Leveraging the expertise of your travel management company can significantly enhance how you measure the success of your corporate hotel program. To achieve optimal savings, it’s essential to have seasoned professionals negotiating with hotel suppliers. This expertise is particularly valuable during peak times for requests for proposals (RFPs), allowing you to take advantage of market fluctuations and over-supply conditions. STAY CIRCLE’s dedicated account management and supplier relations teams bring extensive experience and strong supplier partnerships to the table, helping you create corporate hotel programs that optimize your hotel program and maximize savings while delivering exceptional value. This blog provides an in-depth look at strategies for assessing and optimizing the success of a corporate hotel program, emphasizing the critical role of data-driven insights, strategic partnerships, and continuous improvement to maximize value and savings. Optimizing your hotel program STAY CIRCLE’s account management team curates tailored hotel programs for each customer, combining their preferred, frequently booked properties with options from STAY CIRCLE’s global hotel program to enhance overall value. Most customers benefit from STAY CIRCLE’s global hotel rates; however, those with high, concentrated spending in specific locations may require customized solutions. This flexible approach is never one-size-fits-all and adapts to each customer’s unique business needs and objectives. Through collaboration and strategic assessment, STAY CIRCLE’s account managers ensure that hotel programs align with customers’ goals and optimize their hotel spend. By employing these strategies and focusing on data-driven insights with the support and expertise of your account manager, you can effectively enhance the success of your hotel program by optimizing your hotel spend, ensuring it aligns with your organization’s financial goals. How can ROI be measured to demonstrate hotel program success There are several metrics that you can use to measure the success of a hotel program and what value is placed on each metric may be different from company to company based on size, industry, what they deem valuable and the goals they are trying to achieve from their hotel program. You can work with your STAY CIRCLE account manager to determine what metrics you will measure your hotel program on. Focusing on these metrics will provide a clearer picture of your hotel program’s success, helping you identify strengths and areas for improvement. This approach ensures that your strategies are aligned to deliver value to both the organization and its travelers. 5 key takeaways to elevate your hotel program’s success

Business travel technology is evolving from AI this to AI that and everything in between. Are you keeping up? The travel industry is undergoing a profound transformation fuelled by the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). After a transitional 2024 marked by an influx of generative AI (GAI)—a form of AI that creates content like images, videos and text – and a surge in funding for innovative disruptors, these technologies are now moving beyond the hype to meaningful implementation. In aviation, AI-enhanced airport screening is streamlining security with biometric and digital identity tools, enabling faster and more accurate traveler processing via facial recognition and fingerprint scanning. At Haneda Airport, Japan Airlines and NEC trialled an AI system that monitored carry-on luggage in real-time, optimizing overhead bin use, addressing capacity issues, and expediting boarding processes. But AI’s impact doesn’t stop at the airport. Across the business travel landscape, AI is reshaping how travel management companies (TMCs) operate and enhance the traveler experience. From automating complex workflows to delivering hyper-personalized services, TMCs are leveraging AI to create smarter, more efficient and more personalized travel solutions. How would you describe the current state of travel technology as we move into 2025? “AI is transforming the traveler experience with hyper-personalization. Predictive booking tools, customized itineraries, and real-time updates are making journeys smoother and less stressful. Chatbots and virtual assistants are enhancing service delivery, providing instant support to travelers. “The value of AI in travel management lies not in its visibility, but in how seamlessly it integrates into a well-designed system to solve real-world problems. The best AI is not something users have to consciously engage with but makes every interaction smoother, every decision informed and every experience more satisfying. “When AI is built into the fabric of a platform, travelers and travel managers don’t need to think about algorithms or advanced technology; they simply use a system that works. It anticipates their needs, solves their challenges, and enhances their journeys in ways that feel intuitive and effortless. That’s the hallmark of truly intelligent travel management.” Why is AI pivotal to the corporate travel industry now, and how does it align with Stay Circle’s value proposition of delivering service, technology innovation, and ROI to customers? “AI should enhance service quality and elevate the customer experience without losing the personal touch that travelers value. It can facilitate travel options tailored to individual preferences, booking history, and company policies while providing 24/7 support to manage disruptions or itinerary changes instantly. Real-time insights help predict and resolve potential issues, supporting more efficient travel. “At STAY CIRCLE, AI complements rather than replaces human expertise. Automating routine service queries has reduced the volume of calls and emails to our travel advisors where customers are requesting simple things like copies of itineraries, invoices or cancelling bookings. This enables our travel advisors to instead prioritize managing complex itineraries or emergency travel assistance. This synergy ensures travelers benefit from both cutting-edge technology and the personalized service of an expert travel advisor.”

Sustainability and wellness are now playing a major role in shaping modern incentive programs. “There is a growing awareness among younger travelers regarding their environmental impact and personal well-being, and companies are listening. More organizations are prioritizing destinations and accommodations that support local communities and offering nature-based experiences.” – Teri Awwad Moorhouse highlights community engagement as a key priority, with organizations actively incorporating health and wellness activities into itineraries to align with these values. How data-driven insights support tailored experiences and business needs Keeping up with changing industry trends and employee expectations is critical to ensuring your incentive travel investment remains relevant and effective. Leeson advises companies to keep programs fresh and avoid simply repeating past formats. “We work with customers to explore new ways to deliver their engagement and incentive objectives. You want an element of surprise and exclusivity. If it’s a cookie-cutter program, people will lose interest. The program must also align with the evolving needs of your employees.” – Mike Leeson By leveraging technology and data analytics, companies can tailor experiences to align with individual interests, ensuring greater engagement. This includes offering a range of activities to suit varied preferences, such as: Awwad also emphasises the importance of regular surveys and polls to gather direct insights on customer satisfaction and emerging trends. “Data is liquid gold for our customers. It helps identify what changes need to be made for future incentive programs. AI and data analytics can further personalize experiences, predict preferences, and optimize program effectiveness.” – Teri Awwad Moorhouse agrees, noting that staying informed about new destinations, activities, and technology is no longer optional but an expectation in modern incentive travel. Success lies in creating incentive travel programs that resonate Changing demographics and evolving preferences are redefining incentive travel. Success lies in understanding these shifts and creating programs that resonate—balancing luxury with meaning, and personal rewards with collective purpose. As the workforce continues to evolve, incentive travel must remain flexible, innovative, and aligned with the values of a new era.

n North America, companies are increasingly using data-driven insights to analyze individual preferences and interests, allowing them to enhance engagement and create more personalized experiences. In Europe, Leeson observes a stronger focus on Generation Z preferences, such as: Moorhouse adds that exclusive and unique experiences, such as cultural immersion and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, are gaining popularity. “Often, the highlight of an incentive program is the community element. We run an annual incentive group from Australia to Fiji with 350+ guests. They fly private charters and stay in luxury resorts with fully themed evening events. However, their favourite part is always the CSR activity—visiting a local village or school, planting trees, painting buildings, and sharing a simple meal with the kids. That hands-on experience outweighs even five-star service.” – Kristy Moorhouse

Today’s workforce values meaningful experiences, well-being, and sustainability, making it essential to design incentive travel programs that resonate on a deeper level. Now is the perfect time for companies to reimagine traditional approaches. Incentive travel is no longer just a reward; it’s a symbol of high performance and a source of personal and professional growth. Unique, once-in-a-lifetime experiences that reflect company values and align with attendees’ aspirations are becoming essential to attracting and retaining top talent, fostering loyalty, and driving employee motivation. By moving beyond one-size-fits-all itineraries and embracing tailored, purposeful experiences, organizations can create stronger emotional connections and inspire greater engagement with the incentive program’s goals. Understanding the shift in attendee demographics As demographics evolve, corporate incentive programs must adapt to meet diverse generational preferences and values. Kristy Moorhouse, Head of Client and Business Development, Australia and New Zealand (AU/NZ), has observed a growing preference among Millennial and Gen Z generations for authentic and immersive travel experiences over traditional luxury, such as high-end hotels. “Their increasing interest in exploring lesser-known or off-the-beaten-path destinations often pushes planners to create exceptional experiences in locations that may lack extensive infrastructure. This presents great opportunities, such as contributing to local economies in developing destinations, but also requires working with destination management companies or local guides to navigate logistical challenges and ensure smooth execution.” – Kristy Moorhouse A clear trend is also emerging towards smaller, more intimate and personalized activities, moving away from the larger, formal group formats of the past. According to CTM Meetings & Events leaders, customization and personalization are now key. By offering curated itineraries and addressing the individual “what’s in it for me?” mindset, organizations can ensure that incentive travel programs remain impactful, memorable, and highly valued. What activities and destinations are in demand? Experiential travel is at the forefront, with individuals seeking authentic, immersive, and tech-enabled experiences, according to Teri Awwad, Vice President of North America. From an Australian and New Zealand perspective, Moorhouse highlights a growing demand for emerging and less-traveled destinations. This includes replacing large luxury coach tours with smaller, more intimate group travel focused on cultural immersion. In Europe, Mike Leeson, General Manager, UK/Europe, notes a subtle shift towards unique destinations and experiences, with travel access and cost playing a significant role. “Younger business travelers are still prioritizing experiences they will remember or can share on social media, while also seeking socially conscious activities.” – Mike Leeson