Travel and finance: Fostering a strategic partnership for growth

With global business travel expenditure set to hit $1.69 trillion in 2026,¹ CFOs expect travel leaders to act as a strategic partner.

As travel gains greater visibility in the boardroom, the travel leader role is expanding beyond operational oversight to enterprise value creation. What was once seen primarily as an operational function (supplier management and policy enforcement) is now recognised as a lever for growth, performance, and risk mitigation. The shift, from “travel manager” to “travel leader,” presents both opportunity and accountability. Higher visibility enables stronger alignment between travel policy and corporate strategy, but it also requires disciplined scrutiny of how travel investment supports business objectives.