Navan Report: Business Travel Is Critical and Managers Demand Better

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ai-powered technical

"AI-powered" describes technology that uses artificial intelligence to perform tasks, make decisions, or analyze information automatically. It’s similar to having a highly skilled assistant that can learn from data, recognize patterns, and improve over time, helping to make processes faster and more accurate. For investors, this means better insights and more efficient operations, potentially leading to smarter investment choices.

t&e financial

T&E stands for travel and entertainment expenses, the costs a company incurs when employees travel for work or entertain clients, such as flights, hotels, meals and event tickets. Investors watch T&E because it affects a company’s operating costs and cash flow—like noticing how much a household spends on dining out and vacations compared with its budget—and unusually high or rising T&E can signal weak cost control or aggressive sales activity that influences profit margins.

new distribution capability (ndc) technical

New Distribution Capability (NDC) is a modern messaging standard that lets airlines and travel sellers share richer, customized offers—think full product images, seat details, and add‑on options—through direct, structured data feeds instead of old ticketing listings. Investors care because NDC can change how travel companies sell and price services, shift revenue toward higher‑margin ancillaries, and favor firms that control the technology linking sellers and buyers, similar to shifting from a basic catalog to a dynamic online storefront.

12/04/2025 - 09:00 AM

90% of business travelers see travel as essential for growth, with 77% of managers now prioritizing all-in-one travel and expense

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Navan (NASDAQ: NAVN), the leading all-in-one business travel, payments, and expense management platform, today unveiled its seventh annual State of Corporate Travel and Expense Report, in partnership with Skift. This year’s report sees a surge in interest in business travel: 90% of business travelers consider travel an essential investment, up 8 percentage points from last year. Yet tools are failing both travelers and travel managers, with 80% of travelers sometimes booking off-platform and 77% of travel and finance managers saying their current expense tool falls short.

The report delivers a clear message: corporate travel is soaring, yet businesses are hitting roadblocks with outdated T&E solutions. While the importance of in-person connections reaches new highs, travelers demand AI-powered tools and broader inventory. Together, travel and finance managers are increasingly seeking comprehensive all-in-one T&E platforms.

Navan’s platform is uniquely positioned to bridge this gap. By unifying travel and spend in one seamless app, Navan delivers an experience that employees love, while providing finance teams with the real-time control they need.

Key findings from the 2026 State of Corporate Travel and Expense Report:

90% of business travelers see travel as an essential investment or a necessary cost — an increase of 8 percentage points from the findings in the 2025 report.
"Closing deals" reappeared as one of the most important reasons to take a business trip, claiming the No. 2 spot.
A staggering 80% of travelers sometimes book off-platform, while 77% of managers admit current expense tools fall short.
76% of travelers now trust AI for straightforward T&E tasks, a significant leap from the 59% who said the same in the 2024 report.
88% of managers confirm New Distribution Capability (NDC) delivers savings and better booking options.
Interest in all-in-one T&E solutions has surged among managers, with 77% expressing interest — up from 66% in the 2024 report.

“Navan exists because we believe in the power of in-person connections. This study confirms that travelers and travel managers feel the same, but there’s still plenty of work to be done,” said Kim Hamer, Chief Travel Advisory Officer at Navan. “Our report found that 77% of travel managers are now interested in an all-in-one travel and expense solution. Businesses won’t be held back any longer: They demand user-friendly, AI-powered platforms that shine even in the most turbulent travel environment.”

The 2026 State of Corporate Travel and Expense Report gathered insights from nearly 1,800 travelers, travel managers, and finance managers across the United States, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom in August 2025.

Read the full State of Corporate Travel and Expense Report.

About Navan

Navan is the leading all-in-one business travel, payments, and expense management platform that makes travel easy for frequent travelers. From finding flights and hotels to automating expense reconciliation, with 24/7 support along the way, Navan delivers an intuitive experience travelers love and finance teams rely on. See how Navan customers benefit and learn more at navan.com.