Business travel

Business travel, as opposed to leisure travel, is when people visit different cities or countries for work-related reasons. Business travel mainly involves attending activities that require physical presence – or MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions). 

Many companies automate travel and expense (T&E) management processes and have specific T&E policies to ensure efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements. 

In some companies, employees organize business trips themselves; in others, there can be an internal travel management department. Some businesses outsource these functions to external service providers – travel management companies (TMCs). They help organizations make travel arrangements, including transport and accommodation bookings, insurance, visas, etc.

The main goal of business travel is to meet professional needs, but travelers might also have some leisure time. Combining business and entertainment activities in one trip is called bleisure or workation (depending on the trip duration).