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The Future of Business Travel Was on Full Display in Denver
The GBTA Convention 2025 was more than just the largest global business travel conference of the year—it was a front-row seat to the future of corporate travel. With 5,000+ travel professionals, cutting-edge innovations, and fresh forecasts on global business travel spend, the event set the tone for how organizations will adapt to rising costs, sustainability expectations, and employee-first travel programs. For travel buyers, program managers, and T&E decision-makers, GBTA 2025 delivered critical insights—and for us at Roamr, it was a milestone moment: we were honored as one of the top travel innovations of the year, welcomed new customers, and helped shape the conversation on how to transform travel from a cost center into a culture driver. The evidence of this imporatance of this is clear in GBTA's new track Future of Workforce!
Roamr weren’t just there to observe — we were proud to be part of the conversation shaping the future of travel.
Roamr Recognized as a Top Business Travel Innovation
One of the standout moments for our team was being featured in the GBTA VentureConnect Showcase, which spotlighted the most innovative startups in the travel and expense (T&E) ecosystem. Roamr’s platform — which helps companies cut travel accommodation costs by 30% by rewarding employees for staying with friends or colleagues instead of hotels — resonated deeply with buyers looking for smarter, more human-centric travel programs.
This honor placed Roamr alongside the most forward-thinking travel technologies of the year, and validated what we hear from customers every day: there’s a better way to travel for work.
We also spent some time talking to Katie McGee about how we're helping with the 3C's of Corporate Travel; Cost, Culture and Carbon
A Rooftop Moment to Connect and Unwind
We hosted a casual networking mixer at the Hyatt’s panoramic rooftop bar—a chance to unwind, swap stories, and deepen conversations sparked on the Expo floor. It was great to see familiar faces and meet new ones from across the industry, from travel managers and partners to startup peers and investors. Moments like these remind us that beyond the business cards and booths, it’s the human connections that makes the act of travelling enjoyable but its that connection that will also shape the future of travel.
New Partnerships, New Customers, New Energy
The real magic of GBTA 2025? Walking away with more than badge scans. Roamr forged new partnerships, welcomed new customers, and made genuine connections with travel professionals who care deeply about evolving the way teams move and stay.
Our booth on the GBTA Expo floor was buzzing with travel managers, HR leaders, and finance pros curious about alternative lodging models, employee travel perks, and how to turn corporate travel into a culture-building advantage. We spoke to hundreds of attendees who shared the same pain points: hotel rates are skyrocketing, employees are disengaged, and sustainability mandates are growing.
Our mantra of “Paying Employees, Not Hotels” approach proved to be more than a curiosity — it was a catalyst for action.
We left Denver energized — and our to do list a whole lot longer.
Why we're building Roamr: A 14,000ft Reminder of Why Travel Matters
After the convention wrapped, a few of us took a page from the bleisure travel trend and set off on a post-event adventure, hiking to the summit of Mt. Bierstadt, 14,000 feet above sea level. The altitude hit hard with the heart rate nearing the same highs— but so did the clarity. This is why we build Roamr: to give people the chance to connect meaningfully, travel affordably, and create unforgettable experiences along the way. There's a cheesy pun in there somewhere about reaching the mountain top or startup resilience...
The Ultimate Roamr Stay — Another new Peak Reached
Of course, no Roamr recap would be complete without a Roamr stay story. Its an amazing feeling to be using Roamr when we are so far from home! For me personally, Denver ended with what may be the most iconic Roamr booking ever — using Roamr for Friends to catch up over dinner, and exploring the city with a trusted local guide. Not every trip gives you time with a friend, a great meal, and a room with a view — this one did, and we’re grateful for it. Peak Roamr.
💡 Key Business Travel Trends from GBTA 2025
Want a quick pulse on what dominated conversations in Denver? Here are the takeaways you should care about:
- Corporate travel spend is roaring back: GBTA’s 2025 Business Travel Index forecasts global spend hitting $1.57 trillion this year, with a projection of $2 trillion+ by 2029.
- Travel tech is front and center: From AI-powered T&E systems and Agentic Travel Agents to sustainability dashboards and incentive sytsems, buyers are embracing platforms that deliver efficiency and experience.
- Wellness and employee choice matter: With rising demand for flexibility, personalization, and wellness in corporate travel programs, companies are rethinking what they offer employees beyond the itinerary.
- Alternative lodging is mainstreaming: Traditional hotel-heavy programs are under pressure. Buyers are now actively exploring ways to optimize lodging costs without compromising traveler satisfaction.
🔑 Our biggest takeaway; Ugly old tech, so long associated with Corporate Travel is no longer accepted by the workforce
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