A recent study by SAP Concur has unveiled a significant shift in corporate travel management across Southeast Asia, moving from a focus on cost-cutting to prioritising ‘Total Trip Value’. The 2026 Southeast Asia Business Travel Pulse Survey, which gathered insights from over 150 travel decision-makers in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines, highlights a growing emphasis on traveller productivity and operational resilience over mere ticket price reductions.
The survey reveals a widening “expectation gap” between business travellers and travel managers. Whilst 59.5% of travel managers in the region now prioritise flexibility in bookings and cancellations, they face challenges in managing last-minute changes, with 51% citing this as their primary operational hurdle. This surpasses concerns about high costs, which only 38.6% of respondents identified as a major issue.
Moreover, 57.5% of decision-makers prefer using artificial intelligence to suggest itineraries that balance policy, cost, and productivity, rather than simply opting for the cheapest options. Integration with HR and finance functions is also becoming crucial, with 58% of travel managers requiring seamless systems to maintain a unified view of traveller bookings and expenses.
The concept of ‘Total Trip Value’ is gaining traction as organisations realise that minor fare savings can lead to traveller fatigue, ultimately affecting performance during critical engagements. The survey suggests that businesses should adopt intelligent, automated ecosystems to enhance traveller productivity and resilience in high-cost environments.
