The State of Travel Program Management - 2026

A research study by Tripkicks

We're researching the real challenges facing corporate travel programs today - not the theoretical ones, but the practical, day-to-day realities of managing a program at a large organization. Your perspective will directly shape the findings, which we'll share publicly. This survey takes about 5 minutes. All individual responses are confidential - we'll only publish aggregate data.

Section 1: Your Program Today

How many program initiatives are currently in your backlog - things you know would make a difference but haven't been able to get to?

A

None - I'm somehow on top of everything

B

1-2 are waiting

C

3-5 are waiting

D

6 or more are waiting

Roughly what percentage of your week is spent on reactive work (following up on non-compliance, answering traveler questions, pulling ad hoc reports) vs. proactive work (improving program design, launching new initiatives, strategic planning)?

Roughly what percentage of your week is spent on reactive work (following up on non-compliance, answering traveler questions, pulling ad hoc reports) vs. proactive work (improving program design, launching new initiatives, strategic planning)?

A

Mostly proactive (75%+ proactive)

B

Balanced (roughly 50/50)

C

Mostly reactive (75%+ reactive)

D

Almost entirely reactive (90%+)

What's taking up the most unplanned time in your program right now? (Select up to 3)

Following up on out-of-policy bookings

Fielding traveler questions your program already answers

Rolling out program or policy changes

Reporting and demonstrating program impact

Technology platform issues, migrations, or AI decisions

Keeping traveler communications current and consistent across your program

Other

Section 2: Getting Information to Travelers

Most programs try to deliver information in all of these areas. For each one, rate (a) how important it is for your program and (b) how well you're currently handling it.

Q4a: How important is each area for your program?

Q4b: How well are you currently delivering information in each area?

Where do you feel your program has the most room to improve? (Select all that apply)

At the time of booking - giving travelers better guidance in the moment

Before the trip - preparing travelers with information they'll need

After the trip - providing feedback that shapes future behavior

Through the channels travelers actually use day-to-day (Slack, Teams, email)

Making communication personalized rather than one-size-fits-all

Being able to reach travelers consistently at scale, not one-off

Other

Section 3: What You'd Change

If you could wave a magic wand, which two of the following would have the biggest impact on your program?

Travelers getting the right information at the right time without you personally delivering it

Being able to see how your program strategies are actually impacting traveler behavior

Keeping traveler communications current, personalized, and consistent without manually maintaining all of it

Reducing the volume of repetitive questions and follow-ups that land on your desk

When you think about traveler compliance, what are the biggest challenges? (Select up to 2)

The right information doesn't reach travelers when they're making decisions

Travelers know the policy but choose not to follow it

We can't easily measure what's working and what isn't

We don't have the bandwidth to communicate and follow up consistently

Where does your program have the biggest gap between where you are and where you want to be? (Drag your top 3 to the top)

1

Cost control and savings

1

Policy compliance

1

Traveler safety and preparedness

1

Sustainability alignment

1

Traveler experience

1

Demonstrating program value to leadership

Section 4: Resources & Reality

How would you describe the way your program communicates with travelers today?

A

Mostly ad hoc - we do what we can when we can

B

We have some standard communications, but they're not personalized or consistent

C

We're solid on some touchpoints but know we have gaps

D

We have a comprehensive strategy and we're executing it well

If you got one additional full-time person for your travel program tomorrow, what would you have them focus on?

A

Traveler communication and engagement

B

Data analysis and reporting

C

Supplier management and negotiations

D

Technology and tool optimization

E

Compliance monitoring and follow-up

F

Other

Section 5: In Your Own Words

What's the most common question or request you get from travelers that you wish they already had the answer to?

If your travel program could automatically do one thing it doesn't today, what would it be?

Section 6: About Your Program

Approximately how many travelers does your program manage?

A

Under 1,000

B

1,000 - 5,000

C

5,000 - 25,000

D

25,000 - 100,000

E

Over 100,000

In total, approximately how many FTEs (including partial FTEs) are dedicated to managing your travel program?

A

Less than 1 FTE (it's part of someone's broader role)

B

1-2 FTEs

C

3-5 FTEs

D

6+ FTEs

What industry is your company in?

A

Financial services

B

Technology

C

Pharmaceuticals / Healthcare

D

Professional services / Consulting

E

Manufacturing / Industrial

F

Energy

G

Retail / Consumer Products

H

Other

	Low	Medium	High
Compliance and policy guidance
Safety and travel risk information
Destination intel and logistics
Cost management
Sustainability
Access to program resources

	We're behind	Room to improve	We do this well
Compliance and policy guidance
Safety and travel risk information
Destination intel and logistics
Cost management
Sustainability
Access to program resources

The State of Travel Program Management - 2026

A research study by Tripkicks

Section 1: Your Program Today

How many program initiatives are currently in your backlog - things you know would make a difference but haven't been able to get to?

Roughly what percentage of your week is spent on reactive work (following up on non-compliance, answering traveler questions, pulling ad hoc reports) vs. proactive work (improving program design, launching new initiatives, strategic planning)?

What's taking up the most unplanned time in your program right now? (Select up to 3)

Section 2: Getting Information to Travelers

Q4a: How important is each area for your program?

Q4b: How well are you currently delivering information in each area?

Where do you feel your program has the most room to improve? (Select all that apply)

Section 3: What You'd Change

If you could wave a magic wand, which two of the following would have the biggest impact on your program?

When you think about traveler compliance, what are the biggest challenges? (Select up to 2)

Where does your program have the biggest gap between where you are and where you want to be? (Drag your top 3 to the top)

Section 4: Resources & Reality

How would you describe the way your program communicates with travelers today?

If you got one additional full-time person for your travel program tomorrow, what would you have them focus on?

Section 5: In Your Own Words

What's the most common question or request you get from travelers that you wish they already had the answer to?

If your travel program could automatically do one thing it doesn't today, what would it be?

Section 6: About Your Program

Approximately how many travelers does your program manage?

In total, approximately how many FTEs (including partial FTEs) are dedicated to managing your travel program?

What industry is your company in?

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