’t always a quick flight, a meeting and straight back home anymore. More employees are adding a weekend in Lisbon after a client visit, inviting family to join them in Paris, or working remotely from the hotel for an extra day before flying back. This blend of business and leisure — bleisure travel — has gone from occasional requests to a recognised part of corporate travel. And the numbers back it up. The global bleisure market was valued at $430 billion, and Statista predicts it could grow by 500% by 2033. In the UK alone, 42% of travellers extended a business trip for leisure in the past year. Travel managers are seeing more extended stays, finance teams are fielding questions about expense limits, and HR is having to think beyond flights and hotels to traveller wellbeing and fatigue. Employees aren’t asking for luxury holidays on company time. They’re trying to make better use of time already spent travelling — especially when the average business traveller is away from home 22 days a year. For employers, this shift raises questions: Who covers the extra hotel night? Are they still covered under company insurance? What happens if something goes wrong during the leisure part of the trip? The smart companies aren’t ignoring it. They’re building travel plans and policies that allow flexibility, protect budgets and make expectations clear for everyone involved. In this blog, we’ll explore the biggest bleisure travel trends right now, how they’re reshaping corporate travel, and how you can plan for them before the New Year rings in. What is travel and expense data analytics? Bleisure travel is simple on paper: an employee takes a business trip and adds leisure time before, during or after it. But in practice, it comes in different forms, and the way you plan for it affects budgets and traveller satisfaction. Some common examples you’re likely already seeing in your organisation: An employee attends a conference in Berlin and stays two extra nights to explore the city (paid personally, but within the same hotel booking). A project team finishes work in Madrid on a Friday and works remotely from the hotel on Monday before flying home. A senior manager flies to Toronto for meetings and brings their partner along, paying for additional flight and meals themselves. A contractor works on-site abroad for weeks at a time and uses weekends to visit nearby cities instead of flying home. It’s not a new idea — but the frequency and acceptance have changed. In a recent U.S. survey, 84% of employees said they want to include personal time on their next work trip, and nearly half (48%) already did so in the last year. Travel managers are noticing it too, with 41% reporting an increase in employees asking to extend their stays for leisure. So why does it matter for corporate travel policy? Because once a work trip shifts into personal time, several things change: Budgets — who pays for what? Insurance and duty of care — is the traveller still covered? Tax and compliance — could it be considered a taxable benefit? Approvals and tracking — how do you record the shift from business to leisure? This is where many policies fall short. They allow bleisure informally, but don’t outline the guardrails. And when that happens, finance is unsure what to reimburse, HR worries about liability and travel managers are left making one-off decisions. Understanding what counts as bleisure (and where business ends) is the first step in building travel plans that support employees without creating confusion or risk. Why bleisure travel is on the rise Bleisure travel isn’t a phase that will fade out. It’s a response to how work, wellbeing and business travel have changed — and the rise is visible across industries, continents and age groups. The data makes it hard to ignore. Over the past year, several things have accelerated its rise. 1. Travellers want more value from time spent away from home Business trips can be tiring. There’s long flights, unfamiliar cities, and time away from family. So it’s no surprise that travellers are turning work trips into something more worthwhile. In one survey, 84% of U.S. travellers said they want to add personal time to their next work trip, and 48% already have in the past year. In the UK, 42% of business travellers extended their stay for leisure in 2023. 2. Companies are travelling more — but want happier, more productive travellers Corporate travel is back and growing fast. 62% of CEOs increased their travel budgets in 2024, and business travellers now spend an average of 22 days a year on the road. Longer trips, rising workloads and focus on retention make traveller wellbeing a bigger priority — and bleisure offers a low-cost way to support it. Looking for comfortable accommodation and simple expense management tailored specifically for the mobile workforce? Discover how Roomex can streamline your travel needs, offering hassle-free booking and expense solutions designed to keep your team focused on the job. Try Roomex today and experience the difference in efficiency and convenience for your mobile workforce. Request a Demo 3. It can actually save money An extra Saturday stay can make flights cheaper due to airline pricing rules. In many cases, a traveller extends a trip, pays for their own accommodation, and still costs the company less on flights. For finance teams, this isn’t just a perk — it can be a budget benefit when managed correctly. 4. Remote work has changed everything Work is no longer tied to the office. Employees can answer emails from a hotel lobby or join meetings from another country. That flexibility blurs the lines between work and leisure — naturally leading to longer stays and more blended trips. 5. The market is growing faster than expected The global bleisure travel market was worth $430 billion in 2024 and..