Against a surge in business and personal travel, global fintech Airwallex and travel tech firm Expedia Group announced a joint promotion to help clients save when booking hotel stays.
What does the partnership mean for clients?
Jessica Chiu, Head of North American Strategic Partnerships at Airwallex said global business and personal travel was regaining momentum and the alliance with the leading traveler tech platform, Expedia Group, meant Airwallex clients could enjoy an exclusive 10% discount off hotel stays when booking on the platform. This gives Airwallex’s customers access to exclusive perks and highlights the two companies’ shared core value of customer-centricity.
According to Expedia’s Traveler Value Index 2023, one in three people are planning on business travel in the year ahead. With this increase in demand for travel, and as the Covid restrictions continue to be lifted all around the world, Airwallex has been identifying ways to continue to support global businesses as they look to travel and grow across borders.
What does this mean for Airwallex and Expedia?
Clayton Nelson, Vice President, Retail Partnerships at Expedia Group commented, “We are delighted to be partnering with Airwallex to offer their members a way to access discounts across our depth and breadth of global travel supply on our sites. We’re always looking for ways to connect our partners with travelers via our industry-leading affiliate technology.”
“We know the cost pressures many firms are facing in their budgets but we also understand how crucial work travel can be to building new relationships and growing a business. Whether it’s meeting new business prospects, attending a conference or an internal team gathering, we recognize face-to-face engagements help build better connections,” Jessica said.
“With so many business travelers looking to book trips amid rising costs and inflation, this partnership with Expedia makes travel more affordable for all Airwallex clients worldwide.”
What is the wider industry context of this partnership?
Business travel is on the rise in 2023. After two years of disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses are once again sending their employees on trips to meet with clients, attend conferences, and collaborate with colleagues.
There are a number of factors driving the recovery of business travel. One is the easing of travel restrictions. Many countries have lifted their COVID-19 entry requirements, making it easier for business travelers to get where they need to go.
Another factor is the growing importance of face-to-face interaction. In a world where so much communication is done online, there is still no substitute for meeting someone in person. This is especially true for building relationships and closing deals.
Finally, the rise of remote work has made business travel more appealing. With more employees working from home, businesses are looking for ways to get their employees out of the office and interacting with each other. Business travel is a great way to do this.
Of course, there are still some challenges facing business travel. One is the rising cost of travel. Airfares and hotel prices are on the rise, which can make business travel more expensive.
Another challenge is the shortage of skilled workers. Many businesses are struggling to find qualified employees, which can make it difficult to send people on business trips.
Despite these challenges, business travel is expected to continue to grow in 2023. The factors driving the recovery of business travel are strong, and businesses are increasingly seeing the value of face-to-face interaction.
Here are some of the key trends that are expected to shape business travel in 2023:
- The rise of bleisure travel. Bleisure travel is a combination of business and leisure travel. Employees are increasingly using their business trips to extend their stay and explore the local area.
- The growth of virtual meetings and events. Virtual meetings and events are becoming more popular as a way to save money and reduce travel time. However, there is still a need for face-to-face interaction, and business travel is expected to remain an important part of the corporate world.
- The adoption of new technologies. New technologies are making it easier and more efficient to book and manage business travel. For example, artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to recommend hotels and flights, and blockchain can be used to secure travel data.
The future of business travel is bright. The factors driving the recovery of business travel are strong, and new technologies are making it easier and more efficient to book and manage business travel. As a result, business travel is expected to continue to grow in the years to come.
Here are some tips for businesses that are looking to get the most out of their business travel:
- Plan ahead. The more you plan, the more efficient your business travel will be. This includes booking flights and hotels in advance, and packing light.
- Be flexible. Things don’t always go according to plan, so it’s important to be flexible when traveling for business. This means being prepared for delays, cancellations, and other unexpected events.
- Stay connected. It’s important to stay connected with your colleagues and clients while you’re traveling for business. This can be done using email, phone, and video conferencing.
- Take care of yourself. Business travel can be tiring, so it’s important to take care of yourself. This includes getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, and exercising.
By following these tips, businesses can ensure that their business travel is productive and enjoyable.
Gerald Ainomugisha is a business news reporter and freelance B2B marketer with over 10 years of experience in writing high-converting copy and content for businesses of all kinds, especially SaaS providers in the niches of HR, IT, fintech, eCommerce and web3.
