A new study conducted by Serko and Sabre Corporation reveals that AI and genAI are rapidly reshaping corporate travel, with over 90% of surveyed travel managers reporting some level of AI usage. The primary drivers for AI adoption include cost savings (71%), enhancing the traveller experience (68%), and improving data analysis (63%).
“The study’s results are clear: while AI adoption in corporate travel is high, success isn’t guaranteed,” said Darrin Grafton, CEO and co-founder of Serko. “Yes, 90% of travel managers say they’ve implemented AI or genAI, but too many are still hitting roadblocks. Whether it’s poor implementation, a lack of internal capabilities, or limited partner support, these challenges are preventing organizations from realizing the full value of their investment. That’s exactly where technology players like Serko or Sabre have an opportunity to step up.”
Despite this widespread implementation, many organisations struggle to maximise AI’s potential. While 52% of respondents say AI has exceeded expectations and 45% believe it is meeting them, nearly half of travel managers express concerns about the level of support they receive. About 49% rate support from their travel partners as merely “moderate,” and 11% say they have received little to no assistance.
Similarly, travel technology providers also lack comprehensive guidance, making it difficult for companies to fully optimise AI-driven solutions.
What are the key use cases?
Key use cases for AI in corporate travel include booking optimisation (73%), pricing and cost savings (70%), and chatbot-based traveller support (64%). Moreover, almost half of travel managers foresee AI having a “significant” or “transformative” impact on their travel programs over the next five years.
However, obstacles remain—implementation challenges (46%), a lack of in-house AI expertise (19%), and budget limitations (14%) are some of the biggest hurdles slowing adoption and scalability.
As AI moves from a novel technology to an operational necessity, corporate travel programs must evolve quickly to meet changing expectations. Companies that fail to integrate AI into their decision-making processes risk falling behind—not only in efficiency and cost savings but also in delivering seamless, personalized travel experiences.
To bridge this gap, travel technology providers must take a more proactive approach, ensuring that AI solutions are innovative but also practical, accessible, and easy to implement. Facilitating integration, reducing complexity, and focusing on real-world business needs will transform AI investment into tangible business and traveller benefits.