Women at the Helm: Driving Evolution and Inclusion in Business Travel

Business travel is evolving, with global spending projected to reach $1.63 trillion this year as it continues to serve as a vital force for business, government, economies and people worldwide. Business travel also plays a crucial role in the IT and technology sector, representing an estimated $4 billion in annual global spending as of 2023. As one of the fastest-growing industries, technology relies on business travel to foster innovation, strengthen partnerships, expand international markets and connect teams and talent.

As we mark International Women's Day, it's clear that women are shaping the business travel industry and influencing how we travel for business. From professionals powering the sector to executives driving business success, women play a pivotal role in advancing industries worldwide. Yet, despite their impact, they face unique challenges as business travelers and remain underrepresented in leadership in the travel industry.

A Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) survey of over 600 business travel professionals worldwide examined how women—both business travelers and industry professionals—influence corporate travel's future. The findings highlight persistent disparities in travel experiences and leadership representation, revealing the need for greater inclusion at the highest levels.

The Business Travel Experience: Women vs. Men

GBTA's research explored differences in travel frequency between men and women. Men are more likely to be high-frequency travelers, with 24% taking six or more trips a year, compared to 16% of women. More than half of female business travelers (53%) reported taking only one or two trips in the past year, compared to 43% of men.
The post-pandemic travel landscape has also affected women differently. Nearly one-quarter of female business travelers (23%) say they travel less frequently now than before the pandemic, while 27% report an increase. By comparison, 17% of male travelers say they're traveling less and 29% are traveling more, indicating a wider gender gap in business travel recovery.
Conversely, from our research, we have learned that women are more likely than men to blend their business trips with a personal or leisure travel purpose – indicating that maximizing every trip may be more top of mind for women.

The Leadership Gap in Business Travel

While women are strongly represented in mid-management roles, they remain significantly underrepresented in senior executive positions on both the corporate travel buyer and supplier sides. Women make up the majority (67%) of travel buyers, yet their representation declines at higher levels. Among buyers holding Director-level titles, 59% are women, falling below their overall presence. This gap widens further at the Vice President level and above, where only 46% of women hold these positions, compared to 50% of all buyers.

A similar trend exists in the travel supplier sector. Only 39% of vice presidents or executives at travel suppliers and travel management companies (TMCs) are women, while men hold 61% of these top positions. Despite the industry's recent recovery and growth, there is a clear need to support the advancement of women. Leadership development programs can be a key driver of change, yet only 37% of travel supplier companies surveyed have such initiatives for women. Research consistently shows that companies investing in leadership programs make the most significant progress in advancing women's careers.

The Gender Divide in Business Travel Roles

Beyond leadership, women in the travel supplier segment often concentrate on specific job functions, particularly account management. More than one-fifth (22%) of female travel supplier and travel management company (TMC) professionals hold an account management role, compared to only 8% of men. Conversely, women are underrepresented in product-oriented and technical roles, with just 2% working in product development, management, or engineering—compared to 7% of men within the travel industry.

Yet, women are not just participants in business travel; they are shaping its future. As the industry moves forward, fostering more inclusive travel experiences, addressing leadership disparities, and expanding career opportunities will be critical to unlocking the full potential of women in business travel and the technology and systems that support this world-connecting industry.