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Asia’s business travel landscape is a paradox—where high-touch service meets cost-conscious decision-making, and tech adoption grows despite a strong preference for personal assistance.
In this exclusive fireside chat, ATPI’s senior leadership unpacks these contradictions and what they mean for corporate travel in the region:
In Asia, rapid economic growth of China and India, improved air transportation and the easing of travel restrictions in Asia has led to the rapid rise of corporate travel in the region.
“Asia has seen significant industrialisation of its economy and become more investor-friendly,” says Ali Hussain, Regional Managing Director of Asia. “The last 10 years have seen rapid economic and technological growth in China, India, South Korea and other Asian countries. This evolution has produced a more globally-minded, tech-savvy workforce driving complex travel programs where value, duty of care, and environmental responsibility have become paramount considerations.”
Strategic Challenges in Business Travel
One persistent challenge in Asia’s business travel ecosystem is the misalignment between travel operations and broader business objectives. “Business travel is often seen as a fulfilment activity driven by cost rather than a strategic or tactical issue,” explains Ali. “In many cases, travel program service providers are decided by procurement teams while the actual travel program is managed by several people rather than dedicated travel managers, even within large organisations.”
However, signs of evolution are emerging. “Duty of care, talent attraction and retention, and operational excellence are gaining importance in corporate travel decisions. We’re seeing travel becoming more tactically aligned by dedicated travel managers in larger companies and administrative managers in smaller ones.”
High-Touch Service vs. Cost Efficiency
Kelly Jones, Managing Director – Southeast Asia, China, Hong Kong & Taiwan highlights a fundamental contradiction in the Asian business travel market: “It’s a very high-touch market. People want personalised service and guidance throughout the process, yet they also demand the lowest possible fare.”
“Travellers often expect their travel program specialists to handle even small tasks, such as completing visa application forms or ensuring mileage programs are credited. Many still prefer contacting agents directly for last-minute requests, reflecting deeply ingrained business practices in the region”
Technology Adoption: Leading the Global Curve
While technology adoption in corporate travel continues to grow, its implementation remains inconsistent across Asia. “Asian travellers use smartphones extensively for leisure bookings but still prefer phone or email for business travel,” says Muhammad Rafiq, Director of Operations at ATPI Asia. “Apps are primarily used for accessing information like itineraries and flight schedules rather than booking trips.”
According to Rafiq, this preference for human interaction is reinforced by practical considerations. “Visa requirements can complicate international travel for many Asian nationalities, making personal assistance invaluable.”
However, the shift to self-service and AI-driven solutions is accelerating, with APAC leading this charge. “Reports indicate that Asia is now operating three to five years ahead of the rest of the world in corporate travel technology adoption,” Rafiq continues. “The region is leading the global shift to AI-driven travel management solutions, with projections suggesting over 50% of businesses will adopt AI technologies within the next two years.”
Travel Policy: Cost vs. Flexibility
Bhavna Pant, Director Client Success Management – Asia at ATPI, observes that cost remains the dominant factor in Asian travel policies, often taking precedence over flexibility. “Companies here tend to micromanage travel and focus heavily on securing the lowest prices.” notes Bhavna. “However, policies are also heavily influenced by hierarchical considerations, unlike in Western markets where policies typically align with flight duration or employee needs.”
Payment Preferences: Digital Transformation Accelerating
Payment approaches further illustrate Asia’s distinctive business culture. “Approximately 40% of bookings by ATPI clients in Asia are paid through invoices, with card payments covering the remainder,” says Muhammad Rafiq. “Although virtual cards faced initial adoption challenges due to trust concerns, this landscape is rapidly evolving.”
The hesitation around card payments that was historically a barrier for corporates is quickly diminishing. “Companies that don’t embrace digital payments increasingly risk falling behind in terms of efficiency, cost control, and security,” Rafiq explains. “This shift is being accelerated by government initiatives, growth in corporate virtual payment solutions, AI-powered expense management systems, and improved cross-border payment integration.”
Financial controllers are beginning to recognise the strategic advantages of modern payment methods, though resistance persists in some organisations concerned about control and cash flow management.
Sustainability in Travel: From Afterthought to Strategic Priority
Vishal Sawant, Commercial Director, notes the emerging tension between corporate environmental goals and traditional cost-focused priorities.
“Asian businesses desire strong environmental credentials without the associated premium costs. Sustainability requirements increasingly appear in RFPs, but when implementation costs emerge, these initiatives often get deprioritised.”
However, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations are becoming increasingly important in Asian corporate travel programs. While the region may lag behind Europe, there’s growing interest from corporations in encouraging travellers to make greener choices and requesting detailed carbon emission reports. Though carbon offsetting solutions aren’t yet widely implemented across Asia, interest is gathering momentum.
This shift is influencing ATPI’s approach to client solutions. “We’re developing reporting tools that showcase both financial and environmental impacts of travel decisions. When executives can view their carbon footprint alongside costs, it fundamentally changes the conversation,” explains Vishal. “The key is making sustainability practical and measurable rather than merely aspirational.”
Vishal believes the region has reached a critical turning point: “Asian companies increasingly recognise that sustainability isn’t just about compliance or public relations – it’s becoming a competitive advantage in attracting talent and meeting global customer expectations. Organisations that successfully balance environmental responsibility with cost efficiency will lead the region’s next growth phase.”
The Road Ahead
ATPI in Asia is driving transformative change by leveraging these regional contradictions as opportunities for innovation. “We’ve moved beyond simply identifying these market paradoxes to developing tailored solutions that embrace them,” says Ali Hussain. “The key lies in educating companies about the strategic value of well-managed travel programs while demonstrating how technology can enhance rather than replace the high-touch service Asian clients expect.”
This balanced approach is already yielding results. “We’re seeing forward-thinking Asian companies integrate travel into their broader business strategies, using data insights to make smarter decisions while maintaining the personalised service their travellers value.”
With sustainability concerns, cost pressures and service expectations continuing to evolve, ATPI’s hybrid service model positions the company uniquely in the market. “By combining deep regional expertise with global capabilities, we’re helping clients navigate immediate challenges while preparing for future shifts,” Ali explains.
Through this strategy of adaptive innovation, ATPI is not just responding to the changing landscape of corporate travel in Asia – it’s actively shaping its future.
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