2025 btTB Travel Conference: Insights and Trends Shaping the Travel Industry

Corporate Travel Management (CTM) proudly participated as a platinum sponsor in the 25th Annual btTB Business Travel Conference, held at Sydney’s Royal Randwick Racecourse in August. Celebrating the 25-year milestone, btTB offered an opportunity for the corporate travel community to come together to engage and discuss trending industry topics, including NDC and AI.

We sat down with some of CTM’s leadership team to understand the key takeaways from the conference and what it means for the business travel industry, travel buyers and travel programs.

NDC is Happening: What Buyers Need to Know

The most debated topic was the rollout of NDC following Qantas’ new distribution model launch. While the industry has discussed NDC for over a decade, it is now firmly in play, and the implications for buyers and TMCs are immediate.

NDC allows airlines to distribute more dynamic and personalised content through direct connections, bypassing traditional GDS systems. But this evolution brings complexity. Not all TMCs are equipped to support the full lifecycle of an NDC fare, including changes, cancellations, and policy enforcement.

Cherie Drummond, CTM Chief Product Officer ANZ, outlined in her panel discussion how CTM’s investment in proprietary technology has positioned the business as a leader in this space. “CTM is the only TMC in the market currently offering online changes and cancellations for Qantas NDC content, with seamless integration across mid- and back-office systems. This gives clients the control and visibility they need, not just at the point of sale but throughout the entire travel journey”.

Getting Practical with Travel AI

AI was a central theme at this year’s travel conference, with Apurva Goswami, CTM Chief Technology Officer APAC, pointing out that the term is often used without a clear definition.

“It is essential to understand that AI goes beyond simple automation. While automation can manage repetitive tasks like booking a traveller’s usual route, AI brings predictive intelligence that can anticipate disruptions and respond in real time”.

It was clear from the discussions at the conference that many travel providers are beginning to integrate these capabilities into their platforms. CTM’s virtual travel assistant, Scout, is one example. Designed to manage high volumes of booking support such as changes, cancellations and new bookings, Scout maintains responsiveness and service quality while enabling consultants to focus on more complex travel needs.

AI is also transforming internal processes across the industry. It can reconcile booking and expense data in real time, highlight potential policy issues, and generate meaningful insights that support better decision-making. These advancements are allowing travel teams to shift their focus from routine processing to more strategic work.

“AI is not replacing people in travel. It is supporting them, enabling more intelligent decisions, better service, and a more agile, responsive travel experience”.

C-Suite seeks value from business travel

A key moment from this year’s conference was the changing conversation at the executive level. As organisations continue to evolve their travel programs, business travel is increasingly viewed through a strategic lens. The question is no longer simply “how much are we spending?” but rather “what value are we gaining?”.

Corporate customers are increasingly asking whether each trip aligns with growth, customer engagement, or culture-building goals. Travel programs are being redesigned to focus on outcomes, not just activity.

As Jo Sully, CTM CEO AU/NZ, shared, more customers are adopting structured “bleisure” policies, allowing employees to extend work trips for leisure. These programs support wellbeing, reduce leave liability, and help cut emissions by preventing additional flights.

The takeaway? The C-suite sees business travel as a lever for strategic execution and is demanding smarter, more values-aligned travel management to match.

Looking Ahead

This year’s btTB conference confirmed what many in the industry already know: we’re on the cusp of significant transformation. AI is no longer experimental. Executive leaders are asking more of their travel programs. And NDC is not on the horizon; it is here.

For travel buyers, this means partnering with a TMC that is not just keeping pace but actively building and investing in the tools, relationships, and expertise needed to lead. At CTM, we remain focused on helping our clients adapt to this new era of corporate travel efficiently and strategically.